Senior Project Manager

The Office of Experience; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Experience is a Chicago-based digital agency delivering complex programs across client accounts with a focus on strategy, design and technology. The Senior Project Manager ensures on-time, on-spec and on-budget delivery while coordinating teams and documentation.

Ideal candidates have 5–7 years in digital/design/marketing project management, plus 1–2+ years in technology implementations; strong waterfall and agile practices; and proven budgeting, risk and stakeholder management

Qualifications

• 5–7 years project management experience at a digital, design or marketing agency.
• 1–2+ years experience managing technology/platform implementation projects, with ecommerce experience strongly preferred.
• Expert understanding of waterfall methodology, including the ability to identify and resolve issues, manage risk, develop detailed project plans and manage resource allocations.
• Proficient understanding of agile methodology.
• Proven ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects totaling $3MM+.
• Proven ability to scope profitable budgets as well as track and communicate all issues that will impact revenue forecasting.
• Mastery of project management suite of tools including Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, Claude, Parallax and/or similar platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to apply AI tools that streamline project workflows.
• Outstanding team-building, communication, negotiation and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing and delivering complex programs, digital marketing and technology projects for multiple client accounts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients on day-to-day project status, risks, and deliverables, ensuring clear and consistent communication.
• Lead multifunctional team, including creative, strategy, UX, content, development, QA and BA, in defining the overall scope of a project.
• Forecast and manage budget burn across multiple projects and programs, escalating issues early to the Director, Project Management.
• Ensure that project resource allocation and utilization are accurate and in line with project estimated budgets.
• Take ownership and delivery management of project scopes.
• Support software release cycles, including coordination of QA, UAT, and deployment timelines with development teams.
• Develop and ensure potential mitigation strategies are implemented to ensure seamless project delivery.
• Evangelize for best practice PM process and methodologies to ensure efficiency in workflow practices across all disciplines.
• Organize and lead ongoing team planning sessions to identify key risks, issues, and dependencies across workstreams.
• Articulate and manage metrics including client outcomes, burn rate, revenue and margins to support account health and account-level planning.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.

Skills

Project management

Client relationships

Team leadership

Budget management

Agile methodologies

Waterfall methodology

Risk management

Communication

Presentation skills

AI tools adoption

Tools

Smartsheet

Jira

Confluence

Claude

Parallax

Job description

The Office of Experience (OX) is a full-service digital agency helping companies excel at every moment of interface they have with their customers. OX's human-centered philosophy and multidisciplinary approach integrate strategy, design and technology to help organizations reinvent their business and rapidly bring new experiences, products and messages to market. In an era of unprecedented disruption, OX is built to transform.

Position Description

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for managing and delivering complex programs and digital projects for multiple client accounts. All projects under the oversight of the Senior Project Manager must be delivered on time, on specification and on budget, and supply completed documentation. The Senior Project Manager also participates in new business activities, yearly account planning and establishment of PM process definition and coordination. The ideal candidate will have both digital and traditional marketing agency experience along with experience with software releases and general knowledge of data flow. The Senior Project Manager reports directly to the Director, Project Management.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Responsible for managing and delivering complex programs, digital marketing and technology projects for multiple client accounts
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients on day-to-day project status, risks, and deliverables, ensuring clear and consistent communication.
• Lead multifunctional team, including creative, strategy, UX, content, development, QA and BA, in defining the overall scope of a project
• Forecast and manage budget burn across multiple projects and programs, escalating issues early to the Director, Project Management
• Ensure that project resource allocation and utilization are accurate and in line with project estimated budgets
• Take ownership and delivery management of project scopes
• Support software release cycles, including coordination of QA, UAT, and deployment timelines with development teams
• Develop and ensure potential mitigation strategies are implemented to ensure seamless project delivery
• Evangelize for best practice PM process and methodologies to ensure efficiency in workflow practices across all disciplines
• Organize and lead ongoing team planning sessions to identify key risks, issues, and dependencies across workstreams
• Articulate and manage metrics including client outcomes, burn rate, revenue and margins to support account health and account-level planning
• Other duties as assigned by your manager

Required Experience

• 5-7 years project management experience at a digital, design or marketing agency
• 1-2+ years experience managing technology/platform implementation projects, with ecommerce experience strongly preferred
• Expert understanding of waterfall methodology, including the ability to identify and resolve issues, manage risk, develop detailed project plans and manage resource allocations
• Proficient understanding of agile methodology
• Proven ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects totaling $3MM+
• Proven ability to scope profitable budgets as well as track and communicate all issues that will impact revenue forecasting
• Mastery of project management suite of tools including Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, Claude, Parallax and/or similar platforms
• Demonstrated ability to apply AI tools that streamline project workflows
• Outstanding team-building, communication, negotiation and presentation skills