Managing Director, Delivery

About the Position

Managing Director, Delivery

New York, New York, United States

---

About the Company

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions, and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

---

Responsibilities

• People: Lead, coach, and grow the Delivery capability. Serve as the clear point of leadership for the program management team - driving coordination, coaching proactive problem-solving, and championing the work and the team. Partner with Account, Strategy, Product, and Enterprise Solutions leads to keep the broader program aligned.
• Program Orchestration: Own the enterprise, cross-track view. Identify and manage dependencies across the program, inform roadmaps and milestones with a strategic lens, and drive cross-track flow-down so commitments made in planning are executed. When they are not, surface the gap early, drive the decisions and tradeoffs required, and establish a credible path back to delivery. Provide a clear escalation path for critical issues and drive progress with urgency.
• Transformation & Process: Lead the evolution of our SAFe practice from Essential to Large Solution or Full, adapted to the nuances of this program and in service of stronger delivery outcomes. Convert strategy into an actionable plan - timeline, defined roles, sequenced steps, and a governance method for rollout and follow-through. Leverage AI where possible to optimize delivery and efficiency.
• Scope, Pricing & Financials: Provide strong, invested leadership through the scope-planning cycle during a period of significant budget growth, while navigating parallel resource constraints. Own sharp, defensible estimate generation and pricing discipline the team can confidently defend on rates, assumptions, and scope under close cost scrutiny. Model the enterprise impact to connected initiatives as scope expands or contracts. Responsible for program profitability, resource allocation, burn rates, budgets, and reconciliations.

---

Requirements

• 12+ years in delivery / program leadership, PMO, and/or client leadership, ideally in an agency or consulting setting, with a proven track record of standing up and leading successful program management teams.
• Hands-on SAFe evolution experience - demonstrated experience and certification at Large Solution and/or Full SAFe, with the ability to adapt the framework to a complex, multi-track program.
• Enterprise / cross-track program leadership on large, multi-disciplinary programs that blend enterprise technology, product, and integrated creative (digital and traditional).
• Comfort with technology and compliance-heavy delivery - familiarity with cloud migration (e.g. AWS) and regulated / federal compliance environments, and the discipline to lead against externally-mandated deadlines. Direct government / defense experience is a strong plus.
• Financial and pricing rigor - defensible estimation, rate and scope discipline, profitability and utilization management, and the ability to defend cost under external scrutiny.
• Partnership / vendor management across multiple technology and platform partners.
• Strong PM operations skillset - effective meeting management, actionable next-step capture, prioritization, and operational rigor.
• Interest in AI and how to leverage it as a delivery tool.
• Familiarity with tools such as Smartsheet, Excel, Monday.com, Workday, and Jira.

---

We Offer

• Competitive Salary: $100,000-$230,000 USD
• Hybrid Work Approach: Teams in the office an average of four days a week.
• Benefits Package: Comprehensive benefits available. Click WPP Benefits for more details.

---

About the Company

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.