Group Program Director

At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create a better future. We are visionaries and makers, combining strategy, creative and technology to deliver solutions that transform businesses and improve people’s lives.
Our Atlanta Studio specifically focuses on digital products and services, building experiences across a wide variety of channels. We support many of the best-known brands in the southeast—and the world—in the areas of travel, quick-serve restaurants, logistics, professional sports and consumer packaged goods.
Group Program Directors are responsible for the overall direction and management of a portfolio of projects
From our Atlanta studio, we offer a hybrid environment supporting virtual and in-person collaboration for local and remote team members.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Motivates and mentors team members and serves as a trusted advisor to both clients and internal department leads. Builds confidence and alignment within the program team and inspires everyone to do their best work. Holds team accountable with ease. Can see the potential of ideas and helps teams shape the program of work to make them better and achievable. Foresees how projects might grow into a wider program of work. Seen as a leader by the team and as a point of escalation by the client. Beginning to lean into department leadership and mentorship.
• Develops program/project approaches, budgets, staffing plans and roadmaps. Designs day-to-day operating plan to manage program success. Creates an environment that challenges traditional thinking, inspiring direct reports/team members to work smart and look beyond the usual approach. Originates ideas for program improvements. Brings an entrepreneurial spirit and asks<#39;what's next?' and perceives opportunities to extend AKQA's remit within a client organization.
• Perceived as a key influencer within the program team and by clients and internal department leads. Owns client conversations alongside client service partner. Viewed as a point of escalation and a point of contact for when things get rocky. Builds trusted relationships with: AKQA discipline leads, resource management team and finance leads as well as ATL senior leadership team, senior client stakeholders, 3rd party/agencies, vendors, and AKQA global partners.
• Understands the
• Demonstrates ability to create thoughtful, collaborative project approaches and estimates from project briefs
• Highly skilled at identifying issues and risks in the moment and can drive mitigation strategies on the spot with the teams and clients. Includes all stages of the project life cycle and program life cycleBuilds a happy team and creates strong and enduring relationships within their program of work. Ensures direct reports are managing teams effectively and caring for them appropriately. Serves as an escalation point for performance issues and is comfortable addressing directly as a first step before escalating further. Effectively manages team morale.
• Ensure clients and project teams are satisfied with project delivery. Balances all opinions, able to own and make difficult and timely decisions for the good of the program alongside client services partner to ensure work meets/exceeds expectations.
  Creates staffing scenarios and provides recommendations for the best path forward at critical points of decision. Monitors project metrics of PMs through direct report relationships and helps them to mitigate staffing issues.
• Creates financial scenarios and provides recommendations for the best path forward at critical points of decision. Monitors project metrics through burn reports, analysis of trends, and revenue forecasts. Accountable alongside client services partner for forecasting accuracy and project EACs within their program of work.
• Establishes relationships with discipline practice leads across our core capabilities and has a foundational level understanding of all AKQA service areas.
• Is a leader within the Project Management Department. Begins to take responsibility for training on PM methodology at AKQA and helps ensure that the PM Playbook remains up to date. Builds relationships with other Program Directors and other Director-level discipline leads. Considered a trusted go-to advisor regarding all things related to scope, process, workflow, team structures and more.
• Advocates for studio needs.
  

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• 15 years of experience managing multi-disciplined delivery within an agency or consulting environment, implementing innovative, interactive and consumer-focused solutions
  Possess good business acumen and sound judgment. Entrepreneurial, with a collaborative, supportive and team-based approach. Well-developed planning, analysis and organizational skills
• Ability to build strong relationships with peers and clients, and the ability to achieve results under potentially challenging circumstances
• Ability to partner with client service teams in successfully managing strategic client relationships and growing accounts organically
• Negotiates well, listens actively and makes compelling points. Able to navigate complexity and be persuasive with peers and clients
• Ability to make sound financial recommendations/decisions, quickly understand problems, propose solutions and manage client situations
• Knowledge of Agile delivery approach, and how to manage work and teams within the methodology
• Is self-motivated and self-driven. Ability to work well under pressure and to have an objectively focused and positive approach
• Strong customer service ethos, a commitment to quality and the will to constantly drive improvements
• Commitment to high standards of excellence and integrity
• Experienced at adapting delivery process to a client specific needs and existing internal process
  

This position is associated with the AKQA Atlanta studio.
AKQA is an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe that diversity is vital to AKQA’s ability to provide our clients with the best recommendations and are committed to fostering a varied and inclusive work environment. Your race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
#LIRemote