Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. 

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.  Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. 

VML MAP is the world-leading center of excellence for Marketing Automation, Personalization, Loyalty and CRM at scale. Our mission is to deliver value for our clients by humanizing the relationship between the brand and the consumer. To do this, we help clients make data-driven and personalized experiences that can be scaled with efficiency and operationalized intelligently. We believe that serving consumers personal, mindful content in an omnichannel world is key to transforming experiences. With the brain of a consultancy, the heart of an agency and the power of technology and data, we work with some of the world’s most admired brands to help them on their transformation journey to becoming truly customer-centric. 

At VML MAP, we are always making room for more. We are 800+ technology specialists, data scientists, strategic thinkers, consultants, operations experts, and creative minds from 40+ nationalities who collaborate closely to help our clients inspire and engage consumers on five continents.  

Who we are looking for:

The Program Director is close partner to the Client Lead, and acts the connecting tissue across the Workstream Leads as well as VML MAP department team leads, helping to ensure alignment and collaboration across a global automotive client. The Program Director reports to the Client Lead, and is the manager of and supported by the Program Manager in overseeing the workstreams and the client account as a whole. While the Client Lead drives the main client relationship and communication through consultancy, providing strategic guidance and is overall responsible for client satisfaction, the Program Director ensure the logistics are in place for the Client Service team to deliver day-to-day. This is done through team management and support, recruitment, working with finance to ensure budgets are managed effectively and efficiently, partner with VML MAP SME department team leads for setting the right team according to roadmaps, and ensure strong collaboration across the client account through defined processes and ways of working. To achieve this, it is important that the Client Lead and Program Director are close partners and work as a strong unity. Even though majority of your daily tasks are communicating, planning, and coordinating with the Client Service team and other internal teams, you are still expected to build relationship with clients, understanding their needs and goals to be able to effectively support the team when needed – and support the Client Lead in driving long term strategic roadmap and business plans in close collaboration with the transformation team and Workstream Leads. 

The Program Director is responsible in fostering strong collaboration across the workstream leads. To do so, you must stay close to the planning and execution of each workstream’s short- and long-term plans to help detect dependencies and synergies across the workstreams. The Program Director will facilitate weekly workstream leads connects for general client account updates, but most importantly this meeting will be a forum for the Workstream Leads to raise awareness of cross-workstreams projects, challenges, blockers, or general concerns that needs to be addressed either with internal department team leads by the Program Director or the client through the Client Lead. Similarly, the Program Director will be the main Client Service connection to each department team leads to help ensure strong collaboration of ways of working, align on team set up and resource forecasting and help drive collaboration across workstreams and teams. 

Together with the Client Lead, the Program Director will lead, manage and grow the client account workstreams. You should be seen as the go-to person for the Workstream Leads and department team leads for any challenges or questions related to deliveries or client account structure and team management. It is therefore crucial that you build strong partnership with the teams, take the time to understand processes, systems, and activities within the worktreams, as well as having a deep understanding of all departments at VML MAP along with their capabilities and how they work across department - and that you can effectively leverage this knowledge to guide the team forward. Strong organizational, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills are needed for this role, as well as an ability to see the big picture and keep track of all moving parts, while at the same time keeping calm and remaining level-headed. Being a “people person”, a team player and strong at building relationships with internal and external stakeholders in a multicultural environment are prerequisites to succeed in this role. 

Your most important responsibility: Lead, manage, and grow the client account in close partnership with the Client Lead – ensuring strong collaboration across workstreams and internal departments with the overall goal of driving client satisfaction 

Who are you going to work with?

You will be working closely with the Client Partner, as well as a team of Project Managers, Producers, Copywriters, Designers, Business Architects, Developers and Finance Controllers. Across locations in Copenhagen, Stockholm, London, Detroit, Toronto, and Austin, you will join competent teammates who go the extra mile to help one another. We are a flat organization that sees the values in promoting and growing the talents of our people. Many of our colleagues have been at the agency for a decade or longer.

What do you bring to the table?

You are an excellent facilitator with the ability to articulate complex concepts and information to the team as well as various internal and external stakeholders. As you will help oversee fulfillment for one of our biggest Client Service teams, we expect that you are very organized and can keep the overall perspective while showing great attention to details. You are proactive and solution-oriented; thus, you are not afraid to take ownership, and always work to deliver the best possible outcomes, despite challenges that may arise. Moreover, you are easy-going and have a positive mindset and eagerness to learn new cultures and help build a team that succeeds. In addition, you have:

• Minimum 3+ years of experience being a digitally-focused program director or similar
• Deep understanding of CRM Technology – particularly SFMC and Adobe 
• Deep understanding of the four-wheel drive mindset – how data, technology, experience, and operations must move in concert to help the client deliver world-class one-to-one marketing communications 
• Extensive experience with people management and the right toolbox for leading a team of employees with various experience and seniority levels, as well as different cultural backgrounds 
• Experience with strategic management and implementation of IT projects within CRM, and/or marketing automation 
• Proven ability to lead and grow client revenue 
• Ability to balance time across multiple team members and to keep calm and composed in times of stressful situations 
• Ability to remain level-headed and pro-active while finding solutions to complex situations or problems 
• Great communication and presentation skills in English. It is vital for this role that you can communicate complex topics in a clear and understandable manner.  
• Excellent organizational skills 
• Excellent stakeholder management (internal and external) in a multicultural and multi-country environment 
• Great relationship builder and a true team player 
• Service-minded approach and positive attitude 

What we offer: 

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal. 

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

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