Yakkety Yak

Do you love bringing beautiful, functional websites to life? Are you a stickler for details who thrives in a fast-paced environment? Inspired to solve problems and look at the big picture for clients? If so, then you could be exactly who we’re looking for. Yakkety Yak is looking for an experienced, strategic Web Producer to be accountable for the timeline, budget and execution of our web projects from start to finish in this client-facing role. As a thoughtful, thorough communicator, you will be responsible for driving both front-end and back-end development for clients alongside in-house teams and UX/UI and/or development freelancers.  Our Web Producer will be the linchpin, always looking at the full project picture and keeping both the client and Yakkety Yak team members moving forward. You’ll need to have a fundamental understanding of the Wordpress ecosystem and a drive to stay up to date on the latest industry trends and content management systems. You will be responsible for supporting our account teams in managing our clients’ web needs from initial kickoff through completion, and communicating updated project needs to clients with the support of account managers. We don’t have all the answers and we don’t expect you too, either. We do expect that you’ll show up ready to take initiative, self-educate, and have some fun along the way. What You’ll Do Lead team on all website deliverables, including website strategy, sitemaps, wireframes, metadata frameworks, web style cards, content migration plans, maintenance and updates. Work alongside account team and new clients to gather business requirements and translate them into effective, user-centered interactive experiences. Manage multiple projects simultaneously. Establish and maintain timelines for each project’s design and development. Work closely with our developers, UX/UI team, and clients to guide the website process from beginning to end. Translate feedback between client, account team, UX/UI, and developers, to ensure all items are addressed effectively. Provide strategic oversight and creative feedback to UX/UI designers, thoughtfully ensuring our projects meet and exceed client expectations. Oversee technical updates and basic maintenance of multiple client websites. Make content updates within developed sites for retainer clients when needed. Ability to manage client domain and server transfers, troubleshooting issues with our developers. Advocate for the client’s needs and put on whatever hat needed to assist the team. What We’re Looking for in You 4-5 years of relevant experience in website project management. Lead with kindness, curiosity, accountability, commitment, and authenticity. Baseline understanding of multiple CMS platforms, with particular expertise in WordPress. Working knowledge of domain and hosting setup. Working knowledge of Figma and Pastel, or ability to learn, in order to manage internal and client feedback and revisions. Knowledge or willingness to learn programs such as Pardot and HubSpot. Nice to Have: Understanding of front-end technologies, including HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery Knowledge of interactions with RESTful APIs and formats (JSON, XML) Basic understanding of PHP back-end development What You’ll Love About Us We believe in taking care of our team. Our market-leading benefits include:  Healthcare benefits, including medical, dental, vision--and pet insurance! Staying happy and healthy is a top priority. Unlimited PTO. We work hard and deliver for our clients, but we also have families and lives outside the office. Market-leading parental leave policy. Who says you can’t grow your family while growing an agency. Loft-style office in West Loop Gate. Steps from Union Station, multiple CTA stops, and all that West Loop has to offer. About Yakkety Yak Yakkety Yak is a full-service digital agency in growth mode. We believe in making it easier for small business owners to connect with their ideal customers through creative, high-impact digital marketing. We are meticulous about our work, driven to excel, always reaching for new ideas, and professional in our approach. Curious, motivated, and inspired, we are building an environment where we can thrive together.  Yakkety Yak is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Yakkety Yak recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status. To Apply: Upload a copy of your resume Include a cover letter outlining 5 reasons why you are a good fit for our team Submit a link to recent articles, sample work product or professional website

