At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting automotive campaigns from start to finish, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
- Company: Join VML, a top creative agency known for innovative work with major brands.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and a culture of collaboration.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for growth and creativity.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of creative marketing in the fast-paced automotive industry.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in project management, preferably in automotive advertising.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 140000 $ per year.
VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human-first, award-winning work for blue-chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's.
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and seasoned Senior Project Manager to lead end-to-end campaign delivery for a premier automotive client. In this role, you will be the operational backbone of a fast-paced account, managing a diverse portfolio of projects that span national brand-building campaigns, Tier 2/Tier 3 retail promotions, dealership integrations, and digital-first activations.
As a Senior Project Manager, you will bridge the gap between Account Service, Creative, Strategy, Production, and Media teams. You are someone who thrives in the fast lane, understands the nuances of retail-driven automotive marketing (where speed-to-market is critical), and can maintain a high creative standard while keeping projects on time and on budget.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-End Delivery: Oversee the lifecycle of multi-channel campaigns (broadcast/TV, OLV, print, OOH, digital display, social media, radio, and retail POS) from brief to final delivery.
- Scope & Resource Management: Define project scopes, develop detailed estimates, build master timelines, and allocate creative/production resources efficiently.
- Process Optimization: Establish, maintain, and refine agile workflows to support the rapid turnaround times required for retail automotive campaigns (e.g., monthly sales events, model year launches).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the central hub of communication between Account, Creative, Studio, Production, and Media teams, ensuring everyone is aligned on deliverables, feedback, and deadlines.
- Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify potential roadblocks (scope creep, resource bottlenecks, legal/compliance hurdles) and implement creative solutions before they impact delivery.
- Financial Stewardship: Monitor project budgets, track resource hours, manage third-party vendor costs, and assist in monthly billing reconciliations.
- Compliance & QC: Ensure all creative assets meet rigorous automotive tier compliance, legal standards (disclaimers, regional pricing, financing offers), and brand guidelines before delivery.
Required Experience & Skills
- Experience: 6+ years of project management experience within a fast-paced advertising agency.
- Automotive Expertise: Proven experience working on an automotive account (OEM/Tier 1, Regional/Tier 2, or Dealer/Tier 3) is highly preferred.
- Retail Mindset: A strong understanding of retail advertising cycles (holiday sales, quarterly events) and the ability to pivot quickly in response to market shifts.
- Technical Savvy: Deep familiarity with agency project management tools (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Workamajig, Smartsheet) and digital asset management systems.
- Multi-Channel Expertise: Hands-on experience delivering a wide range of assets, with a strong emphasis on digital/social, video production (broadcast and social), and localized retail assets.
- Leadership & Communication: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills. You know how to motivate creative teams while keeping them accountable to strict deadlines.
- Detail-Oriented: An eagle eye for detail, particularly regarding complex legal disclaimers and offer-driven creative.
Who You Are
- A Problem Solver: You don't just flag issues; you come to the table with three potential solutions.
- Cool Under Pressure: You remain calm, focused, and positive in a fast-moving, high-volume environment.
- A Relationship Builder: You build trust easily across all departments and levels of leadership.
- Adaptable: You understand that in retail automotive, priorities can change overnight, and you can pivot workflows without breaking a sweat.
The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between $90,000—$140,000 CAD. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
Senior Project Manager in Toronto employer: Wunderman Thompson
VML, part of WPP, is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, ideal for Senior Project Managers looking to thrive in a fast-paced environment. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, VML offers numerous opportunities for professional development while working with prestigious clients in the automotive sector. The hybrid work model promotes a healthy work-life balance, ensuring that team members can connect creatively and effectively, making it a rewarding place to build a career.
