Associate Director, Project Management

Associate Director, Project Management

Role: The Associate Director, Project Management is responsible for leading a team of client-specific project managers, ensuring work moves through the agency and remains on task, on time, and in scope from concept through completion. This role serves as the hub of communication and partners closely with the Director of Project Management as well as with every department within Carmichael Lynch. As a strategic operational leader, you will bring a commitment to understanding the nuances of our Subaru (the Twin Cities' largest automotive account) business pillars and Carmichael Lynch's integrated workflows. You'll bring your full self and talents to the agency and will be a contributing factor to the agency's success and to the success of your team.

Expectations:

• Prioritize deep learning of client business models, market dynamics, and organizational structures across all client pillars before implementing operational changes or process modifications.
• Invest in comprehensive understanding of Carmichael Lynch workflows, systems, and cross-departmental dependencies to ensure seamless integration and strategic alignment.
• Serve as a working manager leading and owning multiple projects and workstreams across integrated channels under each of the client pillars, with demonstrated expertise in both modalities.
• Flex between senior strategic leadership and hands-on execution as required by job, team, and client needs, leveraging operational acumen to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage operations and resourcing for eight fulltime project managers, applying best practices in capacity planning and workflow optimization.
• Mentor and train mid- and junior-level teams from all departments on process, best practices, and essentials for client success, with particular emphasis on understanding business context before implementing change.
• Lead client-specific project management team status meetings and one-on-ones, ensuring teams are staffed appropriately with workloads matching client requirements and individual skillsets.
• Operationalize and translate how the way we work corresponds with the financial health of the account and team derived from deep business understanding (forecasting, run rates, operation metrics, individual performance, etc).
• Thought leader in AI and lean in to how to leverage AI for operational process efficiencies.

Areas of Focus and Traits:

This is not a one-size-fits-all position, so adaptability and flexibility are key. Being able to keep a lot of plates spinning simultaneously is essential to success in this role, and our ideal candidate knows that how work gets done is just as important — or more — as getting the work done. You possess a solid set of skills, yet you have the capacity to learn and grow. You love the energy that a fast-paced, creative environment provides.

Strategic Learning and Business Acumen. You approach each client and initiative with intellectual curiosity and a genuine commitment to understanding the full scope of the business before making operational recommendations. You recognize that sustainable improvements are built on deep knowledge of the client's industry, competitive landscape, and internal priorities. You ask thoughtful questions, listen actively to stakeholders, and invest time in understanding the "why" before the "what." You're strategic in your thinking and operate from a place of informed decision-making.

Operational Excellence. You bring substantial operational and leadership experience with a proven track record of improving workflows, optimizing resource allocation, and driving process efficiencies that make an impact on the work, agency and clients. You have a strong operational mindset paired with executive presence and the ability to influence at senior levels. You understand metrics that matter, know how to manage complex dependencies, and make data-informed decisions. You're skilled at identifying bottlenecks, streamlining procedures, and implementing change management strategies that stick.

Integrated Skillset – You are well-versed in what makes an integrated team and campaign successful, and understand how to orchestrate across channels and mediums ranging from video production to digital to media to social and influencers, strategic asks and more. You may be a subject matter expert within a specific channel but consider yourself a T-shaped project manager, understanding how different mediums and teams intersect, complement, and amplify one another. We want to hear what you've got in your toolkit so we can match talent to task.

Integrity. Above all, you treat yourself and others well and you're ethical, responsible, and accountable – like us. You don't need micromanaging, but you also know when to ask for help. You speak up but you're also a good listener. You're confident but humble.

Facilitation. Your working team will look to you to facilitate the creation and execution of projects. This could mean being an integral part of how we bring our largest campaign of the year to life, working across teams to navigate changing timelines, standing up new internal and client-facing processes or being a thought leader on how AI can change the way we work. You stay at least one step ahead of the game and you use your skills to guide the team through the process.

Strong Communication. You're an excellent communicator both verbally and in writing. You say what needs to be said clearly, concisely, and respectfully. You can translate between business and operational language, synthesize complex information, and present insights to both frontline teams and senior leadership.

Creative Problem-Solving. You look for solutions and apply your skills creatively to solve them. You're willing to pitch in on any task, big or small. You're resourceful and innovative but you also know how to follow process – and maybe even know how to create a better one. You approach challenges with both analytical rigor and creative flexibility.

Leadership. You have proven experience managing direct reports and leading cross-functional teams through complex initiatives. You contribute to process improvements across your cross-functional teams and beyond. With your high level of professionalism, you know how to tailor your conversation to your audience and you're discrete in what you share. You are viewed as a leader within the company and are often asked for your opinion or input based on your proven expertise. You lead by example and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Four-year degree or equivalent experience in an academic or work environment.
• Minimum of 12 years project management experience, with demonstrated growth from coordinator/specialist roles to management and leadership positions.
• Minimum of 4-5 years direct report management experience with proven ability to develop, mentor, and retain talented teams.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills with sharp attention to detail.
• Substantial operational and leadership experience with a track record of driving process improvements, optimizing workflows, and implementing strategic operational initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in integrated workstreams across video production, digital, media, social, influencers, and more. Experience leading process improvements at both project team and company-wide levels.
• Advanced skills in resource management, assessing bandwidth across departments, forecasting capacity needs, and shifting workload based on capacity and client demands.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with senior leadership, translating strategic priorities into operational execution.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail and organizational excellence.

The salary range for this position is listed below. Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to budget, relevant experience, qualifications, and tenure in similar roles. Consideration may also be given to internal salary data for current or former employees in the same or similar positions.

$100,000 - $115,000 annually