Project Manager III

Aquent (United States); Culver City (CA); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

W2 employment

Weekly pay

Benefits

401k with match

Job summary

Aquent in Culver City is seeking a highly resourceful project manager to join our strategic operations team. You will design, activate, and enhance systems and experiences that drive the expansion of our advertising platform while coordinating cross-functional partners.

This role requires strong judgment, vendor management, and hands-on execution with a solid grasp of AI to deliver scalable, repeatable processes and clear deliverables for leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading complex cross-functional programs in large organizations.
• Ability to translate ambiguous requests into actionable plans and deliver outcomes.
• Strong judgment, stakeholder management, and vendor coordination.
• Experience applying AI to improve execution, reporting, and processes.
• Excellent written and oral communication, with discretion handling sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Clarify initiative requests with leadership, define outcomes, and determine scope and delivery methods.
• Convert concepts into actionable briefs with milestones, owners, and dependencies.
• Lead cross-functional programs from scoping to delivery, resolving challenges and escalating decisions.
• Turn recommendations into concrete workstreams with clear accountability and follow-through.
• Maintain a centralized view of active initiatives, priorities, and decisions for stakeholders.
• Develop playbooks and templates to improve future program efficiency.
• Build and maintain a vendor library with capabilities, costs, and lessons learned.
• Leverage AI tools and automation to streamline execution and reporting.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

AI in operations

Program coordination

Communication

Confidential information handling

Tools

Airtable

Job description

Aquent is partnering with a global technology leader renowned for its customer-centric approach to innovation. This company’s cutting-edge advertising platform brings an unparalleled focus on user experience, helping people discover exactly what they need while empowering businesses of all sizes to thrive. As a vital member of this team, you will contribute directly to the evolution and scaling of a platform that integrates advertising thoughtfully, respects user privacy, and delivers significant value across diverse digital services. Your work will directly impact how millions of users discover content and how advertisers achieve their goals, fostering trust and connection in the digital landscape.

Location: Culver City, CA
Schedule: Hybrid: In-Office T/W/Th; Remote M/F
Duration: through May 2027
Max Pay Rate: $76.10/hour
Pay Comments:W2, weekly pay, benefits, 401k w/ match
Background screening required

About the Role

We are seeking a highly resourceful, collaborative, and experienced project manager to join our strategic operations team. This pivotal team is responsible for designing, activating, and enhancing the organizational systems, capabilities, and experiences that drive the expansion of our advertising platform. As an individual contributor, you will expertly manage complex cross-functional initiatives, transforming ambiguous requests into concrete plans and successfully delivered outcomes. This role demands a blend of sharp judgment, adept vendor management, hands-on execution, and a strong understanding of AI to not only deliver immediate results but also establish repeatable, scalable practices for future endeavors. You will be at the forefront of shaping how strategic projects are executed, directly influencing operational efficiency and growth.

What You’ll Do

• Partner closely with strategic operations and leadership to clarify initiative requests, define desired outcomes, and recommend optimal scope, ownership, and delivery methodologies.
• Translate abstract concepts and ambiguous requests into actionable project briefs and comprehensive plans, meticulously outlining deliverables, owners, milestones, dependencies, and critical decision points.
• Lead and manage cross-functional initiatives from initial scoping through successful delivery, effectively coordinating diverse partners, proactively resolving execution challenges, and escalating key decisions to leadership when necessary.
• Convert approved strategic recommendations into concrete, actionable workstreams, establish clear accountability among owners, and rigorously drive follow-through on all agreed-upon commitments.
• Maintain a consolidated and transparent overview of all active and upcoming initiatives, ensuring clear visibility into priorities, progress, interdependencies, and outstanding decisions for stakeholders.
• Identify recurring initiative patterns and proactively develop practical playbooks, standardized scoping templates, and streamlined review processes to enhance consistency and efficiency in future project support.
• Establish and maintain a centralized vendor library, comprehensively cataloging vendor capabilities, costs, historical engagements, deliverables, outcomes, and valuable lessons learned.
• Leverage approved AI tools and automation to streamline project execution, enhance documentation, improve reporting, and capture reusable knowledge, applying insights from completed projects to anticipate future needs and continuously refine delivery processes.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs or projects within a large organization, including navigating evolving requirements and engaging with senior stakeholders effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to convert ambiguous requests into clear, actionable recommendations, robust project plans, and successfully delivered outcomes.
• Exceptional judgment and critical thinking skills, coupled with the confidence to challenge assumptions, clarify ownership, and recommend strategic adjustments to scope or approach.
• Extensive experience coordinating external vendors or consultants, meticulously reviewing deliverables, and expertly managing stakeholder feedback and approval cycles.
• Strong program management and operational acumen, including proficiency in managing dependencies, mitigating risks, overseeing budgets, and effectively running multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Demonstrated experience applying AI tools and automation to enhance project execution, reporting, data analysis, or operational workflows, always with meticulous attention to accuracy and confidentiality.
• Experience in developing reusable processes and configuring project management or operational systems to improve visibility and significantly reduce manual effort.
• Outstanding written communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to concisely summarize progress, effectively frame key decisions, and influence follow-through without direct authority.
• A track record of handling sensitive and confidential information with the utmost integrity and discretion.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience supporting executive-sponsored initiatives, contributing to business planning cycles, or managing leadership operating rhythms.
• Proficiency in building and administering Airtable databases, interfaces, dashboards, and automations.
• Prior experience in improving internal operations or establishing new program management practices within an organization.
• Experience partnering with change management teams on organizational or operating model transformation initiatives.
• Experience working within a global technology organization.