Project Director

Daniel J. Edelman Holdings; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K

Paid time off

Travel assistance

Wellness program

Job summary

Daniel J. Edelman Holdings seeks a Project Director to lead complex, integrated client work from intake to final delivery and financial close. This role connects Account, Strategy, Creative, Communications and more to turn ambitious ideas into executable plans.

You will own the end-to-end delivery of large programs, drive cross-team collaboration, manage budgets and ensure quality and on-time results in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 6+ years of project management experience in integrated marketing, communications, advertising, entertainment, sports, experiential or related agency environment.
• Demonstrated success leading mid- to large-scale integrated programs from planning through execution and financial close.
• Strong experience with scoping, estimating, staffing, scheduling, forecasting, budget management and change control.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint, and experience with Smartsheet or a comparable project management platform.
• Comfort working across multiple disciplines, vendors, partners and senior stakeholders in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead intake for new assignments and growth opportunities, clarifying objectives, deliverables, assumptions, dependencies and decision points before work begins.
• Partner with Account and specialty leads to define the delivery approach, scope of work, staffing plan, timeline and both top-down and bottom-up estimates.
• Lead the development and approval of Statements of Work, change orders and related project documentation in partnership with Account, Finance, Contracts and discipline leads.
• Translate client asks and creative ambition into practical workplans with clear roles, milestones, review cycles and ownership.
• Own the end-to-end delivery of large, complex and integrated programs with minimal oversight, from kickoff through wrap-up.
• Build and maintain project briefs, schedules, status reports, decision logs, cost estimates, staffing plans and ways-of-working documentation.
• Drive workflow across integrated teams, keeping priorities, deliverables, owners and next steps visible and moving forward.
• Lead client and internal conversations related to project plans, required inputs, timing, scope and budget, setting clear expectations and enabling informed decisions.
• Proactively identify risks, dependencies and scope changes; bring forward solutions and manage escalation and change-control procedures when needed.
• Ensure deliverables meet the agreed brief, quality expectations, brand requirements, timing and budget.

Skills

MS Office

Excel & PowerPoint

Smartsheet

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

About UEG

United Entertainment Group (UEG) is a global agency specializing in entertainment, sports and lifestyle marketing. We create breakthrough brand experiences by leveraging the people, places and platforms that shape culture. Our work spans celebrity and influencer programming, entertainment and sports partnerships, communications, branded content, social and experiential activations.

THE ROLE

UEG is seeking a Project Director to lead complex, integrated client work from opportunity intake through final delivery and financial close. This role sits at the center of the business, connecting Account, Strategy, Creative, Communications, Talent, Partnerships, Brand Experience, Production, Social, Finance and Resource Management to turn ambitious ideas into clear, executable plans.

What You’ll Do

Project Definition & Scoping

• Lead intake for new assignments and growth opportunities, clarifying objectives, deliverables, assumptions, dependencies and decision points before work begins.
• Partner with Account and specialty leads to define the delivery approach, scope of work, staffing plan, timeline and both top-down and bottom-up estimates.
• Lead the development and approval of Statements of Work, change orders and related project documentation in partnership with Account, Finance, Contracts and discipline leads.
• Translate client asks and creative ambition into practical workplans with clear roles, milestones, review cycles and ownership.

Integrated Delivery

• Own the end-to-end delivery of large, complex and integrated programs with minimal oversight, from kickoff through wrap-up.
• Build and maintain project briefs, schedules, status reports, decision logs, cost estimates, staffing plans and ways-of-working documentation.
• Drive workflow across integrated teams, keeping priorities, deliverables, owners and next steps visible and moving forward.
• Lead client and internal conversations related to project plans, required inputs, timing, scope and budget, setting clear expectations and enabling informed decisions.
• Proactively identify risks, dependencies and scope changes; bring forward solutions and manage escalation and change-control procedures when needed.
• Ensure deliverables meet the agreed brief, quality expectations, brand requirements, timing and budget.

Financial & Resource Management

• Partner with Account and Finance to manage project health, including fee and out-of-pocket budgets, forecasts, burn, purchase orders, invoicing and reconciliation.
• Monitor performance against scope and staffing assumptions, flagging pressure early and recommending corrective action to protect delivery and profitability.
• Partner with Resource Management and discipline leads to confirm the right team and level of effort for each phase of work, while anticipating future needs.
• Ensure project setup and financial information are accurate and maintained across UEG's core systems and trackers.

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Provide calm, confident leadership through ambiguity, balancing urgency with thoughtful decision-making.
• Delegate effectively and directly manage or mentor junior and mid-level project managers in both project delivery and career development.
• Establish strong ways of working for new teams and programs, and promote consistent use of UEG project management standards, tools and templates.
• Contribute to PM team operations, including opportunity prioritization, project setup quality, onboarding, best-practice development and PM assignments.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, strengthen financial discipline and make integrated delivery more efficient and repeatable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 6 years of project management experience in an integrated marketing, communications, advertising, entertainment, sports, experiential or related agency environment.
• Demonstrated success leading mid- to large-scale integrated programs from planning through execution and financial close.
• Strong experience with scoping, estimating, staffing, scheduling, forecasting, budget management and change control.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint, and experience with Smartsheet or a comparable project management platform.
• Comfort working across multiple disciplines, vendors, partners and senior stakeholders in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

What We Look For

• A strategic, solutions-oriented thinker who can cut through ambiguity and create a clear path forward.
• A strong communicator who can influence teams, navigate conflict and lead difficult conversations with confidence and respect.
• A financially minded operator who understands how scope, staffing, timing and delivery decisions affect project health and profitability.
• A proactive, self-reliant leader with strong judgment, attention to detail and a bias for action.
• A team-first people leader who values accountability, collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• Curiosity for culture and enthusiasm for work at the intersection of entertainment, sports, lifestyle and brand building.

$75,000 - $130,000 per year

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.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.