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.

The Program Delivery Organization is a capability of world-class Program Delivery experts supporting services & activities within the end-to-end project, program, and portfolio life-cycle to deliver high quality work through efficiency and at scale. We do so by building trust through active collaboration and ongoing transparency resulting in healthy client relationships, VML teams, financial margins and organic growth.

Who we are looking for:

VML is excited to be seeking a visionary Chief Delivery Officer to lead our North American Program Delivery team and ensure the seamless planning and execution of client projects. This executive-level position will play a critical role in driving strategic evolution in our ways of working, fostering collaboration across all capabilities, and maintaining operational excellence across our newly formed organization.

You are skilled in program governance, project and program management, process definition and activation, financial management, staffing and casting, and driving efficiencies. You are ruthlessly process-driven, organized, analytical, and able to manage teams with diverse objectives. While management of our teams requires big picture strategic thinking, it also requires a willingness to dive into the most nuanced details of operational tasks. We look for leaders who are humble, curious, kind, proactive, resourceful, and will challenge us at every turn.

What You’ll Do:

Dynamic Leadership | Develop and execute strategic initiatives to optimize project and program delivery processes. Collaborate with executive leaders across capabilities to align delivery strategies with organizational goals and client objectives. Identify forward looking trends and technologies that drive agility and excellence in delivery to clients of all sizes. Establish a point of view on what “best” looks like at VML in terms of ways of working, delivery outputs (scopes, status documents, trackers, etc), training, tools and talent.
Client Partnership | Serve as a key liaison between senior clients and internal teams, ensuring clear communication and alignment on project expectations. Raise risk directly as needed, and teach and train teams to do the same. Partner with clients and internal teams to determine how to best execute complex workstreams to ensure flawless delivery and exceptional work.
Financial Management | Support the business development and client teams with PMO input when completing business development activities by leading scope definition, project plans, costing, and providing insight into resources and availability. For joint delivery across opcos and multi-agency integration, be the link between VML and the other teams.
Team Leadership and Development | Develop and partner with our high-performing team of 400+ delivery teammates across North America, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Develop career pathing and expectations including identification of learning needs across the department. Lead by example, demonstrating a strong work ethic, proactive approach, and commitment to excellence.

Who you are:

A builder and unifier | Entrepreneurial attitude coupled with a strong business acumen. Ability and appetite to bring people together. Trains, mentors, and grows teams with versatile backgrounds and skillsets A self-starter with sound foresight and insight.
Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive, and we’re working with a lot of unknowns. You must champion Delivery, creating an environment that is comfortable and encouraging, but focused on a high-level of performance for the agency.
Optimistic and resilient | A can-do attitude and an entrepreneurial approach, balancing rigor and process with the need to create the best work for our clients
Coach Mentality | We all wear the hats that need wearing. You are passionate about developing others and experienced at leading cross-functional teams.

What you’ll need:

Minimum of 15 years of experience working in both Creative agencies and CX/Tech-driven agency environments. VML bridges both types of work equally. Global client experience a plus.
Leadership experience within a PMO environment, with strong commercial understanding.
Demonstrated practice leadership in Program Management in comparably sized markets, with proven experience with industry best practices of workflow implementations across project scoping, revenue forecasting, resource, budget, and risk management.
Proven success guiding Agile and hybrid-Agile project leaders and teams across enterprise operations.
A systematic thinker with proven track record of overseeing complex, cross-functional projects and leading teams across campaign development, digital products and services, CX practices, web site redesigns, platform builds, and emerging tech solutions.
Preferred experience in scaling a business group or facilitating organizational growth.
Credible leader who wins the confidence of employees and pioneers new ways of thinking for our clients and our organization.
Holds recognized project/program management certifications or has completed formal training in project/program management (preferred but not required).
Willingness to travel for client engagements.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

$155,000—$390,000 USD

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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