VP, Program Director

US001 Daniel J. Edelman, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401K

Paid time off

Job summary

Edelman is seeking a strategic, process-driven Vice President, Program Director to lead a portfolio of integrated client programs, provide delivery oversight, and mentor project management talent.

You will partner with Account, Strategy, Creative, Production and Specialty teams in Los Angeles to define delivery strategies, budgets and staffing, forecast risk, and drive operational excellence across multiple workstreams while ensuring profitability and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive project management experience within integrated marketing or PR.
• Experience leading large-scale, integrated programs across multiple disciplines.
• Experience managing portfolios, financial performance and staffing.
• Strong executive presence with ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and problem solving skills.
• AI fluency to evaluate AI-enabled tools.
• Collaborative leadership with inclusive culture.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior program management lead across a portfolio of client engagements.
• Define delivery strategies and governance models for successful execution.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate opportunities and staffing.
• Lead planning, financial management and forecasting to ensure profitability.
• Oversee project managers and provide coaching throughout lifecycles.
• Anticipate risks and drive change management while balancing client needs.
• Drive discussions on delivery strategy, scope and commercial implications.
• Maintain accurate forecasting and approved statements of work.
• Champion PM standards and tools to improve efficiency.
• Establish scalable workflows and delivery frameworks.
• Oversee quality control and approvals across workstreams.
• Develop PM talent through coaching and career development.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team culture.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder management

Budget forecasting

Team leadership

Smartsheet

Communication

AI fluency

Strategic planning

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. The Edelman Project Management team is passionate about finding smarter ways to deliver exceptional work. We sit at the center of our business, partnering with cross-functional integrated teams to bring bold ideas to life and drive meaningful impact for our clients. Across industries including consumer, healthcare, technology, financial services, retail, food and beverage, luxury and more, our team provides the operational leadership that delivers integrated communications, marketing and creative programs to succeed. We’re looking for a strategic, process-driven leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys building high-performing teams. As a Vice President, Program Director, you will lead integrated programs across a portfolio of clients, providing delivery oversight, operational leadership and financial stewardship from planning through execution. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to client teams, mentor project management talent and help shape best practices that improve how we deliver work across the business.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior program management lead across a portfolio of integrated client engagements, providing strategic oversight for multiple workstreams, teams and disciplines.
• Define delivery strategies, project approaches and governance models that drive successful execution from kickoff through completion.
• Partner with Account, Strategy, Creative, Production and Specialty teams to evaluate new opportunities, develop scopes of work, staffing plans, timelines and budgets, ensuring proposed solutions are operationally and financially sustainable.
• Lead project planning, financial management and forecasting to ensure programs are delivered on time, within scope and profitably.
• Oversee project managers responsible for day-to-day delivery, providing coaching, guidance and escalation support throughout project lifecycles.
• Anticipate risks, proactively resolve issues and lead change management processes while balancing client expectations, business objectives and team needs.
• Drive conversations with clients related to delivery strategy, project health, financial performance and operational excellence, including discussions scope, delivery options, trade-offs and commercial implications.
• Partner with Finance and Resource Management to maintain accurate forecasting, staffing plans and approved statements of work.
• Champion project management standards, tools and best practices that improve consistency, transparency and operational efficiency across integrated teams.
• Establish scalable workflows and delivery frameworks that support evolving client needs while maintaining quality and accountability.
• Establish and oversee quality control, review and approval processes across project deliverables and integrated workstreams.
• Lead, mentor and develop Project Management talent by providing ongoing coaching, performance feedback and career development opportunities.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team culture that encourages continuous learning, operational excellence and innovation.
• Support the growth of the Project Management discipline by contributing to firm-wide initiatives, workforce planning, training and broader operational improvement efforts.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of progressive project management experience within an integrated marketing, communications, public relations agency or related professional services environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success leading large-scale, integrated programs across multiple disciplines from planning through execution.
• Experience managing project portfolios, financial performance, resource planning and operational delivery.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop high‑performing project management teams.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and build trusted client relationships.
• Expertise with project management methodologies and tools, including Smartsheet or comparable project management platforms.
• Excellent communication, organizational and problem‑solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.
• AI fluency, including the ability to evaluate and apply AI‑enabled tools and workflows to improve project delivery, team productivity and operational efficiency while exercising sound judgment and responsible use.
• A collaborative leadership style with a commitment to continuous improvement, inclusive team culture and operational excellence.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience shaping scopes, pricing approaches, staffing models and financially sustainable delivery plans.

$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.