Director, Project Management

Company description

Leo Burnett is a communications agency powered by its HumanKind operating system, with the belief that creativity, data and technology work together to transform human behavior and drive prosperity for clients.

Part of Publicis Communications, Leo Burnett Worldwide is one of the world's largest agency networks with 85 offices and more than 8,000 employees. The global agency works with some of the world's most valued brands including Aldi, Bank of America, Campbell's, Dunkin, Firestone, Jim Beam, Kellogg's, Nintendo, Tillamook and UnitedHealthcare among others.

Overview

We are hiring a Director, Project Management to join our Leo Chicago team.This is a hybrid, on-site role (3 days/week) at our 35 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL office.

The Director is ultimately responsible for the delivery of high-quality deliverables that power client satisfaction, meet business requirements, and balance client and agency economics. The Director owns project definition, scope monitoring, budgeting & timing at the account level.

Responsibilities

Knowledge

• PM Approach: Ensures that the project management team utilizes a flexible project management approach
• PM Technical Skills: Leads large teams to drive complex programs/campaigns to completion based on scope and budget. Well-versed in production needs; considered a specialist in multiple channels and understands other mediums well enough to be a strategic problem solver
• Talent Selection: Demonstrates the ability to hire and retain highly capable people while cultivating diversity and career development
• SOWs: Accountable for the accuracy of all team SOWs
• Problem Solving: Teams chief problem solver and talent choreographer
• Agency process: Develops key operational tools (i.e. team or brand specific processes)
• Growing Talent: Demonstrated ability to grow mid-level producer talent; able to effectively handle performance issues
• Client finances: Collaborates (with Business Manager if available) to provide accurate and realistic cost-to-complete estimates and forecasts for assigned projects
• Technology: Continuously learning technology. Advanced Microsoft Project and Excel ability. Solid understanding of todays digital technologies

Strategy

• Resource allocation: Reviews all projects across account to resolve resource and skill requirements; drives resource allocation management; ensures the right resources are cast to the need
• Project Plans: Accountable for account-level master project plan creation and management.
• Process improvement: Proactively sees opportunities to adjust processes for efficiencies
• Quality Control: Structures and leads project status reviews; leads cross-team post-mortem sessions
• Advising: Partners with account/ marketing team to provide appropriate and consistent communication directly to client(s) in an effort to clearly manage expectations
• Risk Management: Leads large teams to develop and manage risk mitigation plans

Tactics and Execution

• Agency Cost Management: Vigilantly seeks to optimize both agency services and internal resources
• Internal Relationships and Team Leadership: Collaborative business partner to team capability leads
• Management: Responsible for the career development of others
• Execution: Prioritizes work in progress (WIP) with production and account teams to pull work forward and break bottlenecks
• Vendors: Point of escalation for vendor management concerns
• Scope Definition: Scopes and estimates complex, multi-channel engagements

Client Relationship

• Relationship: Client-facing lead on issues related to production and project management
• Client knowledge: Understands the clients business and plans projects accordingly
• Passion: Demonstrates passion for the brands and our work
• Accountability: Owns vendor/partner relationships
• Problem Solving: Able to drive difficult or complex production discussions with client and facilitate resolution
• New Business: Production lead on new business pitches; identifies upsell opportunities
• Communication and Writing: Uses advanced interpersonal and listening skills. Solid written and presentation skills

Qualifications

• Professional presentation and client facing skills
• Dynamic negotiation and conflict management skills
• Exhibits Integrity and Trust
• Demonstrates progression in level of responsibility within a professional project management environment
• Agency experience required
• Outstanding planning, coordination, management, and communication skills are required
• Experience with risk management, change management, communications management