Program Director - Temporary Worker

Dentsu; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 153,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Merkle is seeking a Temporary Program Director to lead transformational digital and technical initiatives for premier client portfolios. This senior role requires strategic and operational excellence to oversee multiple high-stakes programs and build organizational capabilities.

The ideal candidate will bring deep digital/technical expertise, strong leadership, and a track record of delivering results in fast-paced agency environments serving domestic and international markets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 12-15 years of progressive program/project management experience at a digital/technical agency or consulting firm.
• 4-6 years of people management experience.
• Experience with high-value programs ($5M-$15M+ each).
• Experience with enterprise-level clients and multi-year technical initiatives.
• Certifications in Agile/Scrum are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Direct a portfolio of enterprise-level programs for Fortune 500 clients.
• Define program vision, objectives, and success criteria with client executives.
• Develop roadmaps linking digital transformation, CX, data analytics, and tech.
• Ensure programs deliver ROI and align with business strategy.
• Lead governance and risk management across programs.
• Monitor health with dashboards covering scope, schedule, budget, and quality.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Agile/Scrum

Stakeholder management

Communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Workfront

Jira

Confluence

Smartsheet

Salesforce

AEM

Job description

Job Description

Job Description:

TEMP ROLE

10/12-5/31/2027

Anticipated40 hoursper week

Hourly, Non-Exempt on Dentsu Payroll, W2

Remote or Hybrid depending on Location

Work in EST Time Zone with some flexibility

Must be US Based

Travel - Required on occasion

Company Description

Merkle, adentsucompany, powers theexperienceeconomy. For more than 35 years, the company has put people at the heart of its approach to digital business transformation. As the only integrated experience consultancy in the world with a heritage in data science and business performance, Merkle delivers holistic, end-to-end experiences that drive growth, engagement, and loyalty. Merkle'sexpertisehas earned recognition as a "Leader" by top industry analyst firms, in categories such as digital transformation and commerce, experience design, engineering and technology integration, digital marketing, data science, CRM and loyalty, and customer data management. With more than16,000 employees, Merkle operates in 30+ countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experiencedTemporaryProgram Directorto lead transformational digital/technical initiatives for our premier client portfolio while driving excellence across our program management practice. This senior leadership position requires a strategic and operationally sophisticated professional who can oversee one or more high-stakes programs, develop organizational capabilities, and serve as a trusted advisor to client executives. The ideal candidate brings deep digital/technical expertise, proven team leadership, and the ability to deliver exceptional results in fast-paced, complex agency environments serving both domestic and international markets.

Key Responsibilities

Program Portfolio Leadership

• Direct a portfolio of enterprise-level programs for 1 or more Fortune 500 clients
• Define program vision,objectives, and success criteria in collaboration with client executives and agency leadership
• Establish comprehensive program roadmaps that integrate multiple workstreams across digital transformation, customer experience, data analytics, and technology implementations
• Ensure programs align with client business strategies and deliver measurable ROI and business impact
• Lead program steering committees with senior client stakeholders,facilitatingstrategic decision-making and governance
• Manage program interdependencies, risks, and resource conflicts across the portfolio

Delivery Excellence & Governance

• Partner closely with Creative, Strategy, Data & Analytics, Technology, and CRM leadership to ensure integrated program delivery
• Oversee end-to-end program execution ensuring deliverables meet quality standards, timelines, and budget parameters
• Implement robust governance structures including escalation protocols, change management processes, and risk mitigation strategies
• Monitor program health through comprehensive dashboards tracking scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction metrics
• Conduct regular program health assessments and implement corrective actions to address challenges
• Ensure compliance with agency standards, client requirements, and regulatory obligations across all markets
• Lead crisis management and issue resolution for high-impact program challenges
• Facilitate post-program retrospectives capturing lessons learned and best practices

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage program budgets ensuring profitability targets are achieved
• Oversee resource planning and allocation across programs,optimizingutilizationand capability deployment
• Identifyopportunities to improve operational efficiency and program profitability

Operational & Process Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance delivery quality, team productivity, and client satisfaction
• Establish and refine program management methodologies, tools, and templates aligned with industry best practices
• Implement andoptimizetechnology platforms supporting program planning, execution, and reporting
• Create standardized frameworks for risk management, change control, and quality assurance

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 12-15years of progressive program/project management experience at a digital/technical agency isaMUST
• 4-6 years of people management experience
• Proventrack recordmanaging complex programs valued at $5M-$15M+ individually
• Extensive experience with enterprise-level clients and multi-year technical initiatives
• History of delivering programs that drive significant business outcomes and client satisfaction

Leadership Competencies

• Exceptional leadership presence and influencing skills, comfortable engaging with senior executives
• Outstanding communication skills across written, verbal, and presentation formats
• Experience leading through ambiguity and complexity in matrixed organizations
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and ability to navigate challenging stakeholder situations

Technical Expertise

• Expert-level knowledge of program management methodologies including Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, and hybrid approaches
• Advancedproficiencywith program management platforms (Workfront, Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, or similar)
• Experience with Salesforce and AEM implementations

Required Qualifications

• Agile/Scrum certifications (CSM,SAFe, etc.)in addition toleading teams in Agile methodology
• Extensive experience at recognized digital and/or technical agencies or top-tier consulting firms.(12-15years of progressive program/project management experience at a digital/technical agency or consulting firm isaMUST)
• Experience delivering website migrations, design systems, and site implementations

Additional Information:

At dentsu, we believegreat workhappens whenwe’reconnected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currentlylocatedin Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, arerequiredand expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu maydesignateother Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may bedesignated asremote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

Salary

The hourly pay range for this position is $73.32 - $120.00. The hourly pay rate for the successful candidate is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factorspermittedby law. Temporary employees are eligible for paid holidaysin accordance withdentsupolicy, as well as safe and sick time. This position is not eligible for any other benefits or other compensation.

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Location

USA - Remote - Maryland

Brand

Merkle

Time Type

Full time

Contract Type

Temporary

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

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