Senior Program manager

Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) is a branding business, founded in 1990 and proudly independent ever since.

We started out in the world of packaging, but now we're worldwide; from three founders to more than 300 of us across the UK and USA. Together, we build and deliver brands across the entire consumer experience.

But even more important than what we do, is why we do it. We're here to inspire brands and people to be their true selves.

To be brave.

Be tenacious.

And above all, be yourself.

Because we believe that's the only way to truly be distinctive, everywhere.

We're looking for a Senior Program Manager to lead by example and deliver greater value to our clients.
Internally, you'll champion collaboration across teams to get to the best creative solutions, through meticulous planning, organisation, and coordination of every workstream.

Externally, you'll develop client trust and advocacy through effective planning and delivery across every brief, partnering closely with Client Services to provide a consistently excellent client experience."

What You'll Do

Project Management

• Manage and lead a range of projects with varied deliverables, workflows, and stakeholders, inspiring client confidence through delivery that harnesses the creative intent across a variety of channels
• Manage multiple project timelines across multiple clients within a Design Hub, ensuring all deadlines are met and tangibles delivered
• Create and manage project level documentation, including scopes of work, change requests, timelines, and resourcing plans
• Maintain and run project management and resourcing tools, and keep burn rates and project financial reports accurate and up to date
• Initiate client and internal team reviews at the right milestones, and help the team follow best in class ways of working
• Embrace new tools and technology, and share what you learn with the team

Client Management

• Build strong relationships with clients as the day-to-day project lead, in partnership with Client Services, anticipating their needs and keeping status reports and master timelines current
• Analyse client challenges and briefs, asking the right questions to understand full requirements and set right-first-time project plans in line with budget and process
• Pre-empt and respond to client requests, building plans that achieve successful delivery
• Act as a key partner to Client Services, proactively driving projects through the studio and enabling the team to manage client expectations effectively

Collaboration and Communication

• Partner with Creative and Strategy teams to ensure creative intent is preserved across all mediums and touchpoints
• Collaborate closely with Creative Services to determine the most suitable internal and external expertise for each client opportunity, and articulate design intent so they can source the right talent for specialisms
• Proactively manage internal and external communications across diverse teams, levels, and priorities
• Adapt your communication style to audience and situation, while always delivering a consistent message
• Champion outstanding collaboration, internally and externally, in pursuit of great creative output
• Listen actively and openly

Creativity and Brand Centricity

• Work with Design Directors and Client Services to determine the right talent for projects, drawing on knowledge of capabilities, efficiency, costing, and desired outcomes
• Build relationships with partners, experts, and collaborators, encouraging them to push technical and creative boundaries to deliver on the creative vision
• Proactively offer ideas and solutions to client challenges, with a clear understanding of the client's brand and business
• Keep an eye on the latest technology, thinking, and trends, sharing knowledge internally to help realise creative ideas and define new ones
• Anticipate client needs and expectations, striving to exceed them wherever possible, with flexibility and adaptability

Financial Management

• Use your knowledge of how the business charges and resources projects to drive efficiency and profitability, while maintaining the highest level of creative output
• Work in tandem with Client Services to ensure project quotes accurately reflect the work, advising from previous projects and experience to support negotiations
• Work closely with Creative Services to ensure quotes are reflected in resourcing requirements
• Recognise, raise, and resolve project issues resulting in overburn with the Hub team and Finance as necessary
• Use forecasting and reporting to flag risks early

Relationships and Teamwork

• Motivate, support, and inspire JKR teams effectively and responsibly, managing situations to positive outcomes
• Display integrity, honesty, reliability, responsiveness, and openness to build trust with clients and colleagues
• Manage conflict, leaning into issues as they arise
• React quickly and proactively to change, instilling calm across internal and external stakeholders

Requirements

• Proven experience in a Senior Program/Project Management role, ideally within a branding, design, or creative agency or a comparable in-house studio
• Track record of managing multiple concurrent projects and client relationships, with strong prioritisation and time-management skills
• Experience creating and managing project documentation such as scopes of work, change requests, timelines, and resourcing plans
• Strong understanding of creative processes and the ability to preserve intent across different mediums and channels
• Experience partnering with Client Services teams to manage client expectations and deliver a consistent client experience
• Commercial awareness, including experience with project quoting, resourcing, burn rates, and budget and profitability management
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt style to different audiences, teams, and seniority levels
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with meticulous attention to planning across multiple workstreams
• Comfortable managing conflict and navigating change calmly under pressure
• Strong relationship-building skills, both internally and with external partners, experts, and collaborators
• Confident using project management and resourcing tools, and keen to adopt new technology
• Genuine passion for branding and creativity, with curiosity about client businesses and industries

Benefits

Competitive salary

Lively Shoreditch studio location

Hybrid working policy, minimum 2 days pw in the Shoreditch studio

Bupa Healthcare, including dental option

️ Income protection & life insurance

Classpass credits

Group personal pension

25 days holiday + time given at Christmas and New Year

☀️ Summer Fridays x 2

Birthday day off

After probation:

• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Referral scheme for new hires
• 2 weeks work from anywhere, by agreement with line manager