Demo

Program Manager

VML
Detroit, MI Full Time
POSTED ON 4/8/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/7/2026
Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55 markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

VML is looking for an experienced Program Manager who can quickly understand our client’s needs and objectives with the ability to effectively manage variety sized teams in their effort to deliver services. The program manager is expected to deploy and manage against defined processes throughout a client engagement.

This individual is also responsible for building, coaching and leading teams against said process to ensure successful deliveries. VML needs individuals who are proactive problem solvers that can manage team dynamics, manage project financial performance, clearly communicate status, and drive progression towards dates.

Responsibilities

Business & Technical Analysis

  • May act as a client proxy for agile teams; may also coach and support Product Owner(s)
  • Manage multiple activities/projects under one or more clients with the Ford Accessories business group
  • Lead cross Opco project delivery
  • Support/provide strategic direction related to processes and resolution paths
  • Provide well researched POV documents on a variety of solutions related to project work
  • Analyze processes continuously for refinement; execute measures for optimization Project Management
  • Continuously monitor project health via resourcing, profitability and burn rates.
  • Works with clients to define KPI’s and meaningful metrics to report project health
  • Works closely with Client Engagement and delivery teams to architect solutions that best meet client requirements

Leadership & Team Management

  • Help create/draft scopes of work and staff plans
  • Manages internal teams and client relationships in alignment with Client Engagement team
  • Maintain direct client relationships with Product Owners and client management leadership
  • Manage the creation of business analysis tools/techniques and business requirements (i.e. user story mapping, process maps, rules matrices, mockups, textual requirements, user stories etc.)
  • Serve as a key point of contact and liaison for cross-divisional teams, agency peers and management
  • Support scoping and estimation exercises with Client Engagement teams

Required

Required Skills and Experience

  • College degree or equivalent Project Management and/or Business Systems Analyst experience
  • 7 years of analyst, project management, technical, and/or business experience
  • Master of agile software development methodologies, amongst other methodologies
  • Understanding of business requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria
  • Ability to provide proactive and assertive leadership in problem solving, managing financial success of projects, maintaining timelines, and reducing waste
  • Strong interpersonal skills and able to resolve conflict with productive outcomes
  • Ability to effectively work across departments with diplomacy and a firm understanding of
  • other’s roles and perspectives
  • Ability to manage multiple work-streams (projects) effectively and efficiently.
  • Ability to view problems in context at the system level and align solutions with the strategic direction of our clients and company
  • Experience with multiple application lifecycle management solutions
  • Proactive, adaptable, and flexible
  • Life-long learner, demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Demonstrable ability to operate under tight deadline with complex business/technical solutions
  • Ability to manage workload with minimal supervision
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Automotive product experience

Preferred

  • Certification for or extensive experience of JIRA and Confluence

The base salary range 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.

_

$60,000—$140,000 USD

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.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit  www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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.

Salary : $60,000 - $140,000

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