Program Director

Job Summary:The Program Director oversees a team of multi-skilled Project Managers to ensure the highest-quality client experience and results by monitoring all project processes and operations for time and resource efficiencies, cost management and process improvement opportunities. This role provides senior-level guidance during the creation of program/campaign scoping, timelines and budgets, and manages overarching, consolidated program budgets and work-back schedules throughout the life of a clients program/campaign. The Program Director acts as the senior agency advocate on accounts, ensuring that all client engagements are facilitated successfully, on-time, on-quality and on-budget.Additionally, the Program Director partners with Business Development and Account leads on new business proposals and RFPs, with primary responsibility for developing scope estimates and timelines, and managing the development of any spec work as part of the new business response. Additional responsibilities of the Program Director include the direct management of the Project Management team, managing employee growth opportunities, managing group/individual utilization(s) and realization(s), and executing annual compensation reviews and performance appraisals.ResponsibilitiesLeads PM team in quarterly and annual campaign/project planning for Ideabars largest internal and external clientsManages RFP/opportunity response workflow + budget (including spec work)Ensures alignment between estimates and SOW detail in all client proposalsEnsures all client architecture structures and campaign architecture structures meet Financial, Account + Project Management needsManages consolidated AOR/program/campaign timelinesEnsures successful Marketing Plan and initial program/campaign executionOversees that all client engagements are on-quality (tactical), on-time and on-budgetOversees the consistent successful facilitation of client engagementsManages PO approvals above specified dollar amountMaintains + monitors overarching client budgets and schedules monthlyOwns client-facing agency advocate communicationEnsures adherence to pertinent client contract requirementsMaintains deep understanding of agency AOR workflowReviews populated pricing template for existing priority clientsManages assigned Project ManagersManages individual and department utilization(s) and realization(s) of assigned PM team membersHelps to recruit, hire and develop staff and support ongoing departmental training initiatives and resources.Core admin and trainer for agency project management systemEstablishes and enforces streamlined workflows of agency project-related processesIdentifies best practices and develops new systems/processes/tools for complex integrated client projects.Establishes agency capacity plans for use against ongoing assessments of agency staffing needs in relation to client work in progressOversees coordination of project quality assurance reviews to ensure highest quality deliverablesMaintains professional internal and external relationships that meet company core valuesOther duties, as assignedHighest Level TasksNew Business DevelopmentScopes and estimates RFP/opportunity budgetDevelops RFP/opportunity timelineParticipates in RFP/opportunity working sessionReviews creative brief deliverables and populates timeline + budget (for RFP/opportunity spec work)Participates in creative briefing, communicating timeline + budgetAOR ResponseFinalizes initial AOR SOW timelines + estimatesReviews staffing plan for AOR clientsNon-AOR ResponseIdentifies executive/principal investments and notifies Account DirectorReviews and approves program/campaign/project timelines for SOWsClient IntakeCalculates program/campaign/project margin and notifies Account DirectorWith Account Director, leads internal client download meeting with integrated teamDiscovery/Strategy/PlanningReviews and approves initial AOR/program/campaign architecture within approved technologyReviews and approves initial AOR/program/campaign estimatesParticipates in internal planning kickoff meetingParticipates in Discovery Workshop(s) with client, as applicableReviews and approves high-level Marketing Planning budget breakdownReviews and approves revised budget breakdown + reallocationsReviews and approves fast track SOW estimates + timelines for priority clientsReviews and approves high-level budget revisions per client feedbackProgram ExecutionFinalizes program/campaign SOW estimates + timelinesReviews and approves campaign estimates in approved technologyApproves PM-specific areas of program/campaign creative brief(s)Reviews and approves ongoing budget reallocation recommendationsApproves all change orders above specified dollar amountProgram AdministrationParticipates in billing/revenue recognition meetings, as necessaryReviews suggested labor write off amounts and reasonsReviews suggested expense write off amounts and reasonsReviews monthly and quarterly write off reporting for clientsReviews their client profitability reporting and makes recommendations for improvementParticipates in client account review for their clientsAdminParticipates in Account Mapping sessionsPerforms 1:1s with direct reportsLeads performance appraisal process for direct reportsReviews and participates in performance appraisal process for assigned PM team membersReviews estimating discrepancies and implements estimating improvements for their client groupFinalizes project templates in approved technologyParticipates in weekly agency production meetings for assigned clientsCompletes timesheet dailyApproves assigned Project Management team members' timesheetsQualifications10+ years of Project Management experienceBachelors degree or equivalent experienceMarketing agency experienceSkilled in developing program/campaign work breakdown structures, creating timelines and driving successful execution of programs/campaigns, on-quality, on-budget and on-scheduleSkilled in collaborating with team members to create program/campaign estimates aligned with proposed scopes of workSkilled in program/campaign and project financial management and analysisSkilled in successfully managing programs/campaigns with multiple complex projects, components and deliverablesExperience managing RFP/pitch processExperience managing and successfully developing direct reportsExperience with Agency Project Management systems. Workamajig and/or Workfront is preferred.