Senior Project Manager

VML South Africa; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

VML, part of WPP, is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager with the ability to effectively manage internal stakeholders across multiple departments to deliver on our clients’ needs and objectives.

The role requires leading complex integrated campaigns from strategy through execution, applying Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid methods, and using Jira and Smartsheet. We offer a hybrid office model in Kansas City with a competitive benefits package and a salary range of $60,000–$140,000 USD.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive project management experience in a creative or integrated marketing agency.
• Proven track record leading complex campaigns from strategy through execution.
• Experience with Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid methodologies.
• Strong knowledge of production processes for video, social, digital, ecommerce, print, and in-store merchandising.
• Excellent client relationship, collaboration, communication skills.
• Experience leveraging LLMs and building AI-driven workflows.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver client campaigns on time and budget.
• Analyze project health using burn reports and velocity charts.
• Communicate status to clients and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Client relationship management

Communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Tools

Jira

Smartsheet

AI automation

Job description

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.VML is looking for experienced Senior Project Manager with the ability to effectively manage variety of internal stakeholder across multiple departments in their effort to deliver on our clients’ needs and objectives. The senior project manager will help client stakeholders and agency team communicate effectively throughout each stage of a project. VML needs individuals who are proactive problem solvers that can manage team dynamics, manage project financial performance, clearly communicate status, and drive project deliverables to meet deadlines.

Skill Set/Experience and Tools Required:

• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive project management experience, with a significant portion gained within a creative or integrated marketing agency environment.
• Proven track record of leading and managing complex, integrated marketing campaigns from strategy through execution and delivery, including understanding how different channels and disciplines work together.
• Proficiency in applying various project management methodologies (such as Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid) as appropriate for project needs.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in the production processes for video (broadcast/CTV), social media, digital media, e-commerce, print, and in-store retail merchandising.
• Deep understanding of the creative development process from brief to final asset delivery. Strong skills in client relationship management, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and clear verbal and written communication.
• Ability to manage project budgets and leverage project data (like timeline trends, burn reports, resource heat maps, and velocity charts) to analyze project health, identify risks, forecast needs, and communicate insights to teams and clients.
• Practical experience leveraging LLMs and building basic AI-driven agents or automated workflows to help streamline operations and improve team efficiency.
• Strong proficiency in Jira and Smartsheet, with the ability to create clear, comprehensive project documentation (SOWs, project plans, status reports, and meeting notes).

Project Governance & Insights:

• Comprehensive project scoping, master planning, and risk management.
• Delivers consistent client-facing status reports, actionable resource heat maps, burn reports, and post-mortems to ensure project health and profitability.

Operational Tools & AI Automation:

• Custom-built dashboards, tracking workflows, and timeline trend analysis tools.
• Leverages automated workflows, AI-driven templates, and custom agents to optimize daily tasks and team productivity.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, for more details._$60,000—$140,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information,please visitwww.vml.com, andfollowalong on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.