Associate Director Project Management

AbelsonTaylor Group•Chicago, IL

35d•$115,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At AbelsonTaylor Group, work that makes you feel good isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are. We believe that when you feel good about your work, and where you work, you bring your best self to it. That’s why we create an environment where creativity thrives, teamwork flourishes, and inclusivity is more than just a value—it’s a way of life. Here, you’ll help propel brands that inspire health and brighter futures, all while finding the support, inspiration, and growth opportunities to reach your own potential. Together, we dream boldly, collaborate deeply, and make a meaningful difference—one idea at a time. Now, we are on an unstoppable mission for an Associate Director Project Management to join our team. The Associate Director Project Management role provides leadership to their brands (typically one large one or two smaller ones) and ultimately accountable and responsible for the effective and efficient day to day operations of the project management function, ensuring all work is delivered on time and within agreed upon budget, without compromising quality. You will work with their respective Account Management leads to ensure client needs and expectations are met and ensure a cohesive client service experience their brands. They provide guidance, support, and counsel to the PMs and Associate Project Managers assigned to their brands. Ready to make a difference and be part of something extraordinary? Join us on this journey toward a healthier, happier world! Apply now!

Requirements

Education: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in communications, marketing, and/or business administration.
Experience: Preferably 7+ years of experience in an advertising agency, particularly in account management, project management, or senior marketing roles within the pharmaceutical industry. Minimum 2+ years of mentorship/leadership experience.
Project Management Skills: Proven track record in producing best-in-class tactics and programs. Strong understanding of product lifecycle milestones (e.g., label changes, campaign launches).
Multimedia Experience: Experience managing a wide variety of projects across multiple mediums including digital, video, etc.
Critical Thinking: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to address complex project challenges.
Software Proficiency: Experience with Project Management tools such as WMJ, Workfront, and Excel.
Leadership and Communication: Established leader with a track record of building trust with clients, IT departments, and partner agencies. Adaptive leadership style with strong emotional intelligence.
Problem Solving: Ability to adapt leadership style and problem-solving skills to navigate uncertainty and changing priorities.

Responsibilities

Project Leadership: Lead highly visible and complex projects requiring unique technology, processes, or workflows. Develop timelines, estimates, and scenarios as needed. Monitor and adjust workflows and resources to optimize project efficiency.
Team Oversight: Supervise Associate Project Managers (APMs) on routing, approval processes, and documentation of client changes and requests. Escalate issues to the Project Director as necessary.
Budget and Timeline Management: Manage project budgets and timelines rigorously to ensure projects stay within budget. Monitor scope progress, identify work breakdowns, and proactively estimate for project changes. Communicate overages to internal and client teams.
Client and Partner Engagement: Lead discussions with clients, partner agencies, and third parties on project deliverables, contingencies, and implications of scope changes. Provide insights and information related to project estimates and overarching budgets.
Reporting and Documentation: Develop and review conference reports and meeting recaps internally and externally. Lead all project close-out meetings, communicate action items, and provide recommendations for future project optimization.
Risk Management: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks for assigned accounts. Collaborate with Account, Creative, and other departments on project-related escalations.
SOW Development: Collaborate with PM leadership to develop annual Statements of Work (SOWs) from a project management perspective. Identify assets, dependencies, resources, costs, and timelines needed for project execution.
Financial Oversight: Oversee client financial reporting and brand health, including monthly billing summaries and financial analysis. Provide internal financial updates to leadership as required.
Technology Utilization: Leverage Project Management Software (e.g., Workamajig, Workfront, Excel) to automate tasks, ensure quality, and promote process efficiencies. Ensure consistent adoption within the PM team.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead internal cross-functional status meetings and provide project management insights to clients as needed on scopes and individual projects.
New Business Participation: Participate in new business efforts as needed, including developing proposed SOWs, timing, estimates, and presenting to clients.
Team Management: Manage the entire employee lifecycle for APMs, including recruiting, onboarding, training, development, and performance reviews. Proactively address team HR needs and escalate issues as required.
Hire, Coach, and Develop Team Members: Assign projects to balance workloads and challenge team members' skills, ensuring projects showcase the agency's capabilities.
Provide Regular Feedback: Offer both formal and informal feedback to team members to help grow their creative sensibilities and progress in their craft.
Perform Team Evaluations: Participate in performance reviews and provide coaching to create growth plans for team members as needed.
Infuse Psychological Safety into Teams: Facilitate participation, inclusion, and diversity of perspectives on your team and throughout the agency.