Freelance Program Manager

• Orchestrating the delivery of exceptional work across complex initiatives
• Bringing structure to ambition, ensuring clarity, alignment, and accountability from concept through execution
• Building the conditions for creativity to flourish
• Guiding multidisciplinary teams and client partners toward successful outcomes

• Proven experience leading large-scale digital programs from strategy through creative development and production, across multiple channels and workstreams
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-project portfolios with overlapping schedules, budgets, and stakeholder groups
• Experience navigating senior client relationships, serving as a strategic partner and trusted advisor rather than a task manager
• Deep understanding of agency operations and delivery practices, including scope management, resourcing, and financial stewardship
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• able to bring clarity to ambiguity and order to complex engagements
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, fostering productive dialogue across internal teams, partners, and client organizations
• Experience with Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery methods, adapting process to the needs of each engagement
• Proficiency with Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, and other project management tools
• Comfortable facilitating discussions with senior stakeholders and leading cross-functional teams that may include strategy, UX, design, technology, and media disciplines
• Passion for creating conditions that elevate creativity, quality, and collaboration
• A proactive, hands-on leader who brings both strategic perspective and operational excellence
• Comfortable in fast-paced, high-stakes environments
• maintains composure and clarity under pressure
• Adept at building trusted relationships, communicating candidly, and championing the best interests of both the client and AKQA team
• Empathetic, inclusive, and collaborative, promoting a team-first mindset across all partners
• Thoughtful in approach and resilient in execution, with a continuous improvement mindset
• Enthusiastic about digital innovation and the ways creativity and technology intersect to drive meaningful results
• Strong track record managing digital product and services work, with additional exposure to brand and campaign delivery a plus
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, budgets, and stakeholders simultaneously
• 5+ years of experience in a program management or delivery leadership role within a creative, digital, or integrated agency environment
• A passion for shaping and delivering exceptional work that moves people and businesses forward

Additional exposure to brand and campaign delivery