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. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting‑edge media intelligence and data solutions, world‑class creativity, next‑generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counselin a single company –powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open,to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
Portfolio Directorrequiredto join our team.
The opportunity:
Responsible for the management of several programme managers across multiple accounts to ensure consistent ways of working, accurate project/programme reporting and collaboration on issues and risk management. Working closely with the Sales team and Account Directors to drive demand across their customer base to develop new and existing opportunities. Support efforts to challenge for new opportunities which may include bid work, proposition development, creating reusable collateral and participating in Sales meetings with customers/prospective customers.
Whatyou’llbe doing:
* Lead a team of managers and strong individual contributors who will look to you to guide and lead them through times of growth and change
* Ensure all the accounts are working effectively and following WISDOM best practice as far as possible
* Create a detailed cross programme dependency map, with risk and impact assessment and mitigation strategies
* Define and govern process/approach for the teams implementing change
* Resolve potential conflicts or disagreements about project priorities
* Implement a comprehensive, best practice, programme governance framework.
* Manage relationships and governance with VML and client stakeholders at all levels especially board level
* Lead the growth agenda in your portfolio by developing and maintaining the right relationships across the organisation
* Support the delivery and service teams while generally delegating the responsibility for project delivery and post‑go live (timeline, scope, budget, customer expectations) to a Project / Programme Manager. They will retain the accountability for quality outcomes whilst you will be ultimately accountable across the portfolio
* Identify cost saving opportunities for the accounts and action these, where possible.
What we want from you:
* Strong leadership skills with experience of managing and mentoring Programme managers.
* Good at mediating through business challenges across delivery, commercial and business support
* Solid time management & organisational skills.
* Excellent communication and relationship management skills
* Delivering complex programmes in companies with multiple operating entities, including delivery of roadmap & business case
* Large scale fixed price and T&M programme delivery
* Managing the end‑to‑end delivery lifecycle including post go‑live service support
* Establishing and managing high performing, cross functional project teams
* Able to drill down into the detail when needed to analyse issues and support the teams
* Senior stakeholder management and the ability to influence at all levels.
* Distilling modern delivery reporting into rapidly consumable executive updates.
* Excellent negotiation skills and an ability to handle sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
* Working across all levels from C‑suite to Project Management and communicating accordingly.
* Proficient with Microsoft Office Packages, especially MS Excel and MS PowerPoint
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
* Minimum BA/BS degree with a major in information management, marketing, communications, business or other closely‑related areas is an advantage
Whatwe can offer you:
Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world,we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills.We’llempower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.
Permanent only:
We offer a great benefits package including a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, opportunities to buy and sell holidays, family friendly policies, discounts with hundreds of retailers and much more.
Our culture thrives on our core values, designed for impact‑driven individuals: Heart,Brainsand Courage.
We lead with Heart, fostering empathy and trust where genuine connections and human‑centric work flourish.
We empower your Brains for innovation, valuing relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges.
And we champion Courage, inspiring you to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions that push our thinking to be better than yesterday.
At VML Enterprise Solutions
Our Enterprise Solutions division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects and skilled developers and operators that together help some of the world’s leading organisations to deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide: marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B and social platforms. With over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centres across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from customer acquisition, through engagement, to conversion and loyalty, driving multi‑channel growth for world‑leading brands .
We work with some of the most exciting brands such as The Coca‑Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes‑Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co.We’ve built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $29bn annually for our clients and work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, HCL, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools and Acquia. Our reputation is based on our people, and we believe we have some of the best in the business.
As our business grows internationally,we’re looking for new people to join us on our journey to inspire and take a key role in shaping some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. Working as a team, no problem is insurmountable; we share in our client’s successes and believe that anyone can show creative bravery no matter what their role is in the team.
WPP (VML Enterprise Solutions) 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.
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