Vice President, Project Management Director

Company description

At Saatchi we believe in creating ideas that can live anywhere. And we believe that when we work as a team, nothing is impossible. We strive to bring out the best in each other and in ourselves and expect applicants to understand the value of close collaboration. We also believe that creating transformational work requires initiative, an entrepreneurial spirit and a bold commitment to achieving measurable results and business success for the Clients we service.

Saatchi & Saatchi currently maintains a hybrid work policy to work in-office three days per week and remotely the other two days each week.

The VP, Project Management Director is an operational leader responsible for shaping, directing, and scaling the project management function within Saatchi & Saatchi NY. This role provides strategic oversight of project delivery, resource planning, and workflow optimization to ensure the agency meets its financial and organizational goals.

The VP, Project Management Director will lead a high‑performing team of project managers and producers, and will establish and optimize the processes, standards, and performance measures that ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery across multi‑channel campaigns. The VP, Project Management Director serves as a central connector across account management, creative, strategy, production, resource management and finance—fostering strong cross‑functional collaboration, transparent communication, and a culture of operational discipline and excellence.

• Scale and lead a robust project management department capable of supporting a diverse and growing portfolio.
• Maintain unified workflow standards and documentation practices that enhance consistency, transparency, and delivery reliability.
• Implement performance measures that align operational output with financial and organizational goals.
• Provide structured mentorship, coaching, and career path development for project management team.
• Partner with senior leadership on resourcing strategy, staffing forecasts, talent development, and utilization optimization.
• Drive end‑to‑end project lifecycle design, improving flow from intake through delivery and reducing interruptions or bottlenecks.
• Ensure high‑quality execution of multi‑channel campaigns by establishing clear oversight, communication standards, and process adherence.
• Direct a wide portfolio of digital, print, broadcast, and integrated campaigns with a focus on quality, and delivery excellence.
• Serve as the central coordination point between internal teams and client operations, ensuring alignment on timelines, capacity, priorities, and risks.
• Lead disciplined budget forecasting, oversight, and alignment between scope, spend, and resource utilization.
• Improve financial performance by optimizing resource allocation, strengthening cost control, and supporting margin improvement initiatives.
• Identify and resolve resource conflicts early to stabilize project timelines and ensure staffing accuracy.

• 15+ years of experience in project management, program management, or operations leadership within a creative agency.
• Prior Director‑level experience required.
• Proven track record of building and scaling project management departments or operational teams.
• Strong expertise in project planning, workflow design, and operational process improvement.
• Demonstrated success managing multi‑channel creative campaigns and cross‑functional teams.
• Deep experience with budget oversight, financial planning, and resource utilization management.
• Proficiency with enterprise project management systems and data‑driven performance tracking.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong aptitude for mentoring talent, building team culture, and supporting long‑term staff development.
• Highly organized and capable of leading large, complex portfolios in fast‑paced environments.

Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all…