Senior Project Manager

At AKQA (part of WPP) we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we create content that captures the imagination, and design adaptive digital products and services delivering impressive returns for our clients. The Delivery team are at the epicenter of all projects, ensuring they’re delivered to the highest quality, on time, and that clients receive the greatest possible value from their investment. The Senior Project Manager at AKQA will acutely understand a project’s desired outcomes. Taking responsibility for assignments, ensuring completion on time, within budget and that objectives are met, the Senior Project Manager will be able to confidently address business needs, manage resources and any issues to successfully navigate and deliver all aspects of the assignment. Located in Berlin, Germany, as part of the AKQA team, you will work in an environment that fosters a dynamic and meritocratic culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. ROLE REQUIREMENTS • Lead the end-to-end planning and delivery of strategic and creative content-production projects, including campaign content, social activations, and digital content for the German market or global audiences. • Deliver high-quality work on time and within the agreed scope and project estimates. • Manage projects independently, with minimal supervision, overseeing their operational, administrative, and functional requirements from kickoff through completion. • Define and communicate the right project structure, governance, and delivery approach for each engagement and project phase. • Work with project leads to develop accurate estimates for agreed scopes of work, select the appropriate estimation model, and clearly communicate estimates and assumptions to clients. • Agree and document the scope of work with internal teams and clients. Manage changes, balance client needs with project constraints, and resolve open issues promptly. • Manage project budgets, forecasts, and resources to support delivery and profitability. Track and report financial performance against estimates, flag potential overruns early, and resolve or escalate financial issues promptly. • Coordinate internal teams, clients, stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners to achieve the best outcomes for both clients and AKQA. • Keep stakeholders informed through clear, timely project updates. Proactively manage expectations and communicate risks, dependencies, and issues. • Plan and facilitate effective internal and client meetings, ensuring objectives are clear and decisions and actions are documented and followed up. • Identify opportunities to improve AKQA’s delivery practices, processes, and procedures. • Plan and facilitate post-project reviews, capture key learnings, and share them with relevant AKQA teams, clients, and third parties QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS • At least five years’ experience managing multidisciplinary service delivery in an agency environment, delivering innovative, interactive, consumer-focused solutions. • Proven ability to lead complex projects, including productions and on-location content shoots. • Strong knowledge of content-production processes and experience working with third-party production partners. • Highly organised and responsive, helping colleagues to work efficiently and effectively. • Self-motivated and able to work autonomously with minimal supervision. • Commercially minded, with sound financial judgement and the ability to assess problems quickly, develop practical solutions, and manage client expectations and project workflows. • Confident in client-facing situations, with the ability to discuss t