At ICHI, our work is only as strong as the people behind it. We are looking for a proactive, high-energy External Resourcing Manager to be the definitive bridge between our studio and the world’s best creative and production talent.

Working from either our London or Brighton offices, this isn't just a booking role. As the External Resourcing Manager, you are the face of ICHI to the external market. You’ll be responsible for curating an elite bench of freelancers, contractors, and partners, ensuring we have the right skills available the moment a project kicks off. You’ll blend sharp intuition with operational rigour to ensure every external hire is a best-in-class fit for our culture and our clients.

At ICHI (part of Keywords Studios), we know a diverse workforce only elevates the great work we do. As such, we are an equal opportunities employer and we take diversity and inclusion seriously.

The Impact You’ll Make

1. Talent Scouting & Curation: Proactively identify, connect with, and qualify top-tier creative and production freelancers, building the pipeline in advance.
2. The "Human Database": Maintain an encyclopaedic knowledge of our external network, including skills, software proficiency, tech setups, day rates, and real-time availability.
3. Strategic Matchmaking: Work closely with Producers and Creatives to proactively suggest the best talent matches based on specific project DNA, not just availability.
4. Negotiation & Contracting: Lead fee, rate, and contract negotiations, ensuring all engagements are commercially viable and compliant.
5. Partnership Oversight: Qualify external partners and suppliers, possessing the intuition to know when a partner adds value versus when they might pose a competitive risk.
6. Process Evolution: Collaborate with Senior Leadership and Operations to refine onboarding tools, freelance workflows, and talent management systems.
7. Bridging the Gap: Work with Operations to build a seamless workflow between the UK and North American teams to strategically share resources before going fully external.
8. Collaboration: Work in lockstep with the Resourcing Manager to provide seamless coverage of capacity and pipeline for the creative department, stepping in to support internal scheduling during high-volume periods and holiday gaps.

What You Will Bring to ICHI

1. Deep industry knowledge with the ability to distinguish between a good portfolio and a great one, understanding the nuances of creative roles and their tools.
2. Compliance savvy with a solid grasp of IR35 and employment legislation to ensure freelance engagements are always above board.
3. A proactive mindset that anticipates production bottlenecks before they happen.
4. Exceptional communication skills: friendly, passionate, persuasive, and able to represent ICHI’s values while negotiating firmly but fairly.
5. Business intuition to understand the big picture, identifying partners who align with goals while protecting ICHI's USP and competitive edge.
6. Proven experience in a talent management, traffic management, resource management, or high-volume creative recruitment role within a medium-large sized agency.
7. Confidence in working with production teams to draft and execute contracts, manage complex data with precision, and use resource management software or CRM tools.

What We Offer

1. Flexibility: Hybrid home and office working, a Working Abroad Policy, and Summer Hours.
2. Financial & Insurance: Company Pension Scheme, BUPA Private Healthcare, Income Protection Cover, and Life Assurance.
3. Wellbeing & Support: Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Team Social Events, and mental health support.
4. Perks & Training: Employee schemes (Tech Scheme, Electric Car Scheme, Cycle Scheme) and professional training.