Director of Project Management

Open position in all Coegi office locations including Kansas City, MO, Columbia, MO, St. Louis MO, and Minneapolis, MN; Hybrid work schedule: 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, now or in the future. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis without requiring employer sponsorship. Summary The Director of Project Management owns Coegi's project management methodology and is the senior‑most day‑to‑day leader of the Project Management function within the Business Operations department. The Director contributes to departmental strategy, oversees the Associate Director and Project Management Supervisors, and is accountable for the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of the Project Management Office (PMO). In a hybrid capacity, the Director also serves as the expert‑level project lead on a few enterprise flagship accounts, maintaining direct line of sight into the realities of front‑line account work. This role is a key connection point between Business Operations, Client Engagement, Digital Operations, and Data & Technology, and is directly responsible for the career growth, performance, and culture of the Project Management team. Responsibilities PMO Methodology Ownership: Own and evolve Coegi's project management methodology, including standards, templates, OPAs, and quality benchmarks. Head the day‑to‑day operations of Coegi's PMO in partnership with leadership providing resources, guidance, and governance to Project Managers at every level, with active attention to what can be simplified or removed. Team Leadership & Career Development: Directly supervise the Associate Director of Project Management and Project Management Supervisors; indirectly oversee the full Project Management team. Own the department's Growth Tracker system, career‑path framework, and individual development planning. Partner with HR and leadership on hiring, performance reviews, 9‑box evaluation, PIPs, and the department's hi‑potential retention goal. Enterprise Flagship Account Oversight: Serve as the expert‑level Project Management lead on a few enterprise flagship accounts, personally managing processes, systems, contracts, and senior cross‑functional relationships. Use front‑line experience to pressure‑test PMO standards and surface insights for the broader department. Unassigned Account PMO Framework: Own the framework for how Coegi serves accounts without a dedicated Project Manager. Define standards for order processing, ad‑hoc project support, and billing oversight on these accounts; collaborate on resource model and escalation paths; analyze patterns and recommend when an unassigned account warrants dedicated staffing or a process change. Account Profitability & Financial Stewardship: Partner with leadership and the Data & Technology team to monitor account profitability, billable‑hour compliance, retainer and contract terms, and margin health across the portfolio. Own the Project Management contribution to Coegi's billing process and support the 2026 transition toward value‑based billing by developing the PM‑side framework, templates, and operational model for pilot accounts. Cross‑Functional Leadership: Serve as the senior Project Management voice in cross‑departmental forums with Client Engagement, Digital Operations, Data & Technology, Marketing & Innovation, HR, and Sales. Lead coordination of enterprise client onboarding, sister‑agency collaboration with True Media and Swell, and project management of leadership strategic initiatives. AI Strategy for the PM Function: Own the AI strategy for the Project Management function in partnership with Marketing & Innovation. Set the annual roadmap for Claude‑powered skills and other AI‑enabled workflows; measure adoption and hours saved across the team; report impact to the leadership team; integrate AI fluency into hiring. Department Training: Set the annual departmental training roadmap in coordination with the Associate Director and Supervisors, including planned skill trainings, work showcases, and ASAP retrainings. Ensure training reinforces both technical expertise and the eight high‑performer traits. Change Management & Continuous Improvement: Lead change management for new processes, technologies, and organizational transitions within the Project Management function. Conduct regular reviews of process and operational data to identify opportunities for improved workflow, resource utilization, and profitability, and translate those insights into prioritized department projects. Goal & Performance Accountability: Own delivery of Project Management's contribution to Business Operations' cascading goals in HiBob, including time‑tracking compliance (95%+), Asana and Slack workflow optimization, AI adoption, and hi‑potential retention. Provide monthly updates to the leadership team on status, risks, and mitigation plans. Qualifications Strong working knowledge of Coegi's paid media ecosystem (The Trade Desk, DV360, Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn) and of project management, time‑tracking, and reporting tools (Asana, Harvest, Google Workspace, Slack). Demonstrated experience setting AI strategy for a team or function, including agency‑supported AI tools such as Claude; comfort measuring AI adoption and impact. Demonstrated experience managing department‑level financials, including billable hours, retainer management, contract terms, and account profitability. Comfort with value‑based billing concepts. Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and manage organizational change. Licenses / Certifications PMP certification required, or in‑progress within the first twelve months of the role. Education Bachelor's degree from a four‑year college or university, with a concentration in marketing, communication, business, or advertising preferred; or equivalent professional experience. Seven or more years of progressive project management experience, preferably within a digital media or digital advertising agency, including at least three years in a people‑management role with direct responsibility for hiring, performance management, and career development. Benefits The chance to be a part of a growing company and the next success story Amazing opportunities for career development Recognition programs Employee referral bonus Hybrid work schedule; 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home Fun and collaborative work environment Casual dress code Insurance Coverage (medical, dental, vision, life, and disability) 401(k) retirement plan, with employer 4% match Work/life benefits, including mental health and wellbeing support Flexible Time Off Policy Paid holidays, including agency soft closing Christmas Eve‑New Year's Day Paid leave options, including sick leave, medical leave for self and family, and parental leave California Residents - Please review our Privacy Notice here. #J-18808-Ljbffr