Associate Director, Program Management

Whirlpool•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Whirlpool Corporation is seeking a Senior Manager, Brand Management for its in-house, award-winning creative agency and studio, WoW Studios. Our growing team of passionate and collaborative humans is focused on best-in-class advertising, storytelling, and consumer experience for all of Whirlpool’s brands including KitchenAid, Whirlpool, JennAir, Maytag, and Amana. We’re committed to increasing and elevating Whirlpool’s output of campaigns, content, design, experiences, and digital innovation across all consumer touchpoints (in-store, film, social, digital, experiential, etc). In this strategic leadership role, you will serve as the Integrated Program Lead, acting as the essential bridge between cross-functional stakeholders, creative talent, and marketing leadership. You will be the primary driver of end-to-end marketing programs and the designated brand authority within your pod. By championing operational excellence, you will optimize the workflows and internal partnerships that translate bold creative concepts into measurable business results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive leadership in program, project, or account management, specifically within high-velocity marketing or agency environments.
A proven track record of architecting and delivering complex, multi-channel integrated programs from initial concept through global execution.

Nice To Haves

Deep institutional knowledge of media strategy, planning, and activation across the full marketing funnel..
Demonstrated experience navigating extreme ambiguity, proactively managing off-scope risks, and maintaining project velocity under pressure.
Highly skilled at synthesizing complex data sets and consumer insights to define clear objectives and pivot strategies effectively.
Mastery of enterprise-level project management ecosystems (e.g., Workfront, Asana, or Jira) to drive visibility and accountability.
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate, and build consensus among executive-level stakeholders.
Comfortable providing and receiving direct, constructive feedback across all levels of the organization to maintain a high bar for excellence.

Responsibilities

Orchestrate Strategic Engagements: Cultivating high-impact cross-agency partnerships that guarantee streamlined workflows and flawless execution.
Executive Alignment: Collaborate with brand and business leaders to translate organizational priorities into defined strategic programs that drive measurable growth across marketing initiatives.
Integrated Campaign Ownership: Act as the strategic lead for go-to-market development, spearheading integrated, performance-driven campaigns across digital, social, and point-of-purchase channels.
End-to-End Program Management: Lead the lifecycle of complex, cross-functional marketing initiatives, from conceptualization to delivery, ensuring unwavering creative excellence and alignment with business objectives.
Strategic Roadmapping: Convert high-level marketing strategies into actionable project plans, ensuring precise scoping, resource allocation, and transparent stakeholder communication.
Precision Execution: Maintain the integrity of project forecasting and reporting; proactively manage budgets, timelines, and documentation while holding internal and external stakeholders accountable to milestones.
Risk Mitigation: Identify and neutralize potential bottlenecks, scope creep, and delivery risks to ensure all workstreams remain on schedule and within budget.
Strategic Resourcing: Partner with the resourcing team to audit briefs, optimize talent assignments, and balance workloads against shifting business priorities.
Process Innovation: Drive continuous improvement in cross-functional workflows and operational processes to enhance team agility and elevate overall output quality.

Benefits

Generous benefits package
Whirlpool employee discount
Fitness &;; educational reimbursement programs
Kitchenettes
Beautiful, recently renovated office space
Free coffee
Biking/walking trails
Access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (depending upon availability - additional costs required).
Always On Flexibility - You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
Two-Week Work from Anywhere - Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.