Creative Sr. Project Manager

The Senior Creative Project Manager brings together resources for on-target, on-time, on-budget, on-brand execution of marketing assets. The role must exhibit outstanding project management and communication skills in achieving the highest possible standards in service. They need problem-solving skills and basic knowledge of Securian’s businesses and challenges. The role participates in resource and capacity planning, creative development meetings, and process improvement to ensure optimal outcomes for marketing. In addition, the role will use Workfront to provide project management follow-through and timely delivery.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Manages complex marketing projects/campaigns from creative discovery to execution and provides time/cost estimates. Provides project management and ensures alignment with overall enterprise marketing objectives.

• Develops, manages and leads medium and large-scale cross-department marketing projects from discovery to completion.
• Partners with internal business partners and creative services team to build project plans, prioritize projects and coordinate resources within marketing operations system (Workfront).
• Identifies, initiates and monitors project deliverables including milestones, roles/responsibilities, timelines and required tasks. Balances considerations of scope, brand, quality, time and cost.
• Helps internal and external stakeholders understand the impact of the project to broader projects and business areas.
• Reports progress to the project owner, management, business partners, vendors and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Drives projects to completion, prepares summaries and ensures project closure activities are completed, including retrospectives.
• Identifies and implements improvement opportunities as appropriate.

Coordinates creative development, including strategy, oversight and consistency.

• Leads discovery sessions with stakeholders and subject matter experts to understand business and functional creative requirements. Understands current state and objectives, supports creative brief development on complex projects, and ensures ongoing alignment between marketing strategy and creative output.
• Assembles the project team (design, copywriting, digital, etc.) for strategy and and execution. May work with other disciplines/teams (content strategy, public relations, events, brand, social media, Securian.com, digital advertising, etc.) for cross-department needs.
• Collaborates on creative development and direction with client and internal/external creative teams. Coordinates concept presentations to clients, obtains feedback and confirms the project team addresses the feedback appropriately. Reviews client change requests and responds with schedule/cost impacts along with alternatives.
• Supports creative and quality control oversight. Appropriately escalates issues to the project team and/or leadership.
• Ensures projects are completed on time and adhere to previously identified requirements, including all relevant regulatory, legal, compliance and brand guidelines.

Plays a relationship management role and acts as the single point of contact to develop, create and implement projects and marketing initiatives/campaigns.

• Plays a relationships management role, developing and maintaining solid relationships while encouraging a collaborative approach with team members.
• Builds strong relationships with solutions marketing, law/compliance, business lines, sales, digital strategy, technology and other corporate partners. Demonstrates diplomacy, manages expectations and maintains a strong focus on the marketing business partner of a project, representing their needs and concerns when appropriate.
• Establishes and provides periodic status reports to creative team, marketing representatives, business owner and leadership on project progress. This may include project risks and issues, forecasts vs. budget, and future tasks.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of professional-level experience in a client-facing project management role either in an external or internal agency, preferably including integrated marketing campaigns comprised of digital, print, direct mail and promotions.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams both through idea generation and assessment of ideas generated by others.
• Project management skills to manage large, complex, and/or strategic business projects to successful outcomes within tight deadlines. Includes ability to adapt to changing project priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced service environment, where speed-to-market is often critical.
• Self-motivated and independent with solid analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills to identify and assess potential solutions to business requirements and prepare cost-benefit analyses.
• Skills to lead teams to generate effective, engaging marketing assets.
• Communication skills to effectively interact with management and associates across all areas of the organization. Written communication skills to clearly and concisely document business requirements, test plans and results.
• Successful track record of client service in a marketing or creative environment. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Adobe Workfront experience (marketing operations system of record).
• Proven experience leveraging artificial intelligence tools and technologies to enhance project outcomes, streamline workflows, and drive innovative solutions in marketing projects.
• Financial services industry knowledge and broad understanding of Securian products, markets and operations.
• Proven portfolio and program management skills to manage large, complex and/or strategic business projects to successful outcomes within tight deadlines.
• Account management experience (internal or external marketing agency).