Program Manager - Freelance

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

VML is looking for a Freelance Program Manager for the rest of the year (at least) to work with our North American Health Team who possesses a demonstrated depth of expertise in both managing Pharmaceutical Programs and Projects as well as a deep understanding of the Pharma/Healthcare sector to champion omni-channel work across multiple work streams with a focus on the customer at the center. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of innovative solutions bringing together creative, data and technology across the entire customer journey.

To be successful in this role, you must possess advertising/marketing agency experience in both digital and integrated marketing, building digital experiences and creating compelling content that helps us deliver winning programs and projects in the Pharma/Healthcare arena. You must have a strong creative sensibility, a genuine interest in user-centered design, and a hands-on understanding of content production for all channels.

In this role, you will be responsible for helping to drive talented teams to better understand client needs, market forces and consumer sentiments to deliver effective solutions that will drive revenue and growth. You will be accountable for ensuring all project deliverables are of high-quality, completed on time and on budget, and are aligned with a given new business pitch’s goals. You must have the ability to maintain the broad vision required for executing a project, including strategic thinking and project roadmap alignment from beginning to end, as well as the talent for overseeing all the small details that add up to fulfilling our commitment to client satisfaction and winning “in the room”. The ideal candidate will be an innovator who is excited to roll up their sleeves and get into the details to build scalable and repeatable processes that drive business wins and continued growth.

What you'll do:

Work | Deliver work that is excellent, on time, on budget AND goes beyond the brief. You will be responsible for setting up plans and processes that drive projects forward and ensure successful delivery with high client satisfaction.

People | Motivate, direct and challenge teams to produce great work. You will be responsible for establishing and managing cross-functional teams across different locations that are collaborative, efficient and high-functioning.

Process | Establish and manage program communication and process. You will be responsible for setting up appropriate structure and tools to ensure successful collaboration and engagement across agency and client teams.

Financials | Responsible for project estimation, planning and profitability. You will be responsible for building detailed project plans; managing resource allocations; and reporting on project status, burn rates, budgets and reconciliations to agency and client stakeholders.

Who you are:

A builder | Process-oriented and an innovator with a strong point of view and distinct voice. Ability and appetite to create and bring people together and inspire solutions.

Optimistic, open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must be an advocate of environments that are comfortable with ambiguity, positive and encourage collaboration.

Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing, it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you'll need:

4+ years of hands-on project leadership experience in advertising or marketing communications in a client-facing role, ideally at a creative agency or similar environment.

Experience within the New Business or Growth arena of an Agency or Marketing company.

Proven track record in driving creative solutions, digital content creation and pitch presentations.

Demonstrated knowledge of the Pharma/Healthcare industry

Customer experience and journey mapping, e-commerce, retail and consumer brand marketing experience are highly desired. Good understanding of emerging web standards, user-centered design (UX/UI), optimization and search practices.

Experience working on large-scale integrated, omni-channel programs with multiple parallel work streams and diverse teams (UX, Tech, Strategy, Creative, Account, Research and Data).

High EQ and the ability to read what a team needs to help motivate them.

Self-motivated and driven to build and create great work.

Our Behaviors:

We believe we are what we do, not just what we say. Our behaviors show how to bring the VML culture to life through the actions we take every day.

Listening – We see conversation as a chance to discover and understand, not get a point across.

In It Together – We’re at our best when we work together: with our clients, with our colleagues and with our partners.

Creative Bravery – We challenge convention in every aspect of our work. Creative describes how we act, not the department we sit in.

Positivity – We seek solutions to problems and always find a way forward. We bring passion and energy to every situation we encounter.

VML is a WPP agency. For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow VML on our social channels.

VML is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability. We rely on legitimate interest as a legal basis for processing personal information under the GDPR for purposes of recruitment and applications for employment.

The compensation for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package. Click WPP Benefits for more details.

_$60—$100 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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