VP, Program Director

About the role

We are seeking 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 on 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Pay

$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.

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401K
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Travel assistance
• Wellness programing