Director, Project Management

ZENO Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Headspace mental health program

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Life insurance

Free financial coaching

Be Kind to Your Mind program

Job summary

Zeno Group, a fearless independent communications agency, seeks a Director, Project Management to lead complex client programs from planning through execution.

You will partner with account teams, finance and leadership to manage budgets, scopes and timelines, translate ambiguity into clear plans, and drive operational excellence across a diverse client portfolio.

This role rewards strategic thinking, hands-on delivery, and a collaborative approach to improve processes and client experiences.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of project management experience within a public relations, advertising, digital, marketing or similar agency environment.
• Experience managing integrated client programs, including project planning, budgeting, forecasting and resource management.
• Strong understanding of agency operations and the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Experience developing statements of work (SOWs), project estimates and program timelines.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, forecasting and identifying scope changes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to account and practice leaders, helping ensure client programs are delivered on time, within scope and aligned with business objectives.
• Develop project estimates, timelines and resource plans while identifying risks and developing solutions.
• Partner across client teams, finance and resource management to align staffing, budgets and workflows across integrated programs.
• Support agency operations and new business planning by developing project estimates and scalable processes.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Budgeting & forecasting

SOW development

Stakeholder management

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

Smartsheet

Job description

Zeno Group is the fiercely independent and global, integrated communications agency, born from PR. We bring together the boldest and brightest talent to help clients across industries and sectors unleash the power of strategic communications. Guided by our "Fearless Pursuit of the Unexpected," we push the boundaries to achieve real business value and societal impact for clients. Winner of the industry’s most coveted awards including the 2024 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Large Agency of the Year, 2023 PRWeek Purpose Agency of the Year, 2022 PRWeek Global Agency of the Year, 2022 PRovoke Best Large Agency to Work For in North America and a three-time winner of PRWeek’s Best Places to Work. Zeno has also been previously recognized by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Zeno is a DJE Holdings Company.Job Description:Director, Project ManagementDo you enjoy bringing clarity to complex programs and helping cross-functional teams work more effectively together? Are you energized by building processes, solving operational challenges and ensuring client work is delivered seamlessly from planning through execution?As a Director, Project Management at Zeno, you will partner with client teams, finance and agency leadership to support integrated communications programs across a diverse portfolio of clients. You will help drive operational excellence by managing budgets, scopes, timelines and resources while creating processes that enable teams to deliver exceptional work.This role is ideal for a collaborative operations leader who enjoys both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. You'll have the opportunity to optimize how teams work, improve agency processes and help ensure successful delivery across complex, integrated client engagements.About the Role:Project Leadership & Operational Excellence: Serve as a strategic partner to account and practice leaders, helping ensure client programs are delivered on time, within scope and aligned with business objectives.Scope, Budget & Financial Management: Partner with client teams, finance and contracts to develop statements of work (SOWs), manage budgets, monitor project burn, support forecasting and proactively identify scope changes or potential risks.Program Planning & Risk Management: Develop project estimates, timelines and resource plans while identifying risks, recommending solutions and helping teams navigate changing priorities.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner across client teams, finance, resource management and specialty practices to align staffing, budgets and workflows across integrated programs.Resource Planning & Team Enablement: Work with agency leadership and resource management to align project needs with available talent and ensure teams have the right support to deliver high-quality work.Business Operations & New Business Support: Contribute to agency operations by supporting new business planning, developing project estimates and helping establish scalable processes and best practices.About You:6+ years of project management experience within a public relations, advertising, digital, marketing or other agency environment.Experience managing integrated client programs, including project planning, budgeting, forecasting and resource management.Strong understanding of agency operations and the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams.Experience developing statements of work (SOWs), project estimates and program timelines.Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, forecasting and identifying scope changes.Advanced proficiency with Excel, Google Sheets, Smartsheet or similar project management and reporting tools.Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with experience managing multiple priorities and stakeholders.Strong communication skills with the ability to facilitate discussions, build alignment and navigate complex operational challenges.Ability to bring structure to ambiguity by translating complex information into clear plans and actionable next steps.Collaborative mindset with confidence raising questions, identifying risks and recommending solutions.Passion for building efficient processes, improving team collaboration and delivering exceptional client experiences.Preferred Qualifications:Experience supporting integrated communications or marketing programs across multiple disciplines.Experience with agency resource management, financial planning or operational process improvement.Familiarity with project management methodologies and workflow optimization tools.Pay Range: $105,000-$125,000 USD/yr.An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.Level 06An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.About Our BenefitsHealthy, happy employees make Zeno better, so we have programs that support physical, mental and financial wellness. Our culture and benefits are designed to promote flexibility, celebrate diversity and support work/life balance. We offer a variety of medical, dental and vision insurance with prescription plans, as well as short and long-term disability. Our Be Kind to Your Mind program focuses on mental health, providing a paid subscription to Headspace and access to mental health providers and other services through a best-in-class employee assistance program. Employees are encouraged to bring their authentic self to Zeno and participate in our employee resource groups which build communities for sharing and support. And while we love our work, we believe in the restorative power of time off with generous vacation, paid holidays and self-care time. Employees are supported in their pursuit of financial wellness with a 401(k) plan, pretax flexible spending accounts, tuition assistance, life insurance and free access to a certified financial coach. And our unique ZenoFit program provides a monthly allowance to fund activities in your personal life that bring you joy and keep you healthy. These and other benefits are available to non-temporary employees in the US.Zeno Group, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made on the basis of job-related criteria without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law. We invite all applicants to voluntarily self-identify their race, ethnicity, and gender. Submission of the information on this form is strictly voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. Information obtained will be retained in a confidential file and separate from personnel records. This information may only be used in accordance with the provision of applicable federal laws, executive orders, and regulations. 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