Director, Project Manager

Highwire; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible hybrid work model

401(k) matching

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous PTO

Job summary

Highwire is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead client programs across marketing, creative, and content. You’ll own day-to-day execution, serve as internal lead, and maintain client-facing communication to keep projects on track.

Collaborating with account leads and specialists, you’ll define delivery frameworks, manage timelines and risks, and ensure staffing and budgets align with briefs. The role requires 7+ years in an agency setting and a PMP/CAPM is preferred.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of project management experience in an agency environment.
• Experience leading multiple concurrent, high-visibility projects.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; PMP or CAPM is preferred.
• Excellent communication and client management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic delivery and client management across projects.
• Develop delivery frameworks, scope, and staffing in collaboration with accounts.
• Manage budgets, timelines, risks, and success metrics.
• Coordinate across creative, content, and marketing teams to meet briefs.

Skills

Project management

Agency experience

Client communication

Resource planning

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

The Senior Project Manager is a critical leader at the intersection of account ownership and account production for key client accounts and projects across Highwire. You will serve as the driving force behind marketing, creative, content, and other integrated deliverables, acting as the primary internal lead for day-to-day activity related to project execution.

In this role, you collaborate with account leads and specialist stakeholders to establish delivery frameworks that strengthen client relationships and ensure project success. While you serve as an internal lead, this role is also client-facing where you'll be responsible for supporting the overall communication of timelines, project risks, and specific tactical requirements that our teams need from clients to be successful.

You are responsible for complex project planning, staffing, and deadline management, ensuring every team is adequately resourced and aligned with client expectations. By looking around corners and collaborating on leads on contingencies, you provide the stability and foresight necessary to navigate high-visibility projects.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Delivery & Client Management

• Integrated Oversight: Manage the intersection of account ownership and production to ensure seamless delivery.
• Client Communication: Act as the owner for timelines and brief needs, maintaining strong trust through consistent communication in collaboration with account leads.
• Strategic Consulting: Articulate strategic plans and consult with clients and internal leads at a high level while ensuring deliverables such as designs, copy, and strategies align with agreed-upon briefs.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all deliverables meet client goals, company standards, and specific quality requirements for integrated marketing, content, and creative deliverables.

Operational Excellence & Execution

• Process Development: Contribute to the development of templated processes, including project kickoffs, scoping, resourcing, and contract management in collaboration with finance and agency leadership.
• Creative Operations: Support in streamlining creative workflows, optimizing internal production pipelines, and refining the handoff process between creative, account teams, and clients.
• Resource & Staffing: Take ownership of project staffing and act as the gatekeeper of team priorities to ensure teams are never over-extended.
• Workflow Management: Implement consistent project management processes across multiple concurrent workstreams, ranging from digital and social to video and other integrated marketing assets.
• Change Management: Lead operational execution and manage scope change requests in collaboration with account leads to prevent project derailment.

Financial & Performance Reporting

• Budgetary Control: Manage project-specific budgets, develop detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) and navigate the budget-setting process in support of account lead negotiations.
• Reporting & Insights: Prepare and present project status reports, budget updates, and comprehensive retrospectives to internal and external stakeholders.
• Scope Stewardship: Ensure all project-specific impacts and coordination are based strictly on client goals and agreed-upon scope.

Success Factors

• 7+ years of project management experience in an agency environment, with a proven track record of leading multiple concurrent, complex, and highly visible projects.
• Deep experience running diverse project types, including digital marketing, creative and content deliverables,
• Ability to think on your toes and find resourceful solutions to problems without heavy oversight.
• Ability to develop new execution processes aligned to best practices in areas where they may not already exist.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent experience). Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) or CAPM is preferred.
• Exceptional ability to coordinate across functions and practices to deliver effective content marketing strategies that meet client business objectives.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage workflows across multiple time-zones.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $150,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth.

About Highwire

Highwire is a strategic marketing communications agency at the intersection of innovation and industry. We partner with ambitious companies and established brands to navigate complexity, lead markets, and grow with purpose. With integrated expertise in strategic marketing and communications, corporate reputation, creative, and insights, we cut through the noise to deliver bold ideas and measurable impact across B2B technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, energy, professional and financial services, and more.

At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. We know that the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone—regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities–can feel safe, celebrated and worthy.

We ensure that every Highwire Walker has the requisite support to soar in their careers. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is foundational and embedded in our business and culture. We aspire to change our industry and build a better future for all.

Our people-first culture is driven by four core values:

• Team Empowerment
• Growth Mindset
• Inclusion Always
• Fierce Distinction

We're looking for individuals with big ideas, strong opinions, and the energy to bring them to life. If you thrive in an environment that values personal accountability, high standards, and boundless motivation, this is the opportunity for you. Be part of our award-winning culture and contribute to an exciting and growing business where you can make a real impact.

Highwire. Above all.

Our people-first culture is reflected in the meaningful benefits, flexibility, and support we offer:

• Competitive salary with merit-based opportunities for growth
• Flexible hybrid work model tailored to your schedule and lifestyle
• Generous vacation policy, including extended summer and winter breaks
• Early log-off on Fridays through our Empower Hours program
• 401(k) plan with employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus FSA options
• Paid parental leave benefits
• Commuter benefits
• Annual Growth Mindset stipend for books, events, or learning experiences
• Monthly technology reimbursement
• Wellness benefit program for mental and physical health
• 501c3 donation matching program
• Mentorship and ongoing professional development opportunities
• Monthly recognition and team celebrations
• Employee referral and new business referral bonuses
• Quarterly Highwire events and team gatherings
• Dog-friendly office environment
• A supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace where you can grow and do your best work

Location & Work Environment

Highwire offers both remote and hybrid work options, depending on where you live.

Hybrid

Candidates located within commuting distance of our New York, NY or San Francisco, CA offices follow a hybrid schedule, with three in-office days per week.

Remote

We hire for fully remote roles in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

Please note: We are only able to consider candidates who reside in one of the locations listed above at the time of hire.

Join the Highwire team

If you're inspired by the opportunity to shape meaningful stories and grow alongside a team that values innovation, accountability, and inclusion.