Senior Project Manager

Who We Are :

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At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration.

With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.

Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology.

We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for :

VML is seeking a Senior Project Manager for our LA office. We are looking for an enthusiastic critical thinker and problem solver that thrives on being engaged at all levels of the project.

The Senior Project Manager acutely understands the opportunities and constraints of a given project and takes responsibility for setting and managing expectations internally and with clients.

They understand how to manage and negotiate trade-offs to deliver on time and against agreed objectives.

What you'll do :

As a Senior Project Manager, you will be responsible for coordinating people and processes to ensure that our client projects are delivered on time and produce the desired results within the applicable statement of work and budget.

You will be the go-to person for everything involving a project's organization and timeline. In this specialized role, you will work directly with the team to lead short-term and long-term engagements.

You will proactively identify risks and create mitigation plans to prevent project issues. You will identify blockers, work with team members to remove them, and keep projects on track with their timelines.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to :

• Lead / facilitate project planning, scheduling, execution, and provide status follow-ups.
• Provide weekly What's on Deck Email and develop / manage a team RACI.
• Remove blockers and drive towards efficient utilization of organizational resources to improve capacity for project work.
• Flag resource / bandwidth limitations while facilitating collaboration with other teams to meet front-end and back-end requirements.
• Partner w / Analytics Director to identify additional tasks / dependencies within workstreams.
• Collect, compile, organize data from a variety of sources both internally and externally.
• Manage Data requests / intake. Manage communication across all teams, ensuring that communication and deliverables are organized in a central location.
• Helps to ensure all project goals are aligned with SOW and Client Requests while tracking 'on time' for all deliverables.
• Help identify and mitigate risks associated with the project, using project tracking and data to anticipate potential issues and take proactive steps to address them.
• Ensures project timelines are realistic and achievable based on current resources, deliverables, and sub-tasks associated with each stage of a project.
• Help adjust the project strategy and tactics as needed when there are multiple dependencies.
• Identify opportunities for improvement within our process to increase efficiency.
• Provide a more holistic view of the project, using data to identify dependencies and interrelationships between different components and stakeholders, and to manage resources and timelines accordingly.

What we need from our Senior Project Manager :

• A high-level understanding of the process for each data deliverable, including timelines / dependencies.
• Technical expertise : Familiarity with the data tools used for each deliverable, the process for retrieving data, as well as the process for getting access to specific datasets.
• Project management methodologies : MUST HAVE knowledge of project management methodologies like Jira, Agile or Scrum, as well as experience / understanding of data governance, data privacy, and data security.
• Leadership skills : able to help lead a team and inspire / motivate them to achieve their goals. They must have excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate and communicate timelines, expectations, and reporting progress with the broader team.
• Team Management : Review and manage project budgets, timelines and resources across projects.
• Track project progress, including early identification of risks and associated mitigation strategies.
• Partnership : Partner with various Data Leaders and other functional area colleagues, including, but not limited to : VP Analytics, VP Strategy, and Director of Analytics.
• Adaptability : A Data Project Manager must be adaptable and flexible in order to handle changing project requirements and unexpected roadblocks.

They must be able to adjust project plans and timelines as needed, and track when / why things have changed.

Requirements :

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing projects in a professional environment - agency or consulting environment preferred.
• Experience working with common project management tools such as Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Slack / MS Teams, Monday.com, Workday.
• Experience adapting project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Lean, Kanban) to the needs of the project.
• Conscientious and adept at problem-solving through critical thinking.
• Strong aptitude to learn and adapt to technology.
• Ability to adapt well to diverse environments.
• Ability to communicate clearly with all levels in an organization.
• Detail oriented with strong analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
• Effectively managing multiple deliverables, clients, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to be flexible and capable of adapting to constant change.
• Ability to effectively meet deadlines and prioritize tasks in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.

What we offer :

• Passionate, driven people We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

$75,000-$180,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond.

Our people are the heartbeat of our organization-creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers-who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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