Programme Director

VML; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A global innovation agency in London is seeking a Programme Director to lead a fully integrated Project Management team. The successful candidate will manage client relationships, oversee project profitability, and drive operational excellence across multiple markets. Ideal candidates will have extensive client-facing experience and knowledge of both Agile and Waterfall methodologies. This role offers a hybrid work environment, balancing collaboration in the office and flexibility.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing large-scale, integrated omnichannel programs.
• Strong project management operations skillset with exceptional meeting facilitation.
• Proven ability to navigate challenges and deliver precise results.

Responsibilities

• Lead a fully integrated, in-house Project Management team across multiple markets.
• Optimize processes and maintain robust program communications globally.
• Take ownership of project profitability and manage expenses.

Skills

PMO leadership

Client-facing project management

Agile methodologies

Waterfall methodologies

Jira

Smartsheet

Monday.com

Job description

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. This is an exciting opportunity to take the helm of a critical program for a truly iconic global client. As Programme Director, you will be the strategic architect and operational maestro, leading a fully integrated, in‑house Project Management team across multiple markets and lines of business. You'll be the linchpin, ensuring seamless delivery, fostering collaboration, and driving the transformation of ways of working from pilot to business‑as‑usual. This role demands an executive presence, the ability to lead senior stakeholder conversations, and a calm command in ambiguous or critical situations.

What You'll Do:

• Strategic Leadership & Client Partnership: Partner with our Global Strategic Operations lead to ensure unparalleled client satisfaction. Engage with senior client stakeholders, confidently defending delivery decisions and providing strategic counsel. Comfortably engage in light‑touch client interactions to drive alignment and unblock delivery, with an advantage in commercial strategy, procurement alignment, and value narrative communication.
• Operational Excellence & Process Optimization: Establish and maintain robust program communications, overseeing project estimations and staffing. Optimize processes across large workstreams, ensuring calendars and deployment schedules are meticulously maintained globally. Lead coordinated delivery across global operating units, overseeing readiness, regional adoption, consistent feedback loops, and structured communication. Drive the transformation of operational models, upskilling teams, and enabling sustained capability growth.
• Financial Stewardship: Take full ownership of project profitability. Plan, track, and approve project expenses, billing, and invoices. Collaborate with finance to develop consistent profitability and utilization views across all workstreams. Manage resource allocation dynamically and monitor project burn rates, budgets, and reconciliations.
• Team Empowerment & Delivery: Provide purpose, direction, and motivation to a high‑performing, multi‑disciplinary team. Champion the work and the internal project team, driving projects forward from inception to excellent, timely delivery. Build compelling narratives, create comprehensive documentation, and ensure every detail is meticulously managed.

Who You Are:

• A Builder: You’re process‑oriented, an innovator with a strong point of view, and an innate ability to marshal people and create gravity around ideas. You thrive on bringing people together to achieve a shared vision.
• Open & Collaborative: You champion team environments that embrace ambiguity and encourage collaboration, fostering a close‑knit and supportive atmosphere.
• Optimistic & Resilient: You possess the grit to navigate challenges, find creative solutions, and maintain stamina and positivity in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ego‑less: You embody a "whatever it takes" mentality, readily stepping in to wear any hat necessary for the team’s success.

What You'll Need:

• PMO leadership and delivery management experience in a client‑facing role, ideally within a dynamic agency setting.
• Demonstrated experience managing large‑scale integrated, omnichannel programs with multiple parallel work streams and diverse teams.
• Proficiency in working with integrated agency teams and external partner agencies.
• Familiarity with both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Expertise with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Monday.com, Jira.
• A strong project management operations skillset, including exceptional meeting facilitation and the ability to capture actionable next steps.
• Proven ability to understand and prioritize tasks, support teams through challenges, and build operational rigor.
• An unwavering commitment to executing tasks and delivering results with precision.

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.

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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