Senior Project Manager

ABOUT MESSAGE LAB

Message Lab is a fast-growing content marketing agency that combines journalism, data, and design to create content that resonates with audiences. We have a strong point of view on how editorial, design, and data work together in the service of a singular goal. It starts with identifying great stories that support the ideas our clients care about and bringing them to life in a range of formats. Our work spans the gamut of a modern publication—from full ground-up publications to individual high-end interactive storytelling pieces, and everything in between. We focus on partnering with our clients to find what they really need to get the job done and use our top-tier skills in strategy, editorial, design, and analysis to deliver.

We run a number of programs and publications for a roster of business and technology clients (including Google, the Gates Foundation, SoftBank, ServiceNow, and others), creating and producing well-sourced, deeply-reported stories. Our editorial team comes from the WSJ, NY Times, Bloomberg, and similar places, and we hold the work we’re doing now to the standards of those publications. To be clear: We’re an agency that does work for companies. You should be someone who thinks that’s interesting and an opportunity to learn exciting new skills (which we don’t expect you to have right away). We have a team focused on using analytics to understand and improve reader engagement who you’ll be expected to work closely with—another great opportunity to learn.

We improve people's experience with our clients’ brands and help rid the world of content no one cares about.

 

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Message Lab is seeking a Senior Project Manager to be a large-scale orchestrator, able to manage anything from a smaller one practice area engagement to big cross-functional engagements that include heavy involvement from an interdisciplinary team of Message Lab people and external partners.  

The ideal candidate is a leader who can be directive across all engagements, bring creative project management skills and effectively manage different resources (i.e., strategists, designers, writers, analysts) through ambiguity toward a desired output. The Senior PM is expected to be able to speak to the full scope of project activities and services, and steer internal teams to be organized on the delivery of work. They will work in close partnership with the project lead and the client and have intimate knowledge of all Message Lab services and products, as well as what is required to deliver on those services and products. They will also be expected to gauge when to pull in resources, raise flags on a project and maintain project schedule.

As a member of the Delivery Operations team, with other project managers, this person will be a part of, and building out, Message Lab’s operational excellence for projects.

Role location: Fully remote (within the United States). Message Lab is fully remote and we require employees to be available and online during our core business hours (10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. Pacific Time), regardless of their physical location.

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

As a Senior Project Manager on the Operations team, you will:

Project Management

• Oversee the development and ongoing management of project documentation (client and internal briefs, meetings, project plans, scope and risk assessments), ensuring high-quality deliverables align with client needs, scope and Message Lab standards
• Draft project estimations and statements of work for review and approval 
• Track and report team progress and project budgets, monitor team hours against estimates and manage scope changes
• Build knowledge of Message Lab’s business, including services, perspectives, pricing models and billing procedures 
• Develop editorial calendars and manage key tools for project efficiency
• Innovate new processes to support expanding services, products and capabilities

Team Coordination

• Set team dynamics and conditions for optimal performance, and allocate staff to assignments to achieve desired results, coordinating adjustments across Message Lab and managing external resources (freelancers and vendors) as needed
• Effectively communicate relevant project information to team members
• Develop, follow and adjust project schedules to meet deadlines, collaborating with strategists, designers, writers, editors, project managers, clients and other stakeholders to deliver quality work

Client Management

• Manage day-to-day client interactions and expectations, building a knowledge base of each client's business, organization and goals
• Communicate effectively with clients to identify needs, evaluate alternative solutions and develop lasting relationships to foster trust, loyalty and increased satisfaction
• Partner with Account Managers, when applicable, to effectively co-manage client relationships and oversee work of the Message Lab team

Timelines 

• Build schedules, creating a sustainable pace of work while achieving results and maintaining tight feedback loops with clients, as well as knowing when to make changes and how to do so with minimal impact to final deadlines where possible

Essential skills:

• Minimum 6+ years of client management experience in an agency or consultancy environment, with a deep understanding of the agency <> client environment and what is required to maintain successful accounts, relationships and projects
• Familiarity with editorial content development, digital advertising, marketing and communications, branding and campaign development
• Demonstrated ability to foster a safe environment for team members to share perspectives, experiment and develop expertise
• Proactive in problem-solving, course-correction and suggesting new ideas, with a detail-oriented approach that balances the big picture and challenges tradition
• Strong decision-making skills
• Proficiency with remote collaboration and account tracking tools (G-suite, Slack, Miro, Notion, Smartsheet, Asana, Airtable)
• Familiarity with digital marketing tools (Google Analytics, Semrrush, Ahrefs, Google Search Console, MailChimp, Marketo, paid social on LinkedIn and X) and content management or editorial tools (WordPress, HubSpot)
• Instinctive in handling complex engagements, dynamics and communications with minimal oversight

 

WORKING AT MESSAGE LAB

Hiring philosophy: Message Lab doesn’t just accept differences; we fundamentally celebrate and seek out diversity. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunities for all employees and to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment.

If you are interested in the job but don’t know if you meet every single requirement, please apply. Nobody checks every box; and we know that you are more than just a resume.

Salary range (commensurate with skills and experience): $125,000–$145,000

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability
• 401(k) retirement plan and FSA accounts for medical and dependent care
• Flexible PTO, paid sick, and wellness days
• Parental and pregnancy revival leave
• Fully remote and distributed teams across the US
• Office equipment purchase for new employees and monthly and annual tech budgets

#LI-CO1
#LI-Remote

 

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We're part of Orchestra, the first communications company built for today’s media landscape. Since early 2022, it has grown into a network of eight strategic communications and marketing agencies including BerlinRosen, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Brightmode.

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