Director, Project Management

About IW Group

IW Group is the leading multicultural advertising and marketing agency with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Named Ad Age's 2025 Multicultural Agency of the Year and recognized by PRWeek for 2025 Best in Multicultural Marketing , IW Group produces culture-shaping campaigns for global and national brands.

IW Group drives impactful work by blending storytelling, cultural insight, and innovation to achieve measurable results. We represent multiple brands and deliver distinctive multicultural and cross-generational campaigns.

The Role

The Project Management Department serves as a critical operational backbone within the agency. As Director, you are accountable for building a high-performing project management function and workflow system that proactively removes obstacles, anticipates risk, and drives scalable solutions. You will continuously evaluate and improve processes to enhance efficiency, elevate delivery quality, and maximize profitability across all engagements.

In this role, you are responsible for leading the evolution of project management practices within the agency; ensuring best-in-class execution, fostering innovation in delivery models, and enabling teams to consistently exceed client expectations.

What You'll Do

Project Management & Delivery

• Define and lead the project management vision and operational standards across the agency
• Partner with executive leadership, internal stakeholders, and account leads to align business goals with delivery excellence and scalable execution models
• Oversee the full project portfolio, ensuring successful delivery across all accounts with a focus on quality, cost efficiency, and client satisfaction
• Establish and optimize project management frameworks, workflows, and tools to drive efficiency, consistency, and innovation
• Drive cross-functional alignment between creative, production, media, and external partners to ensure seamless execution
• Oversee scope management practices and ensure disciplined change management processes across all engagements
• Champion best practices in localization and transcreation for global campaigns, including projects spanning multiple languages and markets
• Provide trusted guidance on delivery, timelines, and operational strategy

Resourcing & Financial Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of resourcing strategy, including workforce planning, utilization, and capacity forecasting across teams and disciplines
• Lead financial governance across projects, including budgeting and forecasting

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and grow the project management team, including senior project managers and program leads
• Own project management and become a subject matter expert at the agency
• Establish clear performance expectations, career paths, and development opportunities for team members
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Identify skill gaps and implement training or hiring strategies to strengthen team capabilities

Operational & Strategic Contributions

• Contribute to agency growth through participation in new business efforts, including scoping, pricing, and pitch support
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the organization
• Ensure compliance with agency policies, client requirements, and industry standards
• Research, develop, and implement innovative productivity tools and workflows
• Oversee administrative and operational processes related to project delivery at a departmental level

What You'll Bring

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's in Program Management or a related field
• 10+ years of experience leading project management within an agency, production, or similarly fast-paced, client-driven environment
• Proven track record of building, scaling, and leading high-performing project management teams
• Extensive experience overseeing complex, integrated project portfolios across multiple channels, including digital, social, content, and production
• Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels, connecting business objectives to executional excellence
• Strong experience partnering with executive leadership, Account, and Finance teams to align delivery with business goals and drive profitability
• Experience managing global campaigns, including collaboration across markets, time zones, and cross-cultural teams
• Experience contributing to new business efforts, including scoping, pricing, and pitch support

Skills and Abilities

• Expert-level knowledge of project management methodologies and the ability to implement them at scale
• Deep understanding of integrated campaign development and execution across digital, social, print, broadcast, and experiential channels
• Advanced leadership skills, with demonstrated success mentoring, coaching, and developing senior project managers and program leads
• Expertise in resource management, including capacity planning, utilization modeling, and workforce strategy across disciplines
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership, clients, and cross-functional partners
• Advanced risk management capabilities, including identifying systemic risks and implementing proactive mitigation strategies
• Strong command of scope management and disciplined change control processes across large-scale engagements
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex operational concepts into clear direction
• Strong understanding of global delivery models, including localization and transcreation workflows
• Advanced proficiency in project management tools (e.g. Asana, Monday.com) and standard business software
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, align, and inspire cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in multicultural, cross-cultural, or cross-generational marketing campaigns
• Background in agency operations or management consulting

Benefits & Perks

• Salary: $115,000-$140,000, commensurate with experience
• Hybrid work model (three in-office days per week)
• 20 PTO days annually
• 20 paid holidays (including Thanksgiving & Christmas week)
• Birthday off
• Year-round Flex Fridays (half-day Fridays)
• Competitive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer-sponsored Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Parking and commuter benefits
• Employee referral program
• Collaborative, growth-oriented team environment

Company Culture

• Connectors: IW Group is a company founded with community at our core. We believe in building meaningful communities and encourage teams to connect with causes and missions that fuel their passions.
• Foodies: You will often find our teams sharing a meal. We love to explore new cultures and experiences through food and lived experiences.
• Explorers: Curiosity fuels our work. Whether it's testing new technologies, visiting art galleries, or discovering local coffee shops, we encourage teams to follow their creative interests.

The Hybrid Work Model

• Work Model: IW Group supports a hybrid work schedule. Teams are required to work in-office at least three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday.
• Work Environment: This role is based primarily in the IW Group office and may also involve working at client sites or other designated locations.
• Work Hours: Project timelines may occasionally require extended hours, including evenings or weekends.
• Travel and Events: This role may involve working outside the office for client events and may include occasional travel beyond the local area, including national or international locations.

Physical Requirements

• Engage in a variety of activities, from sitting and using your hands to talking, hearing, standing, walking, and occasionally stooping or kneeling.
• Vision abilities required include close vision.

Equal Employment Opportunity

IW Group is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. IW Group provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state, or federal law.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties or responsibilities. Roles and responsibilities may change at any time, with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.