The Senior Video Producer at Yakkety Yak will support our Director of Production in creating marketing video projects from concept to delivery. You’ll bring creative chops and logistical savvy to start-to-finish content projects both direct to client and through our Accounts team - ensuring a high level of execution and organization in each phase of production.  The ideal candidate will be a seasoned video storyteller with diverse experience- as comfortable leading a 2-person documentary-style crew as a 20-person commercial crew. You will be knowledgeable of set production liabilities and best practices, and will thrive on bringing projects in on time and on budget.   Client relationships will be a top priority, and you’ll manage expectations for creative and timeline like a pro. You’ll be able to communicate effectively with editors, motion artists, and other post-production specialists to bring projects to life in the edit. You’ll have a demonstrated ability to manage video work that delivers on creative quality while serving a client communication or advertising need. You’ll help ensure that content is optimized for website views, paid ads, email marketing, social posts, webinars, and virtual events, and that we’re creating content that resonates on each platform. You’ll also help spot opportunities to repurpose content for different formats. Bonus points if you can jump in on Premiere and pull selects, organize footage, or send interviews out for transcript.  We’re looking for an enthusiastic, creative team player with a “no job is too big or too small” mentality, who is eager to grow in a fast-paced, agency environment.   JOB DESCRIPTION What You'll Do In this role, you will contribute in the following areas: Manage project pre-production Quickly distill client goals, work with the video team to establish creative vision, and communicate and pitch a concept for approval to the internal team and clients Write project outlines and / or scripts (supported by content team) Secure and manage production resources  Book talent, vendors, specialty crew, and locations Arrange gear rentals, pickups and returns Present creative solutions to help projects stay on budget Preparing shot lists, call sheets, crew paperwork Interview question creation Stock footage research Production line-producing Crew communication, logistics, and management On-set interview producing Problem solving and on-set client management in conjunction with the account team Post production Assist Director of Production to manage freelance or staff editors.  Effectively manage post-production resources.  Use stock footage, music licensing, specialty vendors, and freelancers in accordance with the project budget.  Ensure freelance data is transferred to the company and closed out at the end of the project.  Ensure project files and assets are backed up to the server during project wrap.  Additional duties, as assigned.   JOB REQUIREMENTS What You Bring Our expectations for the candidate include: Nice to Haves: Adobe Premiere editorial expertise Prep and ingest footage Make selects, send to transcript, sync footage Job Requirements: 5+ years of experience Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field OR equivalent experience Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously Creativity is a must, but taking deadlines seriously is essential, so you must be able to work under pressure Desire to take initiative, own the product, and work collaboratively with teammates Ability to confront hurdles with positivity and poise Extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud software Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and G Suite Extensive knowledge of video marketing trends

Bridging the gap between business development and client management, the VP of Strategy is responsible for attracting and retaining purpose-driven clients to our full-service content marketing agency. Focused on the details and driven by growth, your focus will be to facilitate growth, develop new business, increase profitability and participate in client service. Does this sound like you?  The VP of Strategy is responsible for driving revenue with new and existing clients, upholding our commitment to client service, and strategically growing the organization from the leadership level. They will also oversee both the accounts team and the business development team. The right fit for Yakkety Yak has a well-rounded knowledge of both sales  and  marketing, is experienced in executing on high-level campaigns and swears by the value of client engagement.  An ace in business development, you will tee up new opportunities by asking the right questions, setting expectations and creating smooth transitions. In this role, you will also oversee all company accounts, evaluate profit margins, set growth targets and help teams better serve each of our existing clients. Smart, thoughtful, personable and willing to make tough choices, you will be a vital part of the future of the business. What You'll Do In this role, you will contribute in the following areas: Lead with core values of Curious, Authentic, Committed, Accountable and Kind Drive new revenue opportunities for Yakkety Yak through existing clients, while also contributing to business development Oversee Accounts Team and Business Development Team Contribute innovative strategies to core accounts in an effort to exceed clients’ revenue and expectations in highly-visible leadership role Act as both client advocate and internal liaison to ensure a high level of excellence from YY team but also YY advocate through positive attitude, and collaborative work environment Ensure smooth client onboarding through constant communication with client, explanation of processes, and setting proper expectations Set up internal teams for success through clear project handoffs Identify growth opportunities for current clients, while developing strategies for new clients coming in under the Yakkety Yak umbrella Work alongside leadership team to identify client challenges and develop solutions for those challenges Review profit margins through Harvest tracking and scope monitoring Align on proposals and core services structure Strategize, create, execute and refine approach to client delivery Work on the overall business strategy as a company leader What You Bring Our expectations for the candidate include: 15+ years experience, working with business strategy, business development and account management Natural understanding of finance and business Experience managing a team of individuals Passion for developing strategic business initiatives Excited to heavily contribute to the rapid growth of a proven company Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.  