Program Manager

About VML

VML 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.

VML is looking for an experienced Program Manager who can quickly understand our client’s needs and objectives with the ability to effectively manage variety sized teams in their effort to deliver services. The Program Manager is expected to deploy and manage against defined processes throughout a client engagement. This individual is also responsible for building, coaching and leading teams against said process to ensure successful deliveries.

VML needs individuals who are proactive problem solvers who can manage team dynamics, manage project financial performance, clearly communicate status, and drive progression towards dates.

• May act as a client proxy for agile teams; may also coach and support Product Owner(s)
• Manage multiple activities/projects under one or more clients with the Ford Accessories business group
• Lead cross Opco project delivery
• Support/provide strategic direction related to processes and resolution paths
• Provide well researched POV documents on a variety of solutions related to project work
• Continuously monitor project health via resourcing, profitability and burn rates.
• Works with clients to define KPI’s and meaningful metrics to report project health
• Works closely with Client Engagement and delivery teams to architect solutions that best meet client requirements

• Help create/draft scopes of work and staff plans
• Manages internal teams and client relationships in alignment with Client Engagement team
• Maintain direct client relationships with Product Owners and client management leadership
• Manage the creation of business analysis tools/techniques and business requirements (i.e. user story mapping, process maps, rules matrices, mockups, textual requirements, user stories etc.)
• Serve as a key point of contact and liaison for cross‑divisional teams, agency peers and management
• Support scoping and estimation exercises with Client Engagement teams

• College degree or equivalent Project Management and/or Business Systems Analyst experience
• 7+ years of analyst, project management, technical, and/or business experience
• Master of agile software development methodologies, amongst other methodologies
• Understanding of business requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria
• Ability to provide proactive and assertive leadership in problem solving, managing financial success of projects, maintaining timelines, and reducing waste
• Strong interpersonal skills and able to resolve conflict with productive outcomes
• Ability to effectively work across departments with diplomacy and a firm understanding of others’ roles and perspectives
• Ability to manage multiple work‑streams (projects) effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to view problems in context at the system level and align solutions with the strategic direction of our clients and company
• Experience with multiple application lifecycle management solutions
• Proactive, adaptable, and flexible
• Life‑long learner, demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail
• Demonstrable ability to operate under tight deadline with complex business/technical solutions
• Ability to manage workload with minimal…