VP, Program Director

Edelman; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

Vision

401K

Life insurance

Paid time off

Travel assistance

Wellness programing

Job summary

Edelman San Francisco is seeking a strategic, process-driven Vice President, Program Director to lead integrated client programs with oversight from planning through execution. You will mentor project management talent, partner with cross-functional teams, drive governance, staffing, timelines and budgets, and ensure profitable delivery while balancing client needs and business objectives.

This role emphasizes scalable workflows, PM standards, and the responsible use of AI-enabled tools to

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior PM lead across portfolios, providing strategic oversight for multiple workstreams.
• Define delivery strategies, governance models and staffing plans for on-time, profitable delivery.
• Partner with Account, Strategy, Creative, Production and Specialty teams on scopes, budgets and timelines.
• Lead planning, forecasting and financial management to ensure programs stay within scope and profitability.
• Oversee project managers with coaching, guidance and escalation support.
• Drive risk management, issue resolution and change management across lifecycles.
• Engage with clients on delivery strategy, health and commercial implications.
• Champion PM standards, tools and best practices across teams.
• Foster inclusive, high-performing culture and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Project portfolio management

Budgeting & forecasting

Staffing & team development

Client relationship management

AI fluency

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

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

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.