Senior Project Manager

Vml-Canada-; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

VML, part of WPP, seeks a highly organized Senior Project Manager to lead end-to-end automotive campaigns across national brand-building, retail promotions, and digital activations. You will be the operational backbone, coordinating Account Service, Creative, Strategy, Production, and Media teams in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires 6+ years in a fast-paced agency setting, strong leadership and agility to move quickly through complex deliverables while maintaining regulatory and brand

Qualifications

• 6+ years of project management experience in a fast-paced advertising agency.
• Retail advertising cycles knowledge and agility to pivot quickly.
• Experience delivering multi-channel assets (digital/social, video, retail) with strong budget discipline.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the lifecycle of multi-channel campaigns from brief to final delivery.
• Define scopes, build timelines, and allocate resources efficiently.
• Establish agile workflows to support rapid turnaround for retail automotive campaigns.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Account, Creative, Studio, Production, Media).
• Identify risks and devise proactive solutions to keep delivery on track.
• Monitor budgets, vendor costs, and monthly billing reconciliations.
• Ensure assets meet automotive regulatory and brand guidelines.

Skills

Project management

Retail advertising

Leadership

Communication

Attention to detail

Multi-channel delivery

Team coordination

Tools

Asana

Monday.com

Workamajig

Smartsheet

Job description

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners. The agency is recognized for leadership in marketing creative, content services, commerce services, digital experience, and marketing measurement & optimization. VMLHealth is a specialist health network within VML. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and seasoned Senior Project Manager to lead end-to-end campaign delivery for premier automotive clients. In this role, you will be the operational backbone of a fast-paced account, managing a diverse portfolio of projects that span national brand-building campaigns, Tier 2/Tier 3 retail promotions, dealership integrations, and digital-first activations.

As a Senior Project Manager, you will bridge the gap between Account Service, Creative, Strategy, Production, and Media teams. You are someone who thrives in the fast lane, understands the nuances of retail-driven automotive marketing (where speed-to-market is critical), and can maintain a high creative standard while keeping projects on time and on budget.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Delivery: Oversee the lifecycle of multi-channel campaigns (broadcast/TV, OLV, print, OOH, digital display, social media, radio, and retail POS) from brief to final delivery.
• Scope & Resource Management: Define project scopes, develop detailed estimates, build master timelines, and allocate creative/production resources efficiently.
• Process Optimization: Establish, maintain, and refine agile workflows to support rapid turnaround times required for retail automotive campaigns (e.g., monthly sales events, model year launches).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the central hub of communication between Account, Creative, Studio, Production, and Media teams, ensuring alignment on deliverables, feedback, and deadlines.
• Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify potential roadblocks (scope creep, resource bottlenecks, legal/compliance hurdles) and implement creative solutions before they impact delivery.
• Financial Stewardship: Monitor project budgets, track resource hours, manage third-party vendor costs, and assist in monthly billing reconciliations.
• Compliance & QC: Ensure all creative assets meet automotive regulatory compliance, legal standards (disclaimers, regional pricing, financing offers), and brand guidelines before delivery.

Required Experience & Skills

• Experience: 6+ years of project management experience within a fast-paced advertising agency.
• Retail Mindset: A strong understanding of retail advertising cycles (holiday sales, quarterly events) and the ability to pivot quickly in response to market shifts.
• Technical Savvy: Deep familiarity with agency project management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Workamajig, Smartsheet) and digital asset management systems.
• Multi-Channel Expertise: Hands-on experience delivering a wide range of assets with emphasis on digital/social, video production (broadcast and social), and localized retail assets.
• Leadership & Communication: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills. You know how to motivate creative teams while keeping them accountable to strict deadlines.
• Detail-Oriented: An eagle eye for detail, particularly regarding complex legal disclaimers and offer-driven creative.

Who You Are

• A Problem Solver: You don’t just flag issues; you come to the table with three potential solutions.
• Cool Under Pressure: You remain calm, focused, and positive in a fast-moving, high-volume environment.
• A Relationship Builder: You build trust easily across all departments and levels of leadership.
• Adaptable: You understand that in retail automotive, priorities can change overnight, and you can pivot workflows without breaking a sweat.

The base salary for this position is described at the bottom of the posting. Individual compensation varies based on location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

$90,000 - $140,000 CAD

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

Equal Employment Opportunity statements and privacy policy information retained for compliance purposes only.