Senior Program Manager

Company Description

Hi there! We're Razorfish. We've been leading the marketing industry with our digital expertise since the start of the internet. But in 2020, we did a full reboot. What's different? It all starts with people. Weird, wonderful, complex people - with diverse backgrounds in strategy, creative and technology. But no matter how different we are, we all have one thing in common. We believe our differences are our strength. So we push for inclusion, challenge convention and bring in new perspectives, to inspire new ideas. Because when we connect by understanding what makes people different, we can create unforgettable experiences that enrich lives. Join us at razorfish.com.

Job Description

A Razorfish Senior Program Manager expertly manages small to medium scale data and technology projects with several parallel tracks of work from end-to-end. They demonstrate ability to manage risks and issue proactively, rather than reactively. Senior Program Managers also embody strong people skills, enabling the ability to motivate the team, support the team to resolve conflict, and support re-negotiation with the client on missed expectations. They are advanced users of the tools and methodologies required to deliver the work, and they support new business pursuits by generating case study content and presenting material relative to the PM domain.

This is a hybrid role, requiring working onsite 3 days per week in our Plano, Texas office, and 2 days remotely.

Responsibilities:

Monitoring & Controlling

• General Management

• Ability to run a small to medium scale fast-paced data and technology projects with several tracks of work or a small program with multiple projects; works with resource management and discipline leads to ensure projects are appropriately staffed.

• Works with data and technology interdisciplinary teams to manage schedules, deliverables, and team capacity; clarifies and communicates project objectives and success criteria; troubleshoots internal issues and determines corrective action.

• Ability to plan, organize and control the activities of other Razorfish disciplines (specifically data and technology) with little to no oversight.

• Has as an understanding of Paid Media, CRM and website data infrastructure workflows and how that data impacts client business objectives.

• Creates interdisciplinary workback schedules, establishes progress tracking processes and produces effective reports to communicate progress to clients and senior stakeholders.

• Ability to proactively identify and mitigate risk from the project plan, manages and controls project scope and the change control process to ensure that projects are completed according to schedule and within budget.

• Drives project delivery through effective use of internal and client meetings.

• Knowledge of the project inputs / documentation required for defining acceptance criteria, e.g. stories and use cases.

• Effectively organizes and uses internal tools (Smartsheet's, Adobe Workfront, Confluence, JIRA, Box, MS Teams, etc.) to meet project and client requirements.

• Tracks and manages team permissions and processes within the client's ecosystems as well as Razorfish's.

• Knowledge of our standard data deliverables (integrated marketing campaign performance reporting, key KPI's, measurement plans, audience targeting and testing) and ability to conduct regular reviews of project deliverables with key team members/client, works with senior delivery team members to develop/implement plans to resolve any issues.

• Methodology & Approach

• Understands the basics of the different delivery methodologies with their pros and cons and their applicability; (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid, Scrum, Kanban).

• Ability to explain to team members all of the roles and corresponding responsibilities for each methodology.

• Ability to provide feedback to team members related to how well they are executing their roles and responsibilities.

• Ability to select and proficiently use Razorfish tools according to chosen delivery methodology.

• Communication & Consulting

• Ability to frame messages correctly through context or purpose and articulate messages with clarity and simplicity.

• Ability to effectively communicate complex situations through providing additional context or insight.

• Ability to apply effective basic and advanced communication skills (e.g. active listening, motivational skills, team building skills, teamwork skills or interpersonal skills) and identify the right media for communication (e.g. meeting, video conferencing, emails, offline tools).

• Ability to set up and facilitate a wide range of meetings and interactions, including: internally focused, meetings with clients, with suppliers or partners, or within a local or global delivery team on a day-to-day basis.

• Ability to prepare for a facilitated meeting including adapting sessions/structure depending on the size of audience and the audience's goals, engaging the participants in advance (e.g. ramp-up call, pre-work/review, interviews), developing a plan B and C in addition to plan A.

• Knowledge of and ability to use key facilitation tools such as, session opening and closing, timekeeping and flexing (what is must have / what is nice to have), or main/break-out sessions (sub-groups).

• Ability to use facilitations techniques to accomplish basic goals, e.g.: ice breakers / energizers, issues and risks session, walking clients or team through a plan, scoping exercise; or post mortem).

• Ability to successfully negotiate with clients in regards to workplace policy.

• Ability to hold others accountable for meeting workplace expectations for 'others' (team) including:

• or Ability to model collaborative team work and set the tone for working as one team

• or Knowledge of how to onboard team members

• or Ability to create formal onboarding processes and documentation

• or Ability to drive formal onboarding processes with new team members

• or Ability to communicate professional conduct expectations to team members

• or Ability to address expectation gaps with team members

• or Ability to lead expectation discussions with team

• or Ability to collaborate with clients to establish and enforce expectations with teams.

