Senior Project Manager

Company Description A global creative constellation built for what’s next—uniting the human vision of the Leo Burnett network with the innovation of Publicis Worldwide. Leo is HI × AI: Human Insight, Human Ideas, Human Impact—supercharged by the data and technology to move faster, go further, and deliver everywhere. Leo brings together 15,000+ people across 90 countries, combining global scale with creative firepower to drive outsized impact for brands. Overview The Senior Project Manager is a highly capable delivery leader responsible for owning projects and programs from intake through completion. This role is deeply hands‑on, managing the details that keep work moving while applying strong judgment to balance scope, timing, resources and quality. The Senior PM operates with increasing independence, handling complex workstreams and client dynamics while knowing when to elevate and collaborate. They bring structure to ambiguity, communicate clearly and contribute to a strong delivery culture through consistency and accountability. Responsibilities Project ownership & hands‑on delivery Owns delivery of projects and programs from planning through execution and launch. Serves as the primary owner of project plans, timelines, scopes, budgets, risks and dependencies, staying closely involved in all details. Drives day‑to‑day delivery across assigned work, proactively resolving issues. Identifies risks early and partners with leads to address scope, resourcing or timing challenges. Translates ambiguity into clear actionable plans that align teams around objectives, milestones and success criteria. Participates retrospectives / post‑mortems, and applies learnings immediately to improve future delivery. Workflow & process excellence Creates and maintains detailed project plans, schedules and workflows. Applies project management tools, templates and best practices consistently. Demonstrates disciplined use of PM best practices through direct ownership, not just oversight. Drives clear communication across teams and stakeholders through status updates, documentation and proactive alignment. Uses data and historical insights to inform planning and decision‑making. Financial, scope & resource management Supports scope development, estimates, SOWs and staffing plans. Tracks budgets, burn and timelines and flags risks early, identifying potential mitigations / solutions. Works directly with Resource Management and discipline leads to plan, allocate and adjust resources across active and future work. Ensures accurate time tracking, financial reporting and accountability for delivery decisions. Project Management stewardship Actively engages and participates in team and agency initiatives. Models strong project management behaviors and decision making, setting a good example around quality, accountability and execution. Leans in / mentors others when the situation calls for it. Client & agency partnership Acts as a strong partner to discipline leads and account teams. Builds credibility through transparency, follow‑through and delivery excellence. Supports new business efforts through hands‑on scoping, estimating, workflow design and delivery strategy. Qualifications Brings clarity, structure and calm to complex or chaotic environments. Proactive, anticipatory thinker who works ahead of risk rather than reacting to it. Strong collaborator who can also operate autonomously and make principled tradeoffs. Solution‑oriented and deeply accountable. ~4–6+ years of progressive experience in project, program or delivery management within an integrated agency environment. Proven success managing multiple, concurrent, projects and programs with cross‑functional teams. Solid understanding of project management fundamentals and financial tracking. High EQ and environmental awareness; strength in context‑driven decision‑making. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Clear communicator who remains calm under pressure. Proactive self‑starter who successfully holds themselves and others accountable. Additional Information Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent. Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401(k), as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off. If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Compensation Range: $75,050 - $107,835 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third‑party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401(k), and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 6/30/2026. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. #J-18808-Ljbffr Leo Chicago