Vice President / Acct Director, Project Management

DJE Holdings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Vision

401K

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Travel assistance

Wellness programing

Job summary

Edelman seeks a Vice President, Program Director to lead a portfolio of integrated client programs within the U.S. Project Management team.

You will partner with Account, Strategy, Creative, Production and Specialty teams to shape delivery, staffing, timelines and budgets. The role requires 8+ years of progressive PM experience in marketing/PR, a bachelor’s degree, and a track record coaching teams, driving financial performance and building trusted relationships.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive project management experience in integrated marketing, communications, PR, or related services.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of integrated client programs with strategic oversight across multiple workstreams and teams.
• Shape project approaches, scopes of work, staffing plans, timelines and budgets with cross-functional partners.
• Oversee program financials, forecasting, and resource planning to deliver on time, within scope and profitably.
• Serve as trusted advisor to stakeholders and clients, guiding delivery strategy and risk discussions.
• Establish scalable processes, governance and quality standards to improve collaboration and efficiency.
• Lead, mentor and develop project management talent through coaching and feedback.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation, and inclusive ways of working.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

AI fluency

Staff coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

Edelman is looking for a Vice President, Program Director to join our U.S. Project Management team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced program management leader to oversee integrated client programs, partner with talented teams across disciplines, and help shape how we deliver exceptional work.

At Edelman, our Project Management team sits at the center of the business, connecting strategy, creativity, and execution to bring bold ideas to life.

From consumer and healthcare to technology, financial services, retail, and beyond, we help deliver integrated communications and marketing programs that drive meaningful impact.

If you're a strategic, solutions-oriented leader who enjoys solving complex challenges, building strong teams, and finding smarter ways to work, we'd love to hear from you.

Who You Are

• You're a collaborative and commercially minded leader who sees the big picture while understanding what it takes to deliver.
• You bring structure to complexity, anticipate challenges, and know how to balance client expectations, business priorities, and team needs.
• You're equally comfortable advising senior stakeholders, managing program financials, and coaching project management talent.
• Above all, you're curious, adaptable, and motivated by helping people and programs succeed.

What You'll Do

• Lead a portfolio of integrated client programs, providing strategic oversight across multiple workstreams, disciplines, and teams to ensure successful delivery.
• Partner with Account, Strategy, Creative, Production, and Specialty teams to shape project approaches, scopes of work, staffing plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Oversee program financials, forecasting, and resource planning to ensure work is delivered on time, within scope, and profitably.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders and clients, guiding conversations around delivery strategy, project performance, risks, and commercial considerations.
• Anticipate challenges, navigate competing priorities, and lead proactive problem-solving and change management to keep programs moving forward.
• Establish scalable processes, governance frameworks, and quality standards that strengthen collaboration, accountability, and operational efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and develop project management talent through coaching, performance feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation, and inclusive ways of working.
• DEIB is everyone's responsibility, and we expect Edelman colleagues to demonstrate respect, embrace diverse perspectives, and practice conscious inclusion and continuous learning.

Basic Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years of progressive project management experience within an integrated marketing, communications, public relations agency, or related professional services environment.
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, integrated programs across multiple disciplines, with accountability for delivery, financial performance, and operational outcomes.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience developing scopes of work, budgets, forecasts, staffing models, and sustainable delivery plans.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing project management teams while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and clients, influence decisions, and navigate ambiguity with confidence.
• Proficiency with project management methodologies and platforms such as Smartsheet or comparable tools, with an interest in improving workflows and operational efficiency.
• AI fluency, including the ability to evaluate and responsibly apply AI-enabled tools to enhance project delivery, productivity, and team effectiveness.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to managing risks, competing priorities, and complex business challenges.

$105,000 - $170,000 annually #LI-EB1

An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees.

Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits:

• medical and dental insurance
• vision
• 401K
• life insurance
• disability insurance
• paid time off
• travel assistance and wellness programing

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.

It started with one man’s passion to make an impact through stories… 70 years later, we are the world’s largest communications firm, which fosters an environment where people feel empowered to take the kind of bold action that makes careers, reshapes industries, and creates the unexpected.

We are one global team, over 6,000 strong across 60 offices, grounded by our shared values. We promise an experience where our employees see that boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.

Since Dan Edelman founded the firm in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business, and our culture is one that brings understanding, collaboration, and respect to our work and to each other.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our clients, and our communities, and propel us forward as a company.

At Edelman, we are in relentless pursuit of a fair and inspiring workplace that is respectful to all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust and collaboration.

Each day and on each project, we strive to ensure that our colleagues feel a sense of true inclusion and belonging and can bring their best to their work— taking action and shaping impactful moments and movements within our company, on behalf of our clients, and within communities around the globe.

The relentless pursuit of excellence The freedom to be constantly curious The courage to do the right thing The commitment to positively impact society.

We grow our people

We invite and celebrate differences

Our reputation is our brand

We’re global, yet local

We offer more than just a career – we offer a place to grow, make a meaningful impact, and help drive change alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Our culture is built on trust, innovation, and inclusivity, where unique perspectives are not only welcomed, but celebrated.

At Edelman, your ambitions are supported, your voice matters and your work contributes to shaping the future of communications and clients’ business.

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