Program Manager - Freelance

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. The agency is recognized for its innovative, human-first, award-winning work for blue-chip clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s. VML is a Leader in Forrester Wave™ Reports for Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services, and Marketing Measurement & Optimization. VML Health, the agency’s specialist health network, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. The global network spans 26,000 people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About the role

VML is hiring a Freelance Program Manager to oversee end-to-end program delivery for a large Healthcare client in a client-facing capacity. This role requires a proven track record of managing omni-channel content and marketing programs across Healthcare, Pharma, or Insurance clients with the ability to scale as needed.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Account leads to ensure ongoing client satisfaction.
• Oversee the development of integrated project and program deliverables across teams and agency partners, handling concurrent workstreams for a major Healthcare client in California.
• Establish and maintain project and program communications.
• Oversee project estimations and execute established Statements of Work (SOW), while implementing new processes across large workstreams.
• Ensure calendars and deployment schedules are maintained for multiple operating units globally.
• Leverage AI to optimize delivery and efficiency.
• Plan, track, and approve project expenses, billing, and invoices to ensure project profitability.
• Partner with the finance team to develop a consistent profitability and utilization view across all workstreams.
• Manage resource allocation on an ongoing, weekly basis, and monitor project burn rates, budgets, and reconciliations.
• Drive projects forward from initiation to completion, ensuring excellent and timely delivery.
• Provide purpose, direction, and motivation to the team.
• Champion the work and internal project team by taking notes, following up, building timelines and plans, and managing comprehensive documentation.
• Build slides and create compelling stories.

Requirements

• 5-7+ years of experience in a large advertising agency with Healthcare, Pharma, and/or Insurance clients, leading delivery management.
• Omni-channel program and production delivery experience required.
• Experience working with integrated agency teams and external partner agencies.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, Excel, Monday.com, Workday, and Jira. Experience with Workfront or Proof HQ is a plus.
• Interest in AI and how to leverage it as a delivery tool.
• Strong project management operations skillset, including effective meeting management and capturing actionable next steps.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, navigate challenges, and build operational rigor.
• Must live in the State of California and be able to travel to the office for occasional client meetings.
• Experience managing, concepting, and executing production timelines and communications.
• Experience with Agile ways of working and PI Planning.

Qualifications

• A builder: Process-oriented and an innovator with a strong point of view and distinct voice. Experience standing up new commerce clients and establishing streamlined operations.
• Open and collaborative: Comfortable with ambiguity and a champion of team environments that encourage collaboration. Thrives in client-facing roles with an innate ability to understand client problems and provide tailored solutions.
• Optimistic and resilient: Works through challenges, providing balance and stamina to keep the team motivated and positive.
• Ego-less: Willing to wear multiple hats to contribute to the team's success, regardless of the task.

Pay

This is an hourly freelance role with a target rate of $65–$85 USD per hour.

Schedule

VML has adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week.