Willingness to take initiative, own your work, but also work collaboratively with teammates in all departments of the agency Ability to communicate best practices of marketing to clients and team members

Are you inspired to solve problems and help companies grow? Do you geek out on mastering Google’s latest algorithm and on optimizing the performance of great content? Are you a builder who thrives on becoming a key player on a small, high-growth team? If so, then you could be exactly who we’re looking for. Does this sound like you?  As Yakkety Yak’s SEO Analyst, you’ll be a Jack- or Jill-of-all-things-digital. From owning our SEO strategy to running multi-channel marketing campaigns to assisting in website and newsletter updates and reporting, you’ll be able to flex your skills to provide tangible results for our clients. You’ll have a strong understanding of the digital ecosystem on the paid and organic side, you stay on top of the latest digital trends, and you love collaborating with great writers to develop high-performing content that drives results.  We don’t have all the answers and we don’t expect you to, either. We do expect that you’ll show up ready to take initiative, self-educate, and have some fun along the way. What You'll Do In this role, you will contribute in the following areas: Uphold Yakkety Yak Core Values of Committed, Authentic, Curious, Accountable and Kind Be at the forefront of digital and SEO updates and create recommendations and execution plans for our clients — then execute on these ideas Oversee SEO updates and optimization, including website redirects, basic HTML edits and content upload and management Work alongside our web designers, project managers and developers to provide SEO analysis and provide recommendations for the technical details of website and web page  Assist in basic website and landing page updates across various platforms Work alongside our content and analytics team to create, analyze and execute digital marketing campaigns for our clients Review and analyze social media and newsletter performance and provide content recommendations  Work with our in-house and freelance writers and account managers to perform keyword research and identify topics, craft keyword strategies, and implement those strategies by optimizing content for organic search and SEO best practices for client business objectives Track content and campaign performance on multiple channels to identify new opportunities and make data-driven client recommendations  Work with our Director of SEO to evaluate the success of organic strategies, projects, and paid ad campaigns Contribute to monthly client reports to showcase key outcomes and establish goals to drive performance What You Bring Our expectations for the candidate include: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience 2–4 years of relevant experience At ease with organic and paid digital and analytics platforms, including Google Analytics, Screaming Frog, AHREFs, SEMRush, Moz, Google Keyword Planner, Google Ads, and Facebook Ad Manager Experience with content management systems (including WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Squarespace) and email service providers (Hubspot, Mailchimp and Pardot preferred) Basic knowledge of web hosting, web domains, HTML and CSS is a plus  Experience conceptualizing, implementing, and reporting on sophisticated multi-channel digital marketing campaigns Command of best practices in brand strategy, user-focused web design, and multi-touch digital brand experiences Desire to be a key contributor on a small team and a subject matter expert on all things digital performance Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively

The Associate Video Producer at Yakkety Yak will support our video team in executing marketing video projects from concept to delivery.  You’ll be a creative problem solver that can shepherd internal and small client projects  from start to finish. You’ll also support the Director of Video, as needed, in the creation of larger-scale video content projects. You will have a strong understanding of video storytelling principles and be able to communicate your ideas to internal and external team members. You’ll be comfortable with writing drafts of concepts, scripts, and shot lists with the support of the Director of Video. You’ll be adept at booking crew, talent, equipment, and vendors, and leading small crews in the field. You’ll anticipate potential issues and take the initiative to interface with the Director of Video, account team and clients as needs arise on set.  