• Team Management

• Ability to distinguish project management hard skills from leadership soft (people) skills.

• Knowledge of emotional intelligence and the importance of this practice and self-awareness in both professional and personal interactions.

• Ability to model the way and set good examples for people to follow in every day actions and self-management .

• Challenge the process by asking hard questions and leading others into confronting realities.

• Encourages a positive mindset and energy even when facing challenges.

• Ability to 'read the room' and determine how an audience of listeners might be feeling in reaction to what is being said.

Team Leadership

• Strategic Leadership

• Ability to engage the team in a collaborative manner and effectively drive cross-functional team member participation.

• Ability to drive internal kick-off meetings.

• Ability to garner appropriate participation of all required team members to ensure successful kick-off.

• Monitors the project team to ensure understanding of project requirements and goals.

• Ability to garner agreement on ways of working.

• Coaching

• Ability to manage team conflict with help.

• Ensures that the challenge and requirements are understood by the team, and participates in the solution developed by the team.

• Ability to collaborate with discipline leads and client services lead on delivering the project.

• Ability to deal with staffing challenges.

• Ability to apply key facilitation skills such as:

• or Strong questioning techniques

• or Active listening vs. talking

• or Assertiveness

• Ability to manage basic 'difficult behaviors,' e.g. side conversations.

• Ability to (through effective facilitation):

• Guide the participants/team through a process towards a simple shared goal.

• Drive specific results in a structured and accelerated manner.

• Support, guide and 'orchestrate' smaller teams.

• Enhance team productivity and efficiency.

• Provide a sense of comfort that things are under control.

• Foster an energized, open, and comfortable atmosphere.

• Ensure continuous movement and clarity of ownership.

• Manage attendees and ensure everyone understands the objectives.

• Manage team expectations.

• Ability to confront a team member that does not meet expectations (e.g. does not follow process, personal hygiene, dress code)

• Conflict Resolution

• Knowledge of the different types of conflicts that might arise within a team.

• Ability to escalate to project leadership when conflict situations become critical / require urgent resolution.

Client Exposure

• Client Management

• Ability to communicate planning outputs to senior team members and clients, as appropriate.

• Confidently present kick-off materials to client and stakeholders, under the guidance of a Senior Manager.

• Ability to agree on ways of working (internally and with the client).

• Relationship Management

• Works with the daily client contact to assure that the solution is understood and addresses the customer's business requirements; discussions on project issues and risk.

• Ensures that key decisions and next steps are clearly captured and quickly communicated to clients; ensures they're addressed by the team.

• Able to apologize and work with the client or stakeholder toward a solution, including partial solutions if original client expectation cannot be met.

• Ability to (with little guidance) develop working relationships with select members of the business stakeholders.

• Ability to manage the stakeholder relationship with support of the client service team.

• Able to establish and effectively manage client expectations.

• Ability to manage client escalations within the client escalation hierarchy (with guidance).

Qualifications

• 5+ years of agile project/program management experience, preferably in a digital marketing or agency environment delivering fast-paced data and technology solutions.

• Successful history of client contact including experience in setting and managing client expectations.

• Ability to decompose scope to granular level of details and consolidate the estimate of multiple teams into a single consolidated, high-quality estimate and transform into an executable plan for a small to medium size, non-complex project.

• Ability to review and thoroughly comprehend all key documentation from the sales cycle, including proposal, approach, and SOW.

• Ability to create Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid project plans for a small to medium size, non-complex project; understand and use at least 2-3 planning tools, (e.g. Microsoft Project, Adobe Workfront, Excel and Smartsheet's).

• Ability to work closely with staffing to assist with finalizing the staffing plan, should any outstanding resource needs remain.

• Ability to articulate Razorfish delivery process/methodology effectively and successfully, clearly discuss and internally communicate explicit client constraints related to scope, timeline, cost, or dependencies to inform sales process.

• Ability to work with the Client Services Lead, discipline experts, and client to critically define scope for the required work (what is the right thing to do vs. what has been requested?).

• Understanding of and ability to communicate the financial impacts to staffing changes proactively.

• Ability to confidently present kick-off materials to client and stakeholders, leveraging delivery leadership as needed.

• Understanding of and ability to clearly communicate the business challenge, client goals, objectives, team R&R, deliverables, and the project plan to the project team at kick-off.

Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

• Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more

• Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility

• Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption

• Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance

• Tuition Assistance

• Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more

• Matching Gifts programs

• Flexible working arrangements

• 'Work Your World' Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)

• Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

Razorfish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact hrcompliance_usms@publicis.com.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: $81,500 - $137,500 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 05/10/24.