Program Manager - Experience Design and Development

Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd.; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

401k

Flexible paid time off

15+ paid holidays per year

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Dentsu is seeking a strategic Program Manager to lead cross-functional, high-visibility programs from vision to delivery. You will manage multi-workstream initiatives with technology teams, ensuring measurable business benefits while upholding governance and ethical decision-making.

Remote-based with Maryland focus, the role requires strong leadership, governance expertise, and the ability to drive collaboration across diverse teams and clients in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 12+ months of SAFe experience in a current or recent role.
• SAFe certification is a plus.
• Proven success leading complex, multi-workstream programs.
• Experience delivering with technology teams in the web/digital space (web platforms, CMS, digital experience).
• Adobe stack experience is a plus.
• Strong leadership, team-building and conflict resolution skills.
• Deep governance, financial management, and benefits realization experience.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication abilities.
• Proactive, adaptable mindset for fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Shape the Vision & Drive Outcomes; translate strategy into actionable objectives.
• Lead programs end-to-end; ensure delivery of business outcomes and measurable benefits.
• Champion ethical, responsible decision-making across stakeholders.
• Build & Lead cross-functional teams; include project managers and specialists.
• Foster collaboration, innovation, and accountability across groups.
• Resolve conflicts, influence stakeholders, keep teams aligned.
• Manage program budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Ensure alignment between outputs and business goals; track benefits.
• Establish governance, reporting, and assurance frameworks.
• Monitor performance, address risks, ensure program integrity.
• Navigate dependencies across initiatives; optimize resources.
• Lead risk and issue management with proactive mindset.
• Engage senior leaders, clients, and cross-functional teams.
• Deliver clear communication at all levels; act as connective tissue.

Skills

SAFe experience

Leadership & team-building

Stakeholder management

Governance & financial management

Communication

Adaptable mindset

Conflict resolution

Adobe stack

Web/digital delivery

Tools

Adobe stack

Job description

Job Description

Are you a strategic, results-driven leader who thrives on bringing complex programs to life? Do you excel at aligning people, processes, and priorities to deliver real business impact? We're looking for a Program Manager who can lead with vision, execute with precision, and inspire teams to achieve exceptional outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Shape the Vision & Drive Outcomes
• Define and translate program strategy into clear, actionable objectives
• Lead programs end-to-end, ensuring delivery of key business outcomes and measurable benefits
• Champion ethical, responsible decision-making across all stakeholders
• Build & Lead High-Performing Teams
• Stand up and lead cross-functional program teams, including project managers and specialists
• Foster collaboration, innovation, and accountability across diverse groups
• Resolve conflicts, influence stakeholders, and keep teams aligned and motivated
• Own Delivery & Execution
• Manage program budgets, forecasts, and financial performance
• Ensure alignment between program outputs and business goals
• Track, measure, and deliver benefits outlined in the business case
• Establish Strong Governance & Controls
• Design and implement effective program governance, reporting, and assurance frameworks
• Monitor performance, proactively address risks, and ensure program integrity
• Drive consistency and excellence across all project workstreams
• Navigate Complexity with Confidence
• Manage dependencies across multiple initiatives and teams
• Secure and optimize resources across internal and external partners
• Lead risk and issue management with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Engage & Influence Stakeholders
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, clients, and cross-functional teams
• Deliver clear, compelling communication at every level
• Act as the connective tissue across teams to ensure alignment and success

What You Bring

• At least 12 months' recent experience working in a SAFe team.
• SAFe certification is a plus
• Proven success leading complex, multi-workstream programs
• A background delivering alongside technology teams in the web or digital space - web platforms, CMS, digital experience, or similar.
• Adobe stack experience is a plus
• Strong leadership, team-building, and conflict resolution skills with the confidence and presence to guide both your team and the clients
• Deep experience in governance, financial management, and benefits realization
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication abilities
• A proactive, adaptable mindset with the ability to thrive in fast-paced environments

Why Join Us

This is your opportunity to lead meaningful, high-visibility programs that drive real transformation. You'll collaborate with talented teams, solve complex challenges, and make a lasting impact on the business. Ready to lead, inspire, and deliver at scale? At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we're connected. 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, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, 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 and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $94,000 - $150,000.

Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,
• Life insurance,
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,
• 401k,
• Flexible paid time off,
• At least 15 paid holidays per year,
• Paid sick and safe leave,
• Paid parental leave.

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

Location: USA - Remote - Maryland

Brand: Merkle

Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent

Equal Employment Opportunity

We're 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.

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] by clicking on the link to let us know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.

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About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering - exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact. Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We're leading the way - helping to build a more sustainable planet. Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future. Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way. Find out more about us Who we are Our Social Impact Our work