Project Manager - Marketing

Strategic America; West Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Strategic America in West Des Moines is seeking a Project Manager to oversee small to mid-size marketing projects. Based in a hybrid office environment, you will plan timelines, coordinate cross-functional teams, and ensure on-time delivery with quality standards.

Youll serve as the primary contact for projects, manage client expectations, review briefs, and drive continuous improvement across agency processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional work experience.
• 1+ years of account coordination, marketing or related experience.
• Comprehensive understanding of media channels, including traditional, paid, broadcast, SEO, and web.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams across strategy, creative, digital, media, and production.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Familiarity with project management tools and agency processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, schedules, and estimates.
• Lead projects with minimal oversight and drive progress within agency processes.
• Monitor day-to-day execution, timelines, risks, and dependencies.
• Create and maintain master project documentation.
• Serve as the central point of contact for projects and communicate with internal teams.
• Attend client meetings and recap action items, ensuring follow-ups are clear.
• Review briefs and submit change orders for cross-functional teams.
• Work with Resource Managers to ensure staffing and resource availability.
• Support quality assurance and continuous process improvements.
• Collaborate with client managers and agency partners to support client growth.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Cross-functional coordination

Time management

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Location: West Des Moines (Hybrid Office Schedule)

About SA - Our People

Think of the world’s most talented creative thinkers. Problem-solvers. Strategists. At Strategic America, we don’t bring on anything less. The way we see it, if you’re going to make the best work of your life, you may as well do it with people who share the same hunger for results.

At SA, we’ve always been passionate about our employees and since 2021, we’ve been employee owned with participation in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Employee ownership ensures SA remains independent and allows our talented team members to share in the company’s success. With each year of employment, SAers build equity in the company, becoming fully vested after six years.

Our employee-led, leadership-supported ERGs celebrate the diversity of our team, foster inclusivity and belonging, and create a space to connect to each other. Through connections and understanding, we build a stronger and more dynamic team and help every person reach their personal peak.

About SA – The Company

When you join SA, you join a strategic team (yes, it’s in our name!) who is also wired for action. Authenticity is our focus, and every day we help our clients propel their potential. If you’re ready for a fast-paced environment that challenges you, supports you, and rewards you, then look no further. Our clients rely on us and we rely on each other to go the extra mile and hold ourselves accountable because we’re better together and we know we can always find the better way.

We strive to create meaning in work and provide more than just a job; a place to belong and grow. As we leap toward our goals that will shape our future, our employee experience is unique. Flexibility, connection, inclusiveness, and collaboration support our well-being and help us be our best. Because when you feel like you belong, work is no longer work – it's personal. We believe better employees lead to better results.

Join us as we transform your career!

Strategic America recognized as Best-in-Class Employer by Gallagher

About The Role

The Project Manager supports the successful delivery of small to moderately complex marketing projects across assigned clients and teams. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring projects from kickoff through completion, ensuring work is delivered on time, within scope, and to quality standards. As the go-to person for assigned projects, the Project Manager supports day-to-day operations, facilitates collaboration across internal teams, clients, and partners, and helps drive efficient, well‑executed work that delivers expected client results.

Project Planning & Execution

• Assist in developing project plans, timelines, schedules, and estimates that balance client expectations with agency and interdepartmental needs.
• Lead projects on assigned accounts with minimal oversight, driving work forward within established agency processes.
• Manage projects with an understanding of the broader client and team objectives, anticipating needs and proactively offering solutions.
• Monitor day-to-day project execution, tracking progress, timelines, risks, and dependencies.
• Create and maintain master project and estimate documentation to support accurate scoping and execution.

Communication & Collaboration

• Serve as the central point of contact for assigned projects, providing clear, timely communication to internal teams and stakeholders.
• Organize, facilitate, and lead internal meetings, including agendas, documentation, action items, and next steps.
• Attend client meetings to recap action items and ensure follow‑ups are clearly communicated to the team.
• Review creative briefs and submit change orders to ensure cross‑functional teams have the information needed to execute effectively.
• Work closely with Resource Managers to ensure appropriate staffing and resource availability.
• Positively manage and navigate differing perspectives across cross‑functional teams to maintain momentum and alignment.

Quality, Risk & Process Management

• Follow and support agency processes, guardrails, quality standards, and risk management practices.
• Identify potential risks or issues early and support problem‑solving to ensure smooth delivery.
• Assist with managing project changes and understanding their impact on timelines, and resources.
• Support quality assurance efforts to ensure deliverables meet client and agency standards.

Tools, Efficiency & Continuous Improvement

• Manage and monitor projects using agency tools and systems.
• Create and maintain templates, workflows, and documentation to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Propose process improvements to continuously enhance how the team operates.
• Assist with training new agency team members on tools and processes as needed.

Client & Business Support

• Develop an understanding of client needs, objectives, and scope of work to support successful delivery of marketing initiatives.
• Collaborate with client managers, agency partners, and internal teams to support client growth and long‑term relationships.
• Ensure agency creative intent is maintained when working with external partners or vendors.
• Contribute clear, succinct action items and insights that support strategic initiatives.

Agency Values & Team Contribution

• Serve as a positive role model by representing and reinforcing the agency’s core values.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the team and agency goals.

Minimum Qualifications

We realize applying for jobs can feel daunting at times. Even if you don’t check all the boxes in the job description, we encourage you to still apply.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional work experience
• 1+ years of account coordination, marketing or related experience.

Position Requirements

• Comprehensive understanding of media channels, including traditional, paid, broadcast, SEO, and web—to effectively plan, coordinate, and manage integrated marketing calendars across all media types and deliverables.
• Proven ability to manage and track payment processing, both incoming and outgoing, across multiple dealer locations to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and financial accountability.
• Ability to interpret client requirements and translate them into clear, actionable project plans within defined scope.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional teams across strategy, creative, digital, media, and production.
• Excellent organizational, time‑management, and prioritization skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strategic, proactive problem solver with strong stress‑management and adaptability.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communicator at all levels of the organization.
• Familiarity with project management tools, workflows, and agency processes.
• General understanding of digital concepts, platforms, and web development workflows.
• Tech‑savvy, with the ability to simplify complex processes and improve efficiency.
• Collaborative team player who actively supports the agency’s culture and values.
• Physical - Reasonable accommodations may be made available to to perform essential functions
• Travel - Negligible

Our Commitment to Inclusivity and Diversity

We are proud to be one of only 25 agencies nationwide, and the first in the Midwest, to earn the 4A’s Workplace Enlightenment Certification®, and we couldn’t have done it without our associates, who participated in digital learning sessions on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disabilities, and faith. At SA, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where people of every background can thrive and feel welcome.

Don’t meet every single requirement for this role? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Because we are fully committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that reflects the clients we serve and communities we work in, if you’re excited about this role but your qualifications don’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

This position is located in West Des Moines, Iowa and will work a hybrid schedule.