Director, Resource Management

Orchestra; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Job summary

Orchestra is seeking a strategic and influential Director, Resource Management to build and lead a newly created enterprise resource management function across the organization. Partnering closely with HR, Finance, Operations, and Vertical Leaders, this role will establish a more integrated, data-driven approach to workforce planning, talent deployment, and capacity management.

The Director will help ensure Orchestra has the right mix of talent, skills, and resources to support client work, new

Qualifications

• 10+ years of resource management, workforce planning, operations or talent deployment in professional services.
• Proven track record scaling resource management in complex, matrixed environments.
• Strong staffing, utilization, forecasting and profitability understanding.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and influencing decisions.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building and change leadership.
• Ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Build and scale the resource management function as a strategic capability.
• Forecast staffing needs and align talent supply with client demand and priorities.
• Balance full-time, freelance, and contract talent for flexibility and profitability.
• Serve as trusted advisor on workforce planning and capacity decisions.
• Lead regular utilization and forecasting reviews with leadership and finance.
• Develop reporting and insights on utilization, forecasting and workload distribution.

Skills

Resource management

Workforce planning

Stakeholder influence

Leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Change management

Tools

Kantata

Job description

Orchestra is a strategic communications and marketing company built for today's complex and fragmented world. From decoding audiences to designing bold strategies, Orchestra integrates people, platforms, and stories that stick to help clients build lasting influence. The company offers programs that span from strategic business counsel to tactical execution. Orchestra brings together 700+ people with experience across consumer and lifestyle, technology, nonprofit and philanthropy, real estate, sports, travel, hospitality, and more. It is made up of leading firms BerlinRosen, Civitas Public Affairs Group, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Small Girls PR. It also launched Brightmode, a talent acquisition firm for communications professionals, and Versus Media Group, a strategy-first political media team.

People of all backgrounds and abilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Orchestra is committed to building and maintaining a diverse staff.

Position Summary

Orchestra is seeking a strategic and influential Director, Resource Management to build and lead a newly created enterprise resource management function across the organization. Partnering closely with HR, Finance, Operations, and Vertical Leaders, this role will establish a more integrated, data-driven approach to workforce planning, talent deployment, and capacity management. The Director will help ensure Orchestra has the right mix of talent, skills, and resources to support client work, new business opportunities, and long‑term growth. Success in this role requires experience building new capabilities within complex, matrixed organizations, along with the executive presence and influence needed to drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Build and Scale the Resource Management Function

• Establish and evolve resource management as a strategic capability across the organization.
• Develop scalable processes, governance, and best practices that support agency growth.
• Drive adoption, change management, and continuous improvement across teams and stakeholders.

Workforce Planning & Talent Deployment

• Partner with HR, Finance, and Vertical Leaders to forecast staffing needs and align talent supply with client demand and business priorities.
• Optimize the mix of full‑time, freelance, and contract talent to balance flexibility, utilization, and profitability.
• Identify capability gaps and provide recommendations related to hiring, redeployment, and skill development.
• Facilitate cross‑functional staffing decisions and serve as an escalation point for complex resource challenges.

Leadership Partnership & Business Performance

• Serve as a trusted advisor to agency leaders on workforce planning and capacity decisions.
• Conduct regular utilization and forecasting reviews with leadership and finance partners.
• Support new business opportunities and evolving client needs through effective staffing strategies.
• Help create high‑performing, cross‑functional teams that deliver strong client outcomes.

Analytics & Operational Excellence

• Develop reporting and insights related to utilization, forecasting, workload distribution, and capacity management.
• Establish governance and data standards for resource management systems, including Kantata.
• Evaluate existing processes and drive improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, and scalability.

Role location: Hybrid in one of our office locations - Boston, Washington D.C., New York City, Seattle, or San Francisco.

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of experience in resource management, workforce planning, operations, or talent deployment within communications, marketing, advertising, consulting, or other professional services organizations.
• Demonstrated success building or scaling resource management capabilities in complex, matrixed environments.
• Strong understanding of staffing models, utilization, workforce forecasting, and profitability.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and influencing decisions across multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and change leadership skills.
• Proven ability to lead through influence rather than direct authority.

Preferred

• Experience with Kantata or similar resource management platforms.
• Experience within multi‑brand organizations, shared services environments, or organizations undergoing significant growth or transformation.
• Experience working with both on‑shore and off‑shore talent teams.
• Familiarity with agency financial metrics, including utilization, billability, realization, and revenue forecasting.

Benefits

Salary range (commensurate with experience and skills): $135,000 - $140,000.