Engagement Manager I

Role Description

One North is seeking an Engagement Manager I to support complex digital and creative engagements, and serve as the key liaison to internal and external stakeholders. The ideal candidate is client-facing, highly organized, and experienced managing digital and creative engagements, including project budgets and resourcing. They perform well in fast-paced, multidisciplinary environments, manage multiple priorities effectively, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. Strong communication skills, sound judgment, and a positive, results-driven attitude are essential. This role may evolve based on business and client needs. The Engagement Manager I will ideally be based in the Chicago area, but we are open to remote locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Responsibilities

• Engagement & Delivery Management:
  • Ensure a clear understanding of statements of work, team responsibilities, deliverables, and technical requirements to support smooth execution.
  • Collaborate with team members to manage risk and deliver work in alignment with contractual terms and conditions.
  • Manage project burn, budgets, and financial performance across engagements.
  • Oversee engagement resourcing, including contractor candidate selection, onboarding, capacity planning, and performance management.
  • Lead routine status check-ins with contractor resources to maintain visibility into progress, challenges, and opportunities.
  • Collect and act on feedback from client stakeholders regarding consultant performance and service delivery.
  • Regularly review engagements to identify workflow or tool optimizations, improve team performance, and uncover opportunities to expand client relationships.
  • Contribute to the development of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to assess delivery effectiveness and outcomes.
  • Support engagements across delivery functions as needed, including:
    • Initial project setup and detailed engagement onboarding
    • Team member onboarding and offboarding
    • Financial setup and oversight (budget creation, system updates, financial reviews, invoice validation)
    • Development and delivery of status updates and business review presentations
    • Regular check-ins with contractor resources and client stakeholders
    • Partnering with internal teams to identify, troubleshoot, and mitigate project risks
• Account Management:
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for key internal and client stakeholders.
  • Plan and lead regular business reviews in partnership with operations, sales, and practice teams to review progress and align on future objectives.
  • Contribute to the development and execution of account growth strategies.
  • Maintain awareness of broader One North and TEKsystems offerings and best practices that may add value to active engagements.
  • Conduct both formal and informal client satisfaction assessments.

Qualifications

• 4 or more years of experience in digital or creative project management within an agency or comparable production environment
• Proven experience estimating project scope, managing budgets, and tracking project burn
• Strong business acumen with the ability to gather, translate, and communicate internal and client requirements
• Experience managing or mentoring junior team members, including providing feedback and training
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to clients and senior leaders
• Highly detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and able to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Strong time management and problem-solving skills; able to work independently with professionalism and calm
• Comfortable operating in a test-and-learn environment
• Self-aware, open to feedback, and committed to continuous learning and improvement

Requirements

• This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• 401(k)/Roth
• Insurance (Basic/Supplemental Life & AD&D)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health & Dependent Care Spending Accounts (HSA & DCFSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Paid Family Leave)