Project Director, London

About Our Agency:

As Leo Burnett himself once said: “At the end of the day, we’re just people talking to people.”

And that sums up how we think. We never forget that on the other side of every screen, watching every ad or reading every tweet are people. Not just pairs of eyes with credit cards. But human beings, who want to be entertained, engaged and listened to.

At Leo Burnett we like to make the good stuff in life accessible to everyone. It’s our agency’s big shiny North Star, guiding everything from our work and how we build our culture, to the values we uphold and the initiatives we implement to improve Diversity Equity & Inclusion.

We believe in the power of a strong culture that puts people and creativity at the heart of everything we do. Our incredible team is made up of some of the most passionate and creative minds in the industry, and you’ll be hard pushed to find a more genuinely friendly bunch. We’ve created an informal atmosphere where everyone is invited to share their ideas and thrive. And that way of working. Well, it’s working. We’re proud to say that our staff survey shows record happiness scores over the last 12 months.

We are an open, down to earth and friendly bunch who are always on the lookout for passionate and curious people to join our gang.

It’s never been more important to us to reflect the wonderful mix of people who consume our advertising, which is why when it comes to improving Diversity Equity & Inclusion we’re not just talking the talk, we’re walking the walk. Our internal group D&I Allies at Leo’s (DIAL) was formed to help us make and track progress against our commitment to DE&I. DIAL spearheads policies, processes and initiatives to actively advance positive change.

Furthermore, in 2022 we created The Everyone Way, a process designed to embed positive DE&I practices into the creative process with our clients, working alongside DE&I consultancies The Unmistakables and The Diversity Standards Collective.

We also support industry-wide initiatives such as Unstereotype Alliance, Free the Work, Just Runners, WACL and Bloom to name a few.

It’s our distinctive approach, combined with our passion for populist creativity and relentless pursuit of excellence that makes Leo Burnett such a uniquely special and enjoyable place to work.

We’re looking for a highly motivated experienced Project Director within a busy agency or production environment, to join our team and work on our exciting account such as McDonald's and Vodafone. You’ll be working alongside seven other Project Managers on this account, and directly into the Lead Project Director for McDonald’s.

As a Project Director, you will be expected to maintain an overview of some of the teams’ projects, as well as taking on live projects yourself, whilst mentoring some of the more junior team members.

The work we do for McDonald’s is fully integrated and multi-platform, and your role will encompass all the traditional project management principles as well as producing for some of the elements and deliverables.

Specifically, we’ll need your help with:

• Management and overview of the workflow of various projects ensuring that everything is running according to plan
• Communicating project plans both internally and to clients and partner agencies; managing expectations and ensuring alignment with the client and agency processes
• Creation of project timelines, updating and adapting as projects evolve
• Working closely with the Client Services team and other departments to ensure efficient flow of work through the agency
• Understanding the internal workings of the agency and the production processes involved
• Ensuring briefs are approved and creative teams are briefed in line with timing plans
• Scheduling reviews and ensuring all relevant parties attend.
• Attending the reviews, setting the agenda and summarising any action points.
• Facilitating work out of reviews to relevant departments within the agency and to potential third parties, ensuring that everyone is clear on the next stage and that any work is followed up and delivered on time
• Trouble shooting and proposing alternative solutions in situations where there are timing or delivery challenges 
• Working closely with all departments within the agency and partner agencies to ensure delivery of output is the best possible quality
• Encouraging teamwork and great communication
• Producing estimates & PO’s (except TV/Radio) 
• Ensuring cost controller approval on estimates where required prior to sharing with Clients.
• Reconciling projects once they are complete

What Skills We’re After:

Creative

• Competence with general Apple applications, including Keynote
• Competence with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word
• Competence with Adobe Creative Suite
• Full understanding of the creative process, from brief to output

Culture

• A dedicated and ambitious individual, who shows a real passion for great ideas
• Self-awareness
• Someone who’s fun and friendly, with an appetite to get involved with all the extra-curricular things we have on offer

Commercial

• Ability to always maintain a commercial perspective on work
• Display confidentiality and professionalism at all times

Leo Burnett has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer;

• WORK YOUR WORLD opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS - Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day-to-day work and create time to focus on your well-being and self-care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity. Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• HYBRID WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday.
• AGENCY DISCOUNTS, onsite gym, and discount in our Publicis-Owned Pub – “The Pregnant Man”

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office-based three days during the working week. 

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).