Our Associate Producer will also support the post production process - working with editors to manage revisions and consolidate team feedback. You’ll produce voiceover, research and license stock footage and music and manage delivery of assets to the account team. You’ll jump in to support full end to end creation of social videos and companion assets. You’ll help ensure that content is optimized for various deliverable formats, and that we’re creating content that resonates on each platform. You’ll also help spot opportunities to repurpose content for different platforms and uses. We’re looking for an enthusiastic, creative team player with a  “no job is too big or too small”  mentality, who is eager to grow in a fast-paced, agency environment. JOB DESCRIPTION What You'll Do In this role, you will contribute in the following areas: Work with Director of Video to secure and manage production resources: Book talent, vendors, specialty crew, and locations Arrange gear rentals, pickups and returns Track project budgets Prepare shot lists, call sheets, crew paperwork Arrange set parking, meals, and crew logistics Create interview questions Research stock footage Lead select creative video projects from start to finish: Crew communication and management On-set or remote interview producing On-set or remote production client management with DOV and account team support. Post production management: Work with freelance or staff editors on review and revisions. Leverage stock footage, music, specialty vendors, and freelancers in accordance with a  project budget. Ensure freelance data is transferred to company and closed out at the end of the project.  Bonus: Adobe Premiere editorial knowledge to: Prep and ingest footage Make selects, send to transcript, sync footage Create text on-screen motion graphics Subtitling support Export and QC and versions prior to delivery Additional duties, as assigned. JOB REQUIREMENTS What You Bring Our expectations for the candidate include: 2+ years of experience Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously Creativity is a must, but taking deadlines seriously is essential, so you must be able to work under pressure Desire to take initiative, own the product, and work collaboratively with teammates Ability to confront hurdles with positivity and poise Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office and G Suite Extensive knowledge of video marketing trends

Are you a curious, hard-working video lover who wants to expand your skill set and gain real-world professional experience? The Video Intern at Yakkety Yak will support our video team in creating impactful marketing video for a variety of platforms.  This is a fantastic opportunity for a recent or upcoming graduate to be immersed in a high-speed, creative marketing agency environment and learn from and collaborate with a talented team of video professionals.  The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, creative team player with a “no job is too big or too small” mentality, who is eager to learn in a dynamic agency environment. You’ll be ready and willing to jump in wherever you can to assist with production and post-production for short and long-form marketing content for a variety of digital and social marketing platforms including organic web uses, social media, virtual events, and paid ads. You’ll come prepared to ask questions, take initiative, and work collaboratively with teammates to help produce amazing start to finish work while staying poised and positive along the way. What You'll Do In this role, you will contribute in the following areas: Production Assist producers with pre-production coordination, including call sheet creation and vendor logistics. Make pickups/dropoffs for equipment, hard drives, etc Support producers on set at our offices or on location in the Chicagoland area. Have ability to lift and carry equipment up to 50lbs. Assist producers in capturing remote, virtually-recorded content and on client calls.  Help producers organize/maintain in-house camera, lighting and audio gear. Post production Work with producers to help manage post-production workflow, including project accounting, data entry and wrap book creation. Assist our editors with post-production in Adobe Premiere Ingest, organize and select content in preparation for edit Send interview files to transcript Research stock footage and music options for editors. File Management Ensure data is transferred to Open Projects drive and archived at the end of each project Organize client folders on Google Drive Help set up freelance editors with project structure Additional duties, as assigned. What You Bring Our expectations for the candidate include: You are recently graduated or currently majoring in Film and Video, or have entry-level experience in video production. You are excited about digital video production and are interested in learning more about how a full-service marketing agency operates. Willingness to embrace hybrid work model, working independently at home as well as collaborating in office with video team one day per week. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.  Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and Google Drive preferred.  Access to a reliable vehicle a plus.

