Technical Project Manager

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. 

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.  Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. 

Overall summary of the role:

The Technical Project Manager will be based in Malaysia and will lead the delivery of offshore ecommerce, mobile and martech projects out of India which is the VML APAC Technology Hub.

The role of the Technical Project Manager is to plan, document, execute and deliver local & regional transformation projects of varying scale and complexity, ensuring adherence to strict schedules and keeping within budget. The Technical Project Manager will need to be self-sufficient and must possess a solid understanding of both the Project Lifecycle and Project Management best practices.

The role will work closely with other team members within the local office and across geographies to set high standards, establish knowledge transfer and drive synergies amongst the various teams to ensure a seamless delivery of the project.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Project Management

• Troubleshoot and coordinate resolutions with offshore and/ or onshore teams to issues related to the delivery of the project
• Manage the entire project lifecycle, from initiation to closure, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to project scope, budget, and quality standards
• Collaborate with Design Project Manager to ensure tight integration between Design and Technical teams throughout the delivery of the project
• Lead the management of project of varying scale by developing robust plans, monitoring progress, executing delivery and continued adoption
• Manage globally distributed virtual project resources, ensuring project objectives and goals are communicated and understood, and roles & responsibilities are defined
• Ensure project closure process and documentation is formally completed and communicated
• Track and follow through on project progress, identify risks & issues, and deliberate mitigation strategies with teams to ensure a viable implementation
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among project team members, stakeholders, and clients

1. Technical Expertise

• Possess a strong understanding of ecommerce, mobile and martech systems, particularly Adobe and Salesforce
• Collaborate with developers to ensure technical feasibility and alignment with project objectives
• Provide technical guidance and support to project teams, and participate in troubleshooting issues related to the delivery of the project

1. Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, building strong relationships cementing trust & confidence and ensuring their satisfaction
• Effectively communicate project status, progress and challenges to clients
• Manage client expectations & address concerns in a timely and professional manner

1. Offshore Team Management

• Coordinate offshore project teams based in India
• Foster a positive and productive work environment for offshore team members
• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members, promoting their professional development

1. New Business Development

• Participate and support in all new business development initiatives relating to ecommerce, mobile and martech projects

Key Candidate Requirements:

The Technical Project Manager must have demonstrable experience in the following competencies:

• Proven experience as a Technical Project Manager, preferably in the ecommerce, mobile or martech industry
• Understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall)
• Experience managing offshore projects in India
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in Hindi is a significant advantage
• Experience working with distributed teams is preferred
• Scope Management: The ability to control the work included in a project, ensuring that all work that has been scoped and can be delivered against an agreed schedule
• Time Management: The ability to ensure timely completion of projects, including activity (task) definition and sequencing processes
• Cost Management: the ability to plan, estimate and control costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget. This includes resource planning, cost budgeting and project reconciliation.
• Resource Management: The ability to task manage globally distributed project teams; this include aligning on project objectives and goals, defining roles in the project and assigning project team members to those roles
• Quality Management: The ability to ensure that project delivery meets the quality needs for which the project as defined
• Change Management: Ensuring all change management consideration are captured, planned, managed and successfully delivered
• Risk Management: The ability to identify, analyse & appropriately respond to project risk
• Formal PM qualification and 5+ Years Project Management experience - Prince2/PMI/APM/others
• Ideally 2+ Years Change Management experience
• Experience of working in a decoupled environment and collaborating effectively with other geographical operation and third-party supplier
• Ideally experience with media/advertising production operation, and interest in related & emerging technologies

Desirable Skills:

• Formal Change Management qualification – Prosci/Change Management Institute (CMI)/APMG/other
• Recent experience within a Systems Integrator, Software Development, or Technology 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. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

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