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Senior Program Manager

VML

Department: Project Management & Delivery

Location: Chicago, IL, United States

Requisition ID: 8356

Who We Are:

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. 

Where you shine

We are seeking a Senior Program Manager to manage commerce deliverables across multiple clients in the CPG industry, supervising a team of Project Managers and ensuring that all agency processes are followed. You will solve problems with a complete understanding of agency workflow, multiple client needs, and prioritization across teams. The Senior Program Manager partners with Client Engagement and Operations team members to ensure necessary steps are in place to deliver against client needs. You understand agency scope of work in detail and working with team partners to track work against the scope, reporting into the VP, Project Management.

 

What your success will look like

· Leading daily team meetings to supervise team assignments and support the Project Managers in reviewing project documents

· Working with Client teams to learn process for putting together an annual scope of work, and ensuring the PM team has a thorough understanding

· Regular pacing of hours against a client scope of work and understanding of implications, including evaluating workload for balance of year

· Day-to-day management of significant client projects to ensure successful completion

· Managing new business projects to establish a process and unify a team

· Working with department leads and agency resourcing to assess department capacity

· Assisting with development of new Agency process changes and improvements

· Agile problem-solving through a thorough review and familiarity with project documentation, and knowledge of Agency processes and teams, working with team as needed

· Ongoing supervision of team of project managers with support from leadership

· Interviewing potential team members and providing feedback

 

Who you are and what you bring

• 7+ years of project management experience in a marketing environment or advertising agency, with 3+ years of management experience

• Commerce experience within an agency environment a huge plus (CPG retail experience preferred)

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with an energy and passion for the work

• Adept at Smartsheet, Monday.com Microsoft Excel, and other applicable agency tools

• Understanding of project management methodologies

• Able to multitask in a fast-paced environment

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.
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$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. 

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.