Audio Resource Lead

Overview
Established in **** and working in over 60 languages, the Keywords Group is a fast-growing plc., listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Keywords is an international service provider to the global Video Game Industry with offices in Dublin, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Montreal, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Rio de Janeiro, New Delhi and more. Working on a worldwide basis, we provide a range of linguistic, testing, quality control and customer support services to Video Game Developers and Publishers alike.
Position Overview
The Audio Resource Manager is responsible for the effective planning, allocation, and management of external audio resources to ensure optimal staffing, cost control, and operational efficiency. This role supports strategic workforce planning, vendor and stakeholder management, recruitment initiatives, and performance reporting. The Audio Resource Manager ensures internal Recording Studios are adequately staffed, leads the recruitment and onboarding of new external partners, establishes and improves internal processes, and ensures compliance with internal standards and contractual obligations. This position requires strong operational foresight and a strategic mindset to ensure audio vendor partnerships align with broader business objectives, quality expectations, and margin targets.
In collaboration with Quality Management (QM) teams, the Audio Resource Manager monitors performance benchmarks to ensure audio vendors deliver high-quality products on time. The role also plays a key part in risk management and cost control, conducting market research to identify new Recording Studios and assessing their financial stability, InfoSec compliance, and overall reliability.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Resource Planning: develop and maintain short- and long-term resource plans aligned with project, client, and business needs.
Forecast staffing requirements and identify potential resource gaps in collaboration with internal Recording Studios and Global Audio teams.
Support strategic workforce planning and capacity management initiatives.
Manage the resource allocation process to ensure balanced workloads and optimal utilization.
Recruitment and Talent Acquisition Oversight: lead the full recruitment lifecycle for new external Recording Studios.
Implement sourcing strategies and monitor key recruitment metrics (e.g., time-to-fill, cost of resources, quality of hire) in collaboration with the QM team.
Manage and maintain relationships with external Recording Studios.
Ensure compliance with internal policies and contractual requirements during selection and onboarding.
Onboarding and Resource Integration: manage onboarding activities for new Recording Studios to ensure a smooth and efficient integration.
Review onboarding documentation for completeness and compliance (e.g., contracts, NDAs).
Collaborate with Resource Leads and Operations to improve onboarding efficiency and partner engagement.
Resource and Database Management: oversee the maintenance of resource management systems, databases, and tracking tools.
Ensure data accuracy, security, and timely updates related to staffing, skills, and contract validity.
Analyze Recording Studio utilization, cost, availability, and experience to support data-driven decision-making.
Drive automation and digitalization of tracking and reporting processes.
Vendor and Stakeholder Management: serve as the primary point of contact for audio vendor coordination and service-level management.
Maintain strong communication channels with internal Recording Studio stakeholders, business leaders, Global Audio, and HR teams.
Facilitate and actively participate in cross-functional meetings to review staffing plans, timelines, and resource needs.
Ensure vendor engagements remain contractually compliant and performance expectations are met.
Reporting and Performance Analysis: develop and maintain KPIs related to recruitment, onboarding, and resource utilization.
Prepare and present regular performance and capacity reports to leadership.
Identify bottlenecks, forecast risks, and propose mitigation strategies.
Provide actionable insights to improve efficiency and reduce recruitment turnaround times.
Requirements
Qualifications & Experience
4+ years of experience in the Audio Localization (Audio LOC) industry.
Proven experience managing contracts and working with legal teams.
Experience in vendor management, procurement, or supply chain management (preferred).
Strong negotiation and contract management skills, including complex agreements.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive informed decisions.
Familiarity with quality assurance principles and performance benchmarking (a plus).
Knowledge of pricing strategies, market analysis, and competitive intelligence.
Demonstrated ability to deliver results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving capabilities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and vendor/resource management tools
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