Senior Project Manager III - Marketing & Paid Media Campaigns en Pace (advertising/marketing agency)

POSITION SUMMARY:

This role is internally titled Group Project Manager and sits within the Project Management Office at Pace. It functions as a senior-level delivery lead, owning one complex, multi-workstream client program while also providing strategic oversight across a broader portfolio of accounts.

The Senior Project Manager III/Group Project Manager collaborates closely with portfolio leadership—including Account, Strategy, Media, and Creative leads—to drive delivery excellence, financial health, and process adoption across programs. The Group Project Manager mentors PMs, manages multiple workstreams, and serves as the strategic bridge between project execution and client success—refining delivery frameworks and advocating for the resources needed to execute with excellence. They are responsible for cross-functional team orchestration, vendor coordination, risk mitigation, and resource planning.

This role sits above the Senior Project Manager II level and below Program Manager. It combines direct ownership of a key program with broader operational influence—ensuring that programs within the portfolio are aligned to business goals, well-resourced, and delivered to Pace’s standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Client Program Oversight & Delivery

• Lead at least one large-scale, multi-workstream program, ensuring cohesive planning, alignment, and delivery across all projects for one of the world’s largest brands.
• Partner with client account team to align on project needs, dependencies, scopes of work, resources needed, estimates, status, milestones, burn reports and presentations.
• Manage program-level financial performance, partnering with Account management and Finance to forecast and track revenue and expenses, oversee pricing strategy and burn management, and recommend adjustments to optimize margins and inform P&L decisions.
• Facilitate coordination between internal teams and external media vendors, trafficking partners, or DSPs to align on delivery and approvals, with emphasis on contract and budget management.
• Act as the primary point of escalation for project delivery issues, resolving conflicts and risk proactively.
• Act with urgency to translate meetings into immediate action; capturing decisions and next steps, while ensuring cross-functional teams are promptly aligned and executing against agreed priorities.
• Collaborate with creative, strategy, developer, analytics and performance media teams on deliverables and timelines.
• Ensure successful delivery of program KPIs (e.g., on-time delivery, revenue performance, client satisfaction)

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Partner with other project managers to maintain overall awareness and insight into all projects that may impact overall client objectives.
• Act as a mentor and role model for project delivery best practices and leadership behaviors within the project management team.
• Contribute to resourcing decisions, staffing recommendations, and performance evaluations.
• Operationalize and champion process standards across the client program; partner with PMO to evolve documentation, QA workflows, and tracking tools.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build trusted relationships with client stakeholders; ensure alignment on business goals, success metrics, and delivery expectations.
• Partner with Account and Strategy leads to shape program approaches that support both client growth and operational efficiency.
• Lead client-facing meetings and internal working sessions focused on status of deliverables and timeline tracking, supplementing the account team with operational and executional expertise.
• Present updates on budgets and timelines to client; effectively discuss scope implications and risks with clients.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs):

Success in this role will be measured by the following indicators:

• On-Time, On-Budget Delivery: Percentage of projects delivered on time and within budget, based on scope and change management practices.
• Program Health & Margin Performance: Ongoing tracking and reporting of burn rates, resource allocations, and actuals vs. forecast.
• Client Satisfaction & Retention: Positive client feedback, sustained program relationships, and ability to resolve escalations.
• Process Adoption: Consistent use of Pace delivery tools (e.g., Workfront, JIRA) and implementation of shared PMO practices.
• Team Collaboration & Morale: Healthy team dynamics, support of cross-functional collaboration, and mentorship of other PMs or team leads.
• Leadership Visibility: Demonstrated ownership of program-level planning, delivery strategies, and improvement initiatives shared with leadership.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Marketing, Communications, or related field.
• PMP and/or Scrum certification preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years in project/program management roles, ideally within a creative or marketing agency environment. Experience managing campaigns involving paid media or media partners is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary programs with annual budgets of $2M–$4M+. Experience managing both Time & Materials (T&M) and Fixed Fee engagements.
• Experience with Workfront project management software required.

Skills

• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to mentor and influence PMs and cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional budget management skills, particularly as related to tracking hours and managing out-of-pocket budgets.
• Working knowledge of media budget structures, pacing reports, and campaign trafficking workflows.
• Experience managing fluctuating media spend within fixed and dynamic budgets, including media plan reconciliation.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strategic mindset with a hands-on ability to dive into delivery details when needed.
• Flexibility and the willingness to adapt to meet the needs of the team.
• Someone who is comfortable in a fast-paced and ever-evolving environment.
• A life learner who is constantly working to improve their professional knowledge.
• An entrepreneur, always looking to improve processes.
• Proficiency with Excel, financial data analysis and reporting.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• The salary for this position will range from $100,000-$125,000 in NYC & surrounding areas depending on experience, education, geographical location, and other factors. In NC, the salary for this position will range from $80,000-$90,000.
• A full suite of benefits is available following one full month of employment including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with profit sharing, and other ancillary benefits. We even have a Life Balanced Account where you can get reimbursed for things like groceries or a haircut (yes, really!)
• PTO: Vacation, Recharge, Safe & Sick Time, Flexible Holidays + 10 standard paid holidays and a paid Day of Service
• Free financial wellness and planning and a robust EAP

ABOUT PACE

Pace is a leading integrated marketing agency & digital storytelling powerhouse. We specialize in brand storytelling and deliver results by continually creating better customer and employee experiences for our clients. We connect the dots across an integrated marketing ecosystem using our six key service areas: strategy, creative, media, social, technology, and analytics.

We Create With Heart. We believe everyone is part of creating something wonderful every day. We lead with purpose and empathy. We cultivate a sense of belonging and celebrate diversity in both mind and experience. And we succeed through collaboration. At Pace, everyone has a seat at the table, and unique perspectives are welcomed. Everyone’s voice carries the same tenor, and inclusivity is in our DNA.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Pace we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and genuine workplace, so if you’re enthusiastic about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we urge you to apply regardless. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles we have available.

Pace is an equal employment opportunity employer is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Pace does not discriminate against employees or job applicants based on age, ancestry, color, religious creed, race, sex, genetics, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, marital status, disability status, military or veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal or state statutes.