Project Director in Manchester

Ride Shotgun is one of the fastest growing strategic brand, activation and production agencies in the UK. We think big, go big creatively and deliver big in production to provide fully joined‑up brand journeys for clients of all shapes and sizes. We’re looking for a Project Director to take end-to-end ownership of a large, complex production portfolio for a single, strategically important European retail client. You’ll be accountable for project delivery, quality, timelines, and commercial performance across multiple overlapping workstreams, operating above day-to-day project management and acting as the senior delivery authority for the account.

Key Responsibilities:

• Full accountability for all projects on the account, from scoping through to final delivery
• Governance and sign‑off of SOWs, budgets, and delivery plans
• Senior escalation point for project risk, scope change, resourcing, and delivery decisions
• Portfolio‑level oversight across live, upcoming, and forecasted projects
• Client expectation‑setting across scope, timelines, cost, and technical feasibility
• Senior client leadership across status, risk, and planning discussions
• Identification of peak production periods and mitigation planning with internal teams
• Act as the trusted senior client lead for project delivery
• Partner closely with Client Partner and Account Director to support long‑term account success
• Lead project retrospectives and drive continuous improvement at project and portfolio level
• Represent delivery with authority during periods of complexity or pressure

CGI, Technical & AI Expertise:

• Strong understanding of CGI pipelines and complex technical workflows
• Ability to assess feasibility, risk, and delivery approaches at scale
• Experience integrating AI‑enabled production processes into project planning and execution
• Senior, production‑agnostic advisor on optimisation and future‑facing delivery models aligning with the client’s Gen‑AI strategy and future content roadmap

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in a senior project leadership role (Project Director / Lead PM on major accounts)
• Confident senior stakeholder manager with strong commercial judgement
• Comfortable operating with a portfolio‐level, strategic view rather than day‑to‑day PMing

Location and Working Hours:

This role will be based from either our Manchester or Leeds office, 9am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The role is open to hybrid working. There will be a requirement to travel to the client site.

What Kind of Person Are We Looking For?

We expect all our team members to share the same behaviour and culture code as Ride Shotgun:

• We own it: We want to feel proud of the work we do every day. So, we step up, we crack on and we take responsibility.
• We are on it: “That’ll do”, won’t do. We expect a lot more of ourselves and each other.
• No drama: We look out for, and after, each other. We understand and respect each other.
• Know‑how: We work as one team, recognising and respecting each other’s skills and capabilities.
• Be curious and creative: Curiosity is our superpower. It drives us to dig deeper.
• Have guts and glory: We’re fearless in challenging the accepted norms.

What Do We Offer?

The opportunity to make a real impact and be instrumental in shaping the future of a new, ambitious, and exciting agency. Based in Manchester or London, you’ll work with some of the world’s best brands and the region’s best talent to produce award-winning creative work. In addition, we offer a competitive salary and additional benefits including:

• Your birthday off
• Additional holidays through salary sacrifice
• Childcare salary sacrifice
• Company Sick Pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Pension contribution
• Westfield health cash plan
• Discounts portal with access to thousands of retailers

Ride Shotgun is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (Protected Characteristics).

Applicants should be within commuting distance of the office location. Please apply by visiting this link and attach your CV and portfolio.