Project Manager

Location: Arlington, VirginiaJob Type: ContractCompensation Range: $40 - 44 per hourWe are seeking a Senior Project Manager to oversee complex, multi-workstream creative production for donor and community events within a large national organization. This role will sit within the Marketing & Communications (MarComms) events function and will partner closely with the creative lead overseeing creative and environmental design across more than 40+ events annually.The Senior Project Manager will act as the central hub across creative disciplines-including environmental design, design, video, photo, AV, and vendors-to ensure deliverables are aligned to program goals, delivered on time and on budget, and ready for use at live and hybrid events.This is a high-visibility, coordination-heavy role ideal for someone who has managed complex, multi-track events and understands how creative, production, and logistics intersect.Responsibilities:1. Cross-Workstream Project ManagementOwn end-to-end project management for creative elements of donor and community events (40+ per year).Coordinate across:Environmental design (room/look and feel, installations, signage, wayfinding, experiential elements).Design (slides, decks, print assets, on-site collateral).Video and photo (capture needs, sourcing assets, edits, delivery).AV and production (screens, staging, technical requirements, run of show).External vendors and in-house creative teams.Identify and manage dependencies between workstreams, ensuring teams have what they need to meet production deadlines.2. Timeline, Run of Show & Production SchedulesDevelop and maintain detailed production schedules for each event, including:Milestones leading into rehearsals.Asset delivery timelines.Vendor and internal team deadlines.Support or own the creation of run of show documents, including:Session timing, speaker order, and transitions.Room assignments and AV configurations.Technical requirements and contingency plans.Ensure all stakeholders-including MarComms, events, creative, and vendors-are aligned and working from the latest documentation.3. Budget & Scope ManagementPartner with stakeholders to create and track budgets for event-related creative and environmental design.Translate program and creative ideas into realistic budgets across environmental design, furniture, screens, production, and related needs.Surface trade-offs and options when budgets change.Proactively flag scope creep, risks, dependencies, and resource constraints.4. Stakeholder Communication & Vendor CoordinationServe as the central point of contact across internal stakeholders, creative teams, events teams, and external vendors and production partners.Drive regular status updates, gather progress from each creative workstream, and escalate issues early.Ensure cross-team alignment so that all creative and production elements support event programming goals and audience expectations.5. Supporting the Events Creative FunctionKeep the creative lead fully informed without requiring them to be involved in every tactical detail.Proactively surface issues, decisions, risks, and trade-offs.Present structured options and recommendations.Help scale the creative function across 40+ events by managing coordination and project execution, allowing the creative lead to focus on high-value creative and strategic work.Note: This role is not intended to be the on-site show caller or line producer. On-site show calling is typically handled by experienced members of the events and creative team.Ideal Candidate Profile Must-Have Experience:Significant experience as a Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Producer, or Creative Producer in:Live, virtual, or hybrid eventsExperiential marketingEvent productionEnvironmental designCreative agency environmentsProven track record managing complex, multi-track events with multiple stakeholder groups.Demonstrated ability to:Coordinate cross-functional teams across design, video, photo, AV, events, and vendors.Build and maintain detailed production schedules and run of show documentation.Manage budgets and recommend cost trade-offs.Comfortable working with a combination of in-house creative teams and external vendors.Skills & Competencies:Strong project management discipline across timelines, dependencies, documentation, and risk management.Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, concise updates to leaders and cross-functional partners.Ability to translate programming goals into creative and production requirements.Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with the ability to anticipate issues before they become problems.Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes event environment with donors and senior stakeholders.Nice-to-Have Experience:Background in environmental design, experiential design, or immersive brand environments.Experience collaborating with production and AV teams across staging, fabrication, and technical execution.Space planning experience, including understanding how creative elements, screens, and installations work within physical venues.Experience working in donor-focused, philanthropic, financial services, foundation, or similarly complex environments.JOBID: 092026-146708#LI-CELLA#LI-RS1#PLEqual Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.At Cella, a randstad digital company, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Cella by randstad digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).This posting is open for thirty (30) days.ABOUT CELLAWe are passionate about connecting you with the right role at the right organization—and providing you great benefits for the great work you do. With an attractive compensation package including competitive salary, 401(k) plan, weekly paychecks, holiday pay and a health benefits program, we have you covered.Cella is an award-winning leader in consulting, staffing and managed solutions for creative, marketing, digital and proposal development teams. We help people build meaningful careers and partner with companies to help them win. Our staffing solutions include freelance, contract, temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire positions. Cella has earned the 2022 Best of Staffing Client and Talent 10-Year Diamond Awards—an honor earned by only 1% of staffing firms in the U.S. Cella is an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr BLR Holdings, Inc.