At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex programs, manage teams, and ensure successful client delivery.
- Company: Join R/GA, a leader in innovative digital solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic NYC-based role with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of health and wellness brands through creative strategy.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in agency management with strong client relationship skills.
The predicted salary is between 135000 - 185000 £ per year.
About the Role
As a Director, Program Management at R/GA, you’ll own some of our most complex and high‑value programs—setting the pace for teams and ensuring delivery from kickoff through final handoff. You’ll lead multidisciplinary teams, establish project plans and budgets, and guide client engagements so that delivery consistently aligns with scope, strategy, and business goals.
Responsibilities
- Own a portfolio of large‑scale client engagements, ensuring smooth operations, profitability, and long‑term growth.
- Develop engagement strategies that align with client business goals, then lead execution across multiple teams and offices.
- Build and manage senior‑level client relationships (Director–SVP), serving as a trusted advisor and proactive partner.
- Lead the authoring, negotiation, and approval of complex SOWs, PCNs, and MSAs, ensuring compliance and alignment across all parties.
- Oversee other Program Managers within your portfolio, setting direction, reviewing work, and guiding their craft development.
- Steward account‑level financial health, including revenue forecasting, P&L management, resourcing, and utilization.
- Defend profitability by addressing overburs, preventing unnecessary discounting, and optimizing staffing models.
- Partner with Finance, Business Leadership, and Talent Management to curate and cast the right teams, forecast resourcing, and pipeline future needs.
- Champion R/GA’s craft and capabilities, ensuring the right players and partners are engaged to deliver world‑class work.
- Innovate around workflows and processes, fixing inefficiencies and scaling best practices across accounts.
- Proactively manage risks, client conflicts, and escalations to ensure positive outcomes for both clients and teams.
- Inspire and engage cross‑functional teams, fostering collaboration, clarity, and motivation across multiple offices and disciplines.
- Advocate for creative excellence, protecting work from pressures that favor mediocrity while finding solutions that balance quality, profitability, and client trust.
Ideal Candidate
- Operates like a business owner, balancing the delivery of high‑volume, high‑velocity content with profitability and team health.
- Lives at the intersection of culture and health, navigating complex regulatory landscapes without sacrificing the urgency, aesthetic, or engagement of social platforms.
- Builds authoritative relationships with senior clients, navigating health and wellness conversations with exceptional judgment and fiscal acumen.
- Elevates the discipline of program management, setting the standard for how multidisciplinary teams collaborate to produce world‑class social assets.
- Champions diversity and inclusion, maintaining high morale within fast‑paced production environments while inspiring teams to reach new levels of tenacity.
- Represents R/GA’s vision publicly, articulating how disruptive social strategy drives the future of health and wellness brands.
Your Experience
- 10–12 years of agency experience (digital/integrated), including 1+ years at the Director level managing $8M–$10M+ portfolios and full P&L.
- Social‑first fluency: Deep understanding of social culture and platform dynamics, ideally for disruptive DTC or innovative health brands.
- Operational mastery: Expert at process innovation, workflow governance, and managing large multidisciplinary teams delivering complex, high‑volume asset suites.
- Commercial acumen: Extensive experience authoring/negotiating SOWs, PCNs, and MSAs with a sharp eye for legal and financial detail.
- Strategic partnership: Proven ability to manage Director- and SVP-level client relationships and lead effectively within Integrated Agency Team (IAT) structures.
- Balanced leadership: A track record of delivering world‑class creative work while protecting both agency profitability and team well‑being.
Bonus Points
- Pharma expertise: Knowledge of DTC payer campaigns and pharma‑specific workflows (MLR, VVPM, label updates).
- People management: Experience mentoring and developing the craft of Program Managers and direct reports.
Location
This role is based in NYC. Candidates must be located in the tri‑state area (NY, NJ, or CT) or be willing to relocate. The position offers a hybrid work model with regular in‑person collaboration and client travel expected.
Compensation
The hiring range for this position is $135,000 to $185,000. Salary will depend on experience and other factors.
Director, Program Management employer: twentysix
At R/GA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture. As a Director of Program Management in the vibrant NYC area, you will have the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams on high-value projects while enjoying a hybrid work model that promotes collaboration and flexibility. With a strong focus on employee growth, innovative practices, and a commitment to creative excellence, R/GA empowers its employees to thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Program Management
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We should be ready to discuss how our experience aligns with their goals. Practise common interview questions and have examples ready that showcase our leadership and project management skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping us top of mind. We can reiterate our enthusiasm for the role and mention something specific from the conversation to show we were engaged.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we often have exclusive roles listed there that you won’t find anywhere else. Let’s get that application in!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Program Management
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Director, Program Management role. Highlight your experience in managing large-scale client engagements and leading multidisciplinary teams.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you inspire and engage teams! Share examples of how you've built relationships with senior clients and navigated complex projects. This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to balance profitability with team health.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to describe your achievements and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point while showcasing your expertise.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at twentysix
✨Know Your Portfolio Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of your past projects and how they align with the responsibilities of managing large-scale client engagements. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've successfully navigated complex situations, ensuring smooth operations and profitability.
✨Master the Art of Relationship Building
Since you'll be managing senior-level client relationships, prepare to share your strategies for building trust and rapport. Think of instances where you've acted as a trusted advisor and how you’ve navigated challenging conversations with clients, especially in the health and wellness sector.
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with P&L management and revenue forecasting. Highlight any specific achievements where you defended profitability or optimised staffing models. This will demonstrate your operational mastery and commercial acumen, which are crucial for this role.
✨Emphasise Your Leadership Style
As a Director, your leadership approach is key. Share examples of how you've inspired and engaged cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and motivation. Discuss how you balance high-quality creative work with team well-being, showcasing your balanced leadership skills.
