Senior Project Manager

CG Life • Washington, IL

51d • $80,000 - $110,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) serves as a key driver of project success, ensuring projects are strategically planned, expertly coordinated, and flawlessly executed. This role requires hands-on leadership across multiple projects, ranging from short-term, discreet initiatives to complex, long-term programs. The SPM is responsible for delivering projects on time and within scope and budget, while consistently exceeding internal and client expectations. The ideal candidate is an experienced, results-oriented project manager who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in agency and/or project management at an integrated advertising agency.
• Experience working with AOR or D/AOR clients within pharma strongly preferred.
• Multi-channel marketing experience, including media planning and execution preferred.
• Financial responsibility for up to $3M in revenue and oversight for up to 6M.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects, integrated campaigns, and large-scale product launches.
• Collaborative and solution-oriented, with the ability to juggle multiple projects while maintaining professionalism, humor, and tact.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels, inspire teamwork, and lead with confidence.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, breaking down work into clear, actionable steps.
• Proactive problem-solver, skilled at anticipating roadblocks, mitigating risks, and driving solutions—especially in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
• Experience with project management tools and methodologies, including risk management, scope management, and change management.
• Skilled in meeting management and facilitation, keeping discussions on track and guiding teams toward clear decisions.
• Experience with software development life cycles, web technologies, creative design processes, and digital strategy preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through in all aspects of project execution.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant project management software.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with AOR or D/AOR clients within pharma strongly preferred.
• Multi-channel marketing experience, including media planning and execution preferred.
• Experience with software development life cycles, web technologies, creative design processes, and digital strategy preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed tactical plans across assigned projects, ensuring proactive activation and efficient execution.
• Own project facilitation throughout the lifecycle, expertly navigating ambiguous or complex challenges and driving to clear resolutions and next steps.
• Anticipate risks, identify issues, and determine when escalation is needed; act as an escalation point for PMs.
• Support PMs in their project planning, execution, and facilitation responsibilities.
• Ensure all assigned projects are appropriately scheduled, resourced, and forecasted; escalate risks promptly and provide solutions when delivery is at risk.
• Prepare estimates, change orders, and support the estimating process for complex annual scopes of work.
• Own budget management from start to finish—aligning initial estimates to project plans, updating budgets to align with changes in scope, and partnering with finance through revenue reconciliation processes.
• Analyze project health, identifying risks and actionable solutions.
• Support PMs in project health best practices and issue resolution.
• Champion collaboration and build trust across cross-functional teams, fostering optimism and empathy, particularly in challenging situations.
• Adapt communication effectively based on the audience, individual, or situation, ensuring clarity and alignment.
• Mentor PMs through team relationship and communication challenges.
• Serve as a trusted day-to-day client contact for project-related communication, ensuring accurate and timely updates.
• Contribute to building client trust by facilitating project execution and supporting project-related presentations or discussions.
• Support PMs in strengthening client communication and relationship management.
• Apply established processes, templates, and tools consistently across projects, ensuring alignment with departmental standards.
• Act as a process champion and internal resource, supporting process improvement initiatives in partnership with department leadership.
• Support onboarding, mentoring, and training of PMs, sharing expertise in tactical planning and execution.
• Consistently model expected professional behaviors, maturity, and collaboration.
• May manage direct reports.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance. We cover a generous portion of employee contributions and offer an annual HRA for those enrolled in our PPO plan.
• 401K plan. We invest in present and future you, which is why we offer a generous match and immediate vesting on our plan.
• Parental Leave. Generous paid time off for parents to bond with their newest addition.
• Hybrid/Remote Work. For those hired in Chicago or San Diego we invite you to join your team in the office twice a week. Fully remote options for those outside of Chicago and San Diego.
• Professional Development. Each employee has an annual budget to allocate to professional development opportunities. Employees are encouraged to take a workshop, attend a webinar, join associations, and anything else that will help them grow in their careers.
• Sabbatical Program. Enjoy 4 weeks of paid leave following 6 years of service to pursue travel, time with family, drive in a new hobby, the options are endless!
• We offer life insurance, LTD, a robust employee assistance program, and more!
• We offer flexible time off, life insurance, LTD, a robust employee assistance program, and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees