Project Director

Ride Shotgun; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Your birthday off

Additional holidays through salary sacrifice

Company Sick Pay

Cycle to work scheme

Pension contribution

Health cash plan

Retail discounts

Discounts portal

Job summary

A creative agency in the UK seeks a Project Director responsible for end-to-end ownership of a large production portfolio for a key European retail client. You’ll ensure project delivery, quality, and timelines across multiple workstreams while acting as the senior delivery authority. This role demands proven experience in senior project leadership, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to navigate complex production environments. Offers competitive salary, hybrid working options, and additional perks.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior project leadership role, such as Project Director or Lead PM.
• Comfortable operating with a portfolio-level, strategic view.
• Strong understanding of CGI pipelines and complex technical workflows.

Responsibilities

• Full accountability for all projects on the account, from scoping to delivery.
• Governance and sign-off of SOWs and budgets.
• Act as the trusted senior client lead for project delivery.
• Identify peak production periods and mitigation planning with internal teams.
• Lead project retrospectives and drive continuous improvement at portfolio level.

Skills

Senior project leadership experience

Stakeholder management

Commercial judgement

Complex project delivery

Job description

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Direct message the job poster from Ride Shotgun.

Ride Shotgun is a bit different. Not only are we one of the fastest growing strategic brand, activation and production agencies in the UK but we think big, go big creatively and deliver big in production to deliver fully joined‑up brand journeys for clients of all shapes and sizes.

We’re looking for a Project Director to take end-to-end ownership of a large, complex production portfolio for a single, strategically important European retail client.

You’ll be accountable for project delivery, quality, timelines, and commercial performance across multiple overlapping workstreams, operating above day-to-day project management and acting as the senior delivery authority for the account.

What are the key responsibilities?

What You’ll Own

• Full accountability for all projects on the account, from scoping through to final delivery
• Governance and sign‑off of SOWs, budgets, and delivery plans
• Senior escalation point for project risk, scope change, resourcing, and delivery decisions
• Portfolio‑level oversight across live, upcoming, and forecasted projects
• Client expectation‑setting across scope, timelines, cost, and technical feasibility
• Senior client leadership across status, risk, and planning discussions
• Identification of peak production periods and mitigation planning with internal teams
• Act as the trusted senior client lead for project delivery
• Partner closely with Client Partner and Account Director to support long‑term account success
• Lead project retrospectives and drive continuous improvement at project and portfolio level
• Represent delivery with authority during periods of complexity or pressure

CGI, Technical & AI Expertise

• Strong understanding of CGI pipelines and complex technical workflows
• Ability to assess feasibility, risk, and delivery approaches at scale
• Experience integrating AI‑enabled production processes into project planning and execution
• Senior, production‑agnostic advisor on optimisation and future‑facing delivery models aligning with the client’s Gen‑AI strategy and future content roadmap

What skills are required?

• Proven experience in a senior project leadership role (Project Director / Lead PM on major accounts)
• Confident senior stakeholder manager with strong commercial judgement
• Comfortable operating with a portfolio‐level, strategic view rather than day‑to‑day PMing

Location and working hours

This role will be based from either our Manchester or Leeds office, 9am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The role is open to hybrid working. There will be a requirement to travel to the client site.

What kind of person are we looking for?

We expect all our team members to share the same behaviour and culture code as Ride Shotgun, check them out below!

• We own it - we want to feel proud of the work we do every day. So, we step up, we crack on and we take responsibility. And when we do that, our infectious and genuine passion for our work shines through;
• We are on it - “that’ll do”, won’t do. We expect a lot more of ourselves and each other. As a result we’re a proactive, driven bunch with a “can do” attitude, who love nothing more than spotting a problem and sorting it.
• No drama - we’re all in this together. We look out for, and after, each other. No questions asked. We understand each other and respect each other. We work brilliantly together. No drama. No egos. Nobody being a dick. I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine.
• Know‑how - we work as one team, recognising and respecting each other's skills and capabilities. We trust each other and we know there's always someone in the team that will know the answer. It’s in our nature to collaborate because we know that when we work together, amazing things happen.
• Be curious and creative - curiosity is our superpower. It drives us to dig deeper. To look at challenges from every angle using left and right brain thinking. Leave no stone unturned. There might be an idea or insight under it.
• Have guts and glory - we’re fearless in challenging the accepted norms. Brave enough to do things differently. To take risks and try new things. And if that means challenging clients, ourselves and each other.. So be it.

What do we offer?

The opportunity to make a real impact and be instrumental in shaping the future of a new, ambitious, and exciting agency. Based in Manchester or London, you’ll work with some of the world’s best brands and the region’s best talent to produce award winning creative work.

In addition, we offer a competitive salary and additional benefits including:

• Your birthday off
• Additional holidays through salary sacrifice
• Childcare salary sacrifice
• Company Sick Pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Pension contribution
• Westfield health cash plan
• Discounts portal with access to thousands of retailers

No agencies please.

Ride Shotgun is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (Protected Characteristics).

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full‑time

Job function

• Management and Marketing
• Advertising Services

Applicants should be within commuting distance of the office location. Please apply by visiting https://jobs.recruit.charliehr.com/rideshotgun/project-director/view-job?q=desc and attach your CV and portfolio.