Associate Director, Project Management

Company description A global creative constellation built for whatu2019s nextu2014uniting the human vision of the Leo Burnett network with the innovation of Publicis Worldwide. Leo is HI u00d7 AI: Human Insight, Human Ideas, Human Impactu2014supercharged by the data and technology to move faster, go further, and deliver everywhere. Leo brings together 15,000+ people across 90 countries, combining global scale with creative firepower to drive outsized impact for brands. Overview The Associate Director, Project Management is a senior owner of their account(s) and a strong leader within the Project Management team. This role is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of complex integrated work, owning project plans, scopes, budgets and timelines while actively managing delivery details day to day. The Associate Director operates with a high degree of independence and judgment, bringing structure, clarity and momentum to complex client and team dynamics. They lead by example through hands-on execution, they anticipate risk and proactively solve problems, and they are a key partner to Business Leadership and cross-functional discipline leads. This role contributes to team development, process evolution and agency initiatives, with growing expectations around mentorship, influence and operational leadership. Responsibilities 1.Account ownership & hands-on delivery + Owns end-to-end delivery of complex integrated accounts and programs, managing initiatives from intake and planning through execution, launch and post-delivery evaluation. + Serves as the primary owner of project plans, timelines, scopes, budgets, risks and dependencies, staying closely involved in all details. + Actively manages dayu2011tou2011day delivery across owned projects, stepping in wherever needed to keep work moving forward. + Anticipates issues before they escalate and addresses challenges related to scope, resourcing, finances or timelines through direct action. + Translates ambiguity into clear actionable plans that align teams around objectives, milestones and success criteria. + Leads retrospectives / postu2011mortems, and applies learnings immediately to improve future delivery. 1. Workflow & process excellence + Creates and maintains detailed project plans, schedules and workflows. + Establishes and evolves project management methodologies, tools, templates and standards while remaining flexible to meet client and business needs. + Demonstrates disciplined use of PM best practices through direct ownership, not just oversight. + Drives clear communication across teams and stakeholders through status updates, documentation and proactive alignment. + Leverages data, KPIs and historical insights to guide decisions, forecast outcomes and improve delivery performance. 1. Financial, scope & resource management + Leads scope definition including Statements of Work, estimates, staffing plans and change management. + Owns financial stewardship, including forecasting burn, tracking and profitability management. + Closely monitors budgets and timelines on active projects and takes corrective action when needed. + Identifies scope risks and opportunities, and proactively partners with Business Leadership and discipline leads to manage change. + Works directly with Resource Management and discipline leads to plan, allocate and adjust resources across active and future work. + Ensures accurate time tracking, financial reporting and accountability for delivery decisions. 1. People leadership & talent development + Acts as a senior leader on the PM team, influencing ways of working, best practices and delivery outcomes. + Mentors Project Managers through hands-on coaching and real delivery partnership. + Sets clear expectations around quality, accountability and execution. + Models strong project management behaviors and decision making. + Acts as a visible advocate for the Project Management function across the agency. + May manage direct reports depending on team needs. 1. Client & agency partnership + Acts as a senior client partner with direct involvement in delivery planning, execution and issue resolution. + Builds credibility through transparency, follow-through and delivery excellence. + Supports new business efforts through handsu2011on scoping, estimating, workflow design and delivery strategy. + Collaborates with agency leadership to evolve operational models based on what is working in practice. + Represents Project Management in agency initiatives, audits and strategic planning. Qualifications Profile + Brings clarity, structure and calm to complex, high-pressure environments. + Proactive, anticipatory thinker who works ahead of risk rather than reacting to it. + Strong collaborator who can also operate autonomously and make principled tradeoffs. + Solution-oriented and deeply accountable. Qualifications + ~5u20138+ years of progressive experience in project, program or delivery management within an integrated agency environment. + Proven success managing complex, multiu2011disciplinary projects and programs. + Strong financial acumen with handsu2011on experience managing scopes, forecasts, burn rates and profitability. + High EQ and environmental awareness; strength in context-driven decision-making. + Strong ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize work and drive decisions through action. + Clear, confident communicator with experience working directly with key stakeholders and clients. + Strong understanding of project management methodologies and best practices. + Highly organized, detailu2011oriented and calm under pressure, with a strong sense of ownership. + Proactive self-starter who successfully holds themselves and others accountable. What success looks like + Projects are delivered with clarity, discipline and confidence. + Teams feel supported, challenged and accountable through real partnership and shared ownership. + Clients experience transparency, trust and strong delivery leadership. + The Project Management function is known for reliability, accountability and problem solving. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed, and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Additional information Our Publicis Groupe motto u201cViva La Diffu00e9renceu201d means weu2019re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent. Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off. If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact . Compensation Range: $97,375 - $139,965/annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 06/30/2026 All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Created: 2026-05-06