Associate Director, Project Management

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE:

We’re looking for an Associate Director, Project Management who thrives in fast-paced environments, brings structure to ambiguity, and loves being at the center of creative, operational, and client-facing work. This is a high-impact role overseeing one of our major client accounts, guiding complex creative programs from kickoff to delivery and ensuring teams stay aligned, resourced, and positioned for success.

You’ll act as a key bridge between creative, production, and account teams while driving clarity, consistency, and confidence across every stage of the creative process. This role requires a strong sense of ownership, comfort with complexity, and an ability to manage multiple stakeholders across timelines, disciplines, and workflows.

You are fluent in creative development, program management, production workflows, and process improvement, and are energized by building great work through structured planning, proactive problem solving, and trusted client partnership. You will act as a central liaison between internal teams and clients, advocating for both process efficiency and creative excellence.

This role is based in or near the San Francisco Bay Area, with flexibility to travel for on-site client sprints, workshops, and project reviews. Experience managing localized creative work across markets is essential, as you’ll support creative production across regional markets and ensure global quality and consistency.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

This role requires a proven track record of best-in-class delivery, and you'll be expected to manage a variety of tasks and projects, including:

• Creative Project and Program Management
• Lead complex creative campaigns, brand content, and integrated marketing programs from scoping through execution, ensuring deliverables, timelines, and expectations are clear and aligned.
• Define project scope, deliverables, timelines, and resourcing plans in collaboration with creative, strategy, and account teams.
• Manage end-to-end execution, ensuring work is delivered on time, on brief, and within budget.
• Identify risks early, communicate tradeoffs, and escalate challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Oversee and mentor project managers, supporting their growth through coaching on planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Track project financials including estimates, actuals, ETC, and EAC, and support ongoing reporting and forecasting accuracy.
• Localized Creative Production and Workflow Management
• Manage creative workflows across regional and global markets, ensuring localized assets meet brand standards and cultural nuances.
• Partner with creative leadership and regional stakeholders to align briefs, feedback cycles, and approval processes.
• Maintain visibility into deliverable trackers, asset libraries, and production schedules to ensure deadlines are met and quality is upheld.
• Collaborate closely with external vendors, translators, and local market teams to maintain consistency across languages and formats.
• Operational Excellence and Process Improvement
• Drive operational efficiency across creative delivery by streamlining workflows, documentation, and resourcing models.
• Partner with leadership on staffing, vendor onboarding, monthly billing, and reporting.
• Collaborate with finance, legal, and operations teams to ensure compliance and clarity around scope and budget governance.
• Lead internal syncs to ensure process adoption, transparency, and shared accountability.
• Maintain and optimize project management tools and systems such as Asana, Workfront, Harvest, or other equivalents.
• Monitor and manage project financials including estimates, actuals, ETC (Estimate to Complete), and EAC (Estimate at Completion).

• Client and Cross-Functional Partnership
• Serve as the connective tissue between creative, account, and operations teams, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.
• Act as an on-site client partner during sprints, workshops, and key creative reviews.
• Communicate proactively and clearly across channels including Slack, email, and meetings to keep stakeholders aligned and informed.
• Push back constructively when needed, balancing creative integrity, business needs, and delivery realities.
• Build trusted relationships with clients through transparency, accountability, and follow-through.

WHAT YOU BRING

Experience & Skills

• 5-7 years of experience in creative project or program management within an agency or in-house creative team.
• Proven experience leading integrated creative programs or campaigns from concept through delivery.
• Strong understanding of creative workflows, content production, brand systems, and cross-market adaptation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, track performance, and partner closely with operations and finance teams.
• Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills.
• Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and comfort managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• A proactive, adaptable mindset with enthusiasm for improving processes and nurturing collaboration.
• Strong knowledge of Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Asana, Workfront or other similar project management tools, time-tracking software and Slack or comparable communications platforms.

Key Traits

• Execution-Driven: You’re focused on getting the work done right, on time, and with precision.
• Process-Minded: You love structure and understand how process unlocks great creative.
• Collaborative: You’re a great communicator who builds trust across disciplines.
• Detail-Oriented: You have a keen eye for clarity, consistency, and quality.
• Proactive: You anticipate challenges and solve problems before they escalate.
• Growth-Oriented: You’re always looking to improve how you work and help others do the same.

Remote-first role with ability to travel to client or team locations up to 50%, as needed.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401K plan, plus matching
• PTO
• Paid Company Holidays
• Parental Leave

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: 

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s identity, background, beliefs, lifestyle or disabilities. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. 

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. 

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.  Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. 

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI.

Learn more about DEPT®

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 

We also encourage you  to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.