Yakkety Yak is seeking an operational maven to join its leadership team as Director of Operations. This position is equal parts Strategy, Operations and HR, giving the right candidate the ability to shape the workplace, build a team and improve the effectiveness of an organization committed to making the world a better place. Does this sound like you?  The Director of Operations   position manages local site operations to maximize all resources both human and automated to ensure Yakkety Yak runs smoothly and efficiently. In addition, this position is responsible for developing and executing the human capital strategy to support the overall business plan and direction. These objectives include our commitment to DEI, recruiting, onboarding, developing and retaining our talent.     Reporting directly to the CEO, this is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to lean into a dynamic role, thrive in a passionate organization, and help raise the bar of the agency through thought leadership, process management and creative and technical implementation. JOB DESCRIPTION What You'll Do In this role, you will contribute in the following areas: Strategy  Translate the Company’s strategic vision into defined and actionable operational plans Assist in elevating the profile of Yakkety Yak through media inquiries and awards opportunities Contribute to building Yakkety Yak library of marketing materials for new business development and investor inquiries Work alongside VP of Accounts and Business Development to develop timelines and deliverables for client and project onboarding Contribute to strategizing revenue opportunities and aligning internal departments to create new client proposals Operations Identify opportunities to streamline business processes and systems based on speed and efficiency Be part of the Yakkety Yak leadership team  Create and maintain workflows for Yakkety Yak business processes  Partner with each hiring manager to onboard new personnel and ensure a flawless experience - responsible for office set up and IT by way of office manager Navigate, communicate and maintain COVID-19 Protocols Work with accounting department to facilitate prompt payment and collection on accounts Maintain agreements with clients and contractors Work with Controller on employee setup and paperwork Oversee financial reporting and expenses Oversee Office Manager and Controller as direct reports Oversee Human Resources Maintain a favorable working relationship with all other company employees to foster, aid and promote a cooperative and harmonious working climate  Uphold and evolve Yakkety Yak commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Develop Company succession plan and overall talent management plan Oversee HR function that includes policies and procedures for recruiting, onboarding, and engaging talent Ensure all policies and procedures are compliant with state and federal regulations JOB REQUIREMENTS What You Bring Our expectations for the candidate include: Upholding our company’s values of curious, accountable, authentic, committed and kind. 10+ Years Business Experience Ethical Experience managing a team Enthusiastic about leadership development (be prepared to talk about your favorite books, podcasts and leadership programs) Knows when to coach, when to delegate and when to dig in.  Comfortable giving feedback and holding teams accountable Outstanding communicator Commitment to advancing DEI  Detail-oriented; productive without compromising quality Excellent time management, problem-solving and organizational skills Comfort working in a fast-paced environment  Project management certification or proven experience Experience on project management databases, like Asana Deep understanding of content marketing processes and technologies Background in human resources and/or business operations Experience working in a startup or agency setting

Yakkety Yak is seeking a graphic designer to assist our growing team with day-to-day creative work in both digital and print. Working alongside our Art Director and Account Managers, your projects will range from creating social media graphics for the agency’s array of clients to designing custom marketing materials, developing branding, and other graphic design services.  Responsibilities Upholding our company’s values of curious, accountable, authentic, committed and kind. Turn around client-ready work on a deadline Contribute to the innovative visual strategies of each client with the ultimate goal of delivering on deadline and exceeding expectations Assist in design production from initial concepts to the final design product Create graphics and design templates for clients’ social media campaigns Collaborate with Writers, Content Strategists and Art Director to make sure all assignments are on-brand and client objectives are met Support branding initiatives by creating digital and print graphic design elements Develop logos and brand guidelines Illustrate blog images Research clients’ online presence to better understand their brand and vision Job Description We’d love for the right person to show off with the following skills: Experienced designer with a degree or professional training in art, graphic design or equivalent work experience Outstanding knowledge of graphic design principles Maestro of deadlines who is both organized and detail-oriented Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously Excellent communication skills Able to take your own initiative, own your work, but also work collaboratively with teammates in all departments of the agency Technical Skills Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat) Canva Background or experience in web design is preferred but not required   About Yakkety Yak Yakkety Yak is a full-service digital agency in growth mode. We believe in making it easier for small business owners to connect with their ideal customers through creative, high-impact digital marketing. We are meticulous about our work, driven to excel, always reaching for new ideas, and professional in our approach. Curious, motivated, and inspired, we are building an environment where we can thrive together. Yakkety Yak is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Yakkety Yak recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status. To Apply: Upload a copy of your resume Include a cover letter outlining 5 reasons why you are a good fit for our team Submit a link to relevant work product or professional website

