Senior Project Manager

Horizontal Talent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Horizontal Talent is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead high-impact creative projects within a fast-paced marketing organization. You will guide cross-functional teams, optimize processes, and deliver multi-channel campaigns aligned with brand strategy and business goals.

The role emphasizes mentorship, governance, and strategic collaboration with stakeholders, while maintaining thorough documentation and risk management across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, or a related field.
• 7+ years of relevant project management experience.
• Background in a creative agency or similar environment.
• Experience in multi-channel creative workflows and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; proven problem-solving ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple creative projects from kickoff through closeout, ensuring schedule, scope, and budget alignment.
• Collaborate with strategists, creatives, writers, designers, and external partners to deliver campaigns.
• Serve as PM SME, supporting onboarding, process improvements, and change management.
• Mentor junior and mid-level PMs to foster growth and collaboration.
• Maintain accurate project plans, status updates, and workflows in PM systems.
• Identify risks, dependencies, scope changes, and issues; escalate when needed.
• Act as a hub for internal teams and partners to ensure clear communication.
• Support forecasting, reporting, budget tracking, and project performance with Operations.
• Contribute to post-project assessments and lessons learned.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Budget oversight

Mentoring

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, or a related field

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Project Manager to lead complex, high-impact creative projects for a fast-paced marketing organization. In this role, you'll guide cross-functional teams, strengthen project processes, and help deliver innovative multi-channel work that supports brand strategy and business goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple creative projects from kickoff through closeout, keeping work on schedule, within scope, and aligned to budget expectations.
• Partner with strategists, creative directors, writers, designers, and external collaborators to deliver compelling, insight-driven campaigns and content.
• Serve as a project management subject matter expert, supporting onboarding, process improvement, and change management efforts.
• Mentor junior and mid-level project managers by providing guidance, feedback, and support that encourages growth and collaboration.
• Maintain accurate project plans, documentation, status updates, and workflows in project management systems.
• Proactively identify risks, dependencies, scope changes, and issues; elevate concerns promptly when needed.
• Act as a central point of contact for internal teams and partners, helping ensure strong communication and alignment across stakeholders.
• Support forecasting, reporting, budget tracking, and project performance oversight in partnership with Operations.
• Participate in project assessments and closeout activities, capturing lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Help reinforce team achievements and contribute to a positive, collaborative working environment.

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in project management.
• Background in a creative agency or similar environment.
• Strong experience managing multi-channel creative workflows and complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage several priorities at once.
• Clear and confident communication skills for working with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks and make sound decisions.
• Experience with project documentation, tracking, reporting, and budget oversight.
• Ability to coach and support team members while fostering a respectful, inclusive team culture.

Preferred Skills

• PMP certification or a similar project management credential.
• Experience in events, tradeshows, or experiential marketing.
• Familiarity with change management practices and process improvement initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to connect multiple workstreams and translate ideas into actionable plans.

Horizontal is committed to fostering a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued and respected. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who bring different perspectives, experiences, and ideas, and we're dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can contribute and thrive.

For those that join the team, we offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement.

The pay range for this role is $22 - $49 per hour based on qualifications and experience.