Project Manager

Location : Gurugram, Haryana / Remotely

Role Description:

We are looking for a strategic and client-focused Project Manager responsible for overseeing the execution of creative projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and at the highest quality standards. This role involves managing workflows across creative and design teams while maintaining strong client communication. The Project Manager plays a crucial role in ensuring seamless collaboration between stakeholders, tracking project progress, and mitigating risks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

The ideal candidate has experience in creative production, understands creative digital and print production processes, and excels in project coordination and client relationship management.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Execution:

• Develop detailed project plans that encompass scope, timelines, and budgets.
• Create effort estimates with relevant teams; formulate project cost estimates and proposals; manage scope and costs to ensure projects stay within approved budgets.

Client and Stakeholder Management:

• Act as the primary contact for stakeholders and clients, facilitating communication regarding project delivery and status updates.
• Maintain relationships with top customers, striving to nurture long-term partnerships where they become strategic advisors, uncovering new collaborative opportunities for mutual benefit.
• Engage with clients to understand their challenges through consulting calls, documenting issues, asking questions, and identifying the approval hierarchy.
• Proactively manage expectations among internal and external stakeholders; communicate clearly and effectively with team members, clients, and partners from various backgrounds and time zones.

Budget and Risk Management:

• Review and oversee project budgets, timelines, and resources; ensure cost efficiency while meeting financial objectives.
• Implement best practices in project management methodologies to improve efficiency; ensure adherence to regionally and globally defined processes and tools by all team members.
• Spearhead initiatives to create briefs, ensuring all information is collected before project initiation; maintain a proactive attitude, exhibiting enthusiasm and a ‘can do’ approach in challenging situations.

Team Leadership and Collaboration:

• Ensure successful project delivery; oversee work completion, ensuring all deliverables meet deadlines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Collaborate with the Design Director and Studio Manager to enhance resource allocation; monitor team availability and usage to maintain efficiency and reduce risks.
• Facilitate project meetings, ensuring clear communication and alignment across all stakeholders.

Other Skills:

• Strong knowledge of advertising processes and creative production.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., WorkFront, Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Microsoft Project, etc.).
• A Project Manager should cultivate strategic relationships with key accounts and has an in-depth understanding of the company and its customers. This knowledge helps identify opportunities for growth and client service enhancement.
• Given the strategic nature of this role, the Project Manager will also act as a visionary, expected to lead both clients and internal executives on significant initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in printing, design, or a related field.
• Proven experience in a Project Management role or similar client-facing position, preferably within the packaging artwork or design agency sector.
• A record of success in fostering long-term client relationships, achieving client retention and satisfaction targets.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of effective interaction at all organizational levels and with external stakeholders.
• Certifications in project management or related fields (e.g., PMP, CAPM) are favorable but not mandatory.
• Minimum of 8 years in a client-facing role, ideally in project management, account management, or business development.
• Experience utilizing CRM software or similar systems for managing client relationships and tracking interactions.

Key Result Areas (KRAs)

• 100% client retention. No attrition due to communication or delivery issues.
• Accurate time logging for oneself and the POD along with budgeting to track profitability.
• 100% on-time delivery for all clients in the POD.
• Excellent responsiveness within the team and with the client. Acknowledge/respond to messages, both internal and external, within a window of 2 hours.
• Excellent collaboration with the Design Director and Studio manager to ensure smooth and error-free project deliveries.
• Work with CAMs to effectively onboard/transition new clients and convert the BAU.
• Effectively lead internal and client calls and take appropriate actions for continual improvement.
• Identifying and mitigating any risk on any of the projects or clients at the right time