Director of Delivery

At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital products and services that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients. The Delivery department at AKQA is the operational backbone of how great work gets made. Directors of Delivery within this team are senior leaders who carry significant responsibility across both people and client engagements, combining strong delivery discipline with the strategic presence to lead complex, high‑stakes programs from the inside out. They are trusted to run the hardest work, guide the most important relationships, and raise the standard of delivery around them. We are seeking a Director of Delivery to take ownership of a significant portion of our delivery organization and some of our most marquee client engagements. This is not a role defined by oversight from a distance. You will be close to the work, leading a team of project managers, setting the standard for how delivery is done, and holding direct accountability for the successful execution of large-scale, high-profile programs. You bring the experience to lead with authority, the judgment to navigate complexity, and the presence to represent delivery at the most senior levels of both the agency and the client organization. Responsibilities Lead and manage a team of project managers within the Delivery department, providing guidance, mentorship, and clear accountability across active engagements. Oversee the delivery of large, complex, multi‑workstream client programs on time and on budget, including scope, risk, schedule, quality, and stakeholder communication. Own scoping, scheduling, and cost estimation for new and ongoing programs within your portfolio, ensuring work is set up for success from the outset. Maintain direct accountability for financial performance across your engagements, including revenue management, margin oversight, and accurate forecasting and reporting. Serve as a senior delivery presence on marquee client accounts, managing expectations, building trust, and navigating escalations with composure and clarity. Identify resource requirements and skill needs across your portfolio, partnering with leadership on allocation decisions that support both client and team health. Define and model delivery best practices within your team, contributing to consistent standards for process, documentation, and communication across the broader department. Participate in new business pitches and scoping conversations, lending delivery expertise and instilling confidence in AKQA's ability to execute. Contribute to senior‑level decision‑making within the studio as a respected voice in the broader leadership conversation. Qualifications Extensive experience in delivery leadership within a digital agency or consulting environment, including managing both the creative and technical dimensions of complex programs. Proven track record leading large‑scale, cross‑functional engagements with major brands across multiple simultaneous workstreams. Proven experience overseeing large‑scale programs for digital products and services, with a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver complex, multi‑platform product ecosystems at a high level of quality. Familiarity with componentized design systems and how they function within a modern digital product delivery workflow, with an appreciation for the discipline and coordination required to build and maintain them at scale. Strong experience managing and developing project management talent, with a genuine investment in the growth and career development of the people around them. Deep fluency in all facets of project and program financial management, including scoping, estimation, revenue forecasting, and margin accountability. Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and align at all levels of an organization. Strong technical fluency across web, mobile, and software development processes, with a working understanding of how modern digital products and services get built. Comfortable across agile, waterfall, and hybrid delivery methodologies, with the judgment to apply the right approach to each engagement. Rigorous, organized, and relentlessly attentive to detail, while maintaining the strategic perspective to see and act on the bigger picture. Calm and decisive under pressure; a stabilizing force when complexity or conflict arises. Passionate about producing exceptional work and holding a high bar for delivery quality, consistency, and craft across every engagement. Explore our extensive range of benefits. We believe great work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in‑office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. #J-18808-Ljbffr