Yakkety Yak is looking for a Creative Manager to assist us as we shift our verticals to develop our first-ever official art department with YOU at the helm. As a leading Chicago-based, purpose-driven digital marketing agency, this is an exciting, newly-created role for an experienced Art Director who wants a leadership track, and the ability to make an impact. The right individual will be confident and skilled in graphic design, but also be willing to get in the trenches and help our team perform to its greater potential. This small but mighty team will contribute to the day-to-day support for cross-functional teams, by creating graphics for websites, social media, video, digital ads, print material and more. Tasked with creative review, process management, managing budget, scoping projects AND creative asset development, you are well-rounded and ready to help contribute to overall business function, while moving our Art Department forward by leaps and bounds!  Working alongside our account managers, content editors, UI/UX designers and video team, your projects will range from creating social media graphics for the agency’s variety of clients, to designing custom marketing materials, branding assets, title designs for video content, website imagery and more.  We’re looking for an enthusiastic, creative team player with a  “no job is too big or too small”  mentality, who is eager to learn, grow, and actively contribute to our fast-paced, agency environment. Creative Manager Responsibilities Accountable for innovative visual strategies and graphic design production for each client with the ultimate goal of delivering on deadline and exceeding expectations Collaborate with cross functional teams to brainstorm and align on innovative visual storytelling concepts  Oversee success of art department Contribute to scoping work and budget development, working alongside VP of Accounts Delegate assignments to internal and freelance art directors and graphic designers to serve multiple departments Provide meaningful and insightful feedback to advance the team Contribute to client pitches Help guide art direction and create design elements for client projects from concept to completion Collaborate with Writers, Content Strategists, Video Producers, Web Developers and Account Managers to ensure all assignments are on-brand and client deadlines are met Incorporate current design trends into each unique layout to produce an up-to-date style for custom content that is optimized for each platform Contribute ideas to drive the agency forward Complete select design projects for social media, branding, print materials, website styling and more Job Description We’d love for the right person to show off with the following skills: 7-10+ years of design or agency experience Demonstrated ability to manage a team Experience creating design project scopes and budgets Proficient knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat. (Premiere is a Plus) Organized and detail-oriented Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks simultaneously Meticulous at project file organization, use of project management software, and time tracking, and getting compliance from team members in these areas. Able to take your own initiative, own your work, but also work collaboratively with teammates in all departments of the agency Technical Skills Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premier, Acrobat) Knowledge of basic UI design principles Job Requirements What You Will Love About Us We believe in taking care of our team. Our market-leading benefits include: Healthcare benefits, including medical, dental, vision–and pet insurance! Staying happy and healthy is a top priority. Unlimited PTO. We work hard and deliver for our clients, but we also have families and lives outside the office. Market-leading parental leave policy. Who says you can’t grow your family while growing an agency. Competitive compensation. We’re looking for top talent. Loft-style office in West Loop Gate. Steps from Union Station, multiple CTA stops, and all that West Loop has to offer. About Yakkety Yak Yakkety Yak is a full-service digital agency in growth mode. We fuse strategy and content production to craft high-impact stories for brands and businesses that care about doing good. Our full-service marketing team expertly combines multi-channel digital marketing to ignite empathy and inspire action. Curious, accountable, authentic, committed and kind- we are building an environment where we can thrive together.   Yakkety Yak is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Yakkety Yak recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status. To Apply: Upload a copy of your resume Include a cover letter outlining 5 reasons why you are a good fit for our team Submit a link to relevant work product or professional website