Senior Manager, Marketing Agency Operations

Cigna Healthcare•St. Louis, MO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a confident problem solver and strategic thinker who thrives in fast-moving environments and enjoys creating clarity where others see complexity. As our Senior Manager, Marketing Agency Operations, you will help shape the foundation of our internal creative agency—building the systems, relationships, and insights that help talent do their best work. This role blends operational excellence, financial discipline, and a strong sense of partnership. If you’re energized by improving processes, guiding teams, and turning challenges into progress, this is a place where your impact will be felt every day.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in agency operations, integrated production, or agency management with meaningful budgeting and financial responsibilities.
Proven ability to solve complex challenges in fast-paced, results-oriented settings.
Strong understanding of agency workflows, resource models, scopes of work, quality controls, and financial management practices.
Experience working across internal and external agency models, including vendor negotiations and contract management.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence, align, and guide cross-functional partners.
Hands-on experience with Wrike.
Deep experience partnering with finance teams on budgeting, forecasting, and workforce planning.
Experience operating within matrixed organizations.
Demonstrated strength in vendor negotiation and performance management.
Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Ability to work from The Cigna Group office 3 days a week

Responsibilities

Strengthen and evolve end-to-end agency workflows to ensure clear intake, smooth execution, and consistent delivery across internal teams and external partners.
Lead operational improvements by introducing change management, updated workflows, and practical SOPs that support speed, quality, and transparency.
Act as the agency’s Wrike system owner, designing workflows, dashboards, and reporting that enable visibility, accountability, and confident decision-making.
Champion the adoption of tools and processes across the agency ecosystem to drive alignment, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Manage external agencies, freelancers, and vendors in partnership with Procurement—overseeing vetting, onboarding, contract negotiation, scope alignment, and performance.
Partner closely with Finance and Marketing Operations to lead budget planning, workforce forecasting, and ongoing cost management. Build models, rate cards, and estimation tools that support accurate planning and responsible investment.
Monitor delivery health, financial performance, resource utilization, and operational metrics to surface trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
Advise cross-functional partners—including Marketing, Procurement, Legal, and business stakeholders—to ensure projects are well scoped, strategically aligned, and resourced for success.
Guide internal teams to plan proactively, anticipate needs, and translate business goals into actionable creative initiatives.
Build workforce plans that account for seasonal patterns, project pipelines, and shifting business priorities.