Senior Director, Retail Management Operations
VML, Minneapolis, MN, United States
What We're Looking For
VML, part of WPP, is seeking a Senior Program Director for Retail Management Services (RMS) to lead project management execution across our RMS operating model. The role is responsible for ensuring strategy translates into structured, coordinated, and on‑time delivery across Amazon, Walmart, and other cross‑retail retailers. The Senior Program Director orchestrates execution across commerce operations, content readiness, retail media coordination, and client teams.
Our Commerce practice helps brands win across marketplaces, retail media networks, and digital shelf environments. As retailers increasingly operate as both merchants and media platforms, our teams connect retail fundamentals, digital shelf performance, and retail media activation to drive measurable commercial outcomes. VML is expanding its RMS capability to support enterprise clients across Amazon, Walmart, grocery, drug, and other retail ecosystems.
What You'll Do
Program Leadership:
Lead execution discipline across all Retail Management Services retailers, ensuring RMS strategies translate into structured delivery plans and operational execution. Coordinate delivery across Amazon, Walmart, and cross‑retailer workstreams.
Program Planning & Workback Management:
Build and maintain retailer‑level workback plans for RMS initiatives, map dependencies across retail operations, content, media, and client teams, and ensure alignment on timelines, deliverables, and execution priorities.
Collaborate Cross‑Functionally:
Manage operational handoffs between Retail Services teams, WPP Media, and client teams. Coordinate execution across platform specialists, content teams, analytics, and retail media partners to ensure launch readiness for initiatives including product launches, promotional events, and retail updates.
Communicate & Risk Manage:
Run weekly execution cadences and status forums across RMS teams, maintain a clear execution rhythm, and ensure stakeholders remain aligned on priorities, timelines, and performance signals. Identify execution risks related to timelines, retailer systems, or operational dependencies, and proactively escale issues for timely resolution. Maintain a single source of truth for delivery trackers, status documentation, and program updates.
Who You Are
Builder:
Entrepreneurial attitude coupled with strong business acumen. Ability and appetite to bring people together and marshal them around ideas.
Open and Collaborative:
Champions a team environment that is comfortable and encouraging, supporting collaboration across unknowns.
Optimistic and Resilient:
Dig in and find ways around problems with a “yes and why not” posture, maintaining stamina and positivity for self and team.
Ego‑less:
Willingness to wear multiple hats and foster a team‑success mentality.
What You'll Need
10+ years of project management experience within commerce operations or retail execution environments.
Management of multi‑retailer commerce or retail programs, within an agency, commerce consultancy, or retail operations environment. Preferred experience supporting enterprise CPG brands.
Proven ability to coordinate complex initiatives across cross‑functional teams.
Familiarity with Amazon, Walmart, or multi‑retailer commerce ecosystems.
Strong experience with workback planning, dependency mapping, and program governance.
Ability to manage execution across retail operations, content teams, media partners, and client stakeholders.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
What We Offer
Passionate, driven people:
We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
Consciously cultivated culture:
We strive to empower creative bravery through inclusive community and active listening.
Competitive benefits:
Full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) plus a generous 401(k) match (100% dollar‑for‑dollar match up to 5% of salary) and paid time off reflecting overall life balance and wellness.
Growth‑minded opportunities:
Real‑time feedback, growth‑oriented mindset, and training opportunities through VML and WPP.
Salary range:
$125,000—$180,000 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.
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Our Commerce practice helps brands win across marketplaces, retail media networks, and digital shelf environments. As retailers increasingly operate as both merchants and media platforms, our teams connect retail fundamentals, digital shelf performance, and retail media activation to drive measurable commercial outcomes. VML is expanding its RMS capability to support enterprise clients across Amazon, Walmart, grocery, drug, and other retail ecosystems.
What You'll Do
Program Leadership:
Lead execution discipline across all Retail Management Services retailers, ensuring RMS strategies translate into structured delivery plans and operational execution. Coordinate delivery across Amazon, Walmart, and cross‑retailer workstreams.
Program Planning & Workback Management:
Build and maintain retailer‑level workback plans for RMS initiatives, map dependencies across retail operations, content, media, and client teams, and ensure alignment on timelines, deliverables, and execution priorities.
Collaborate Cross‑Functionally:
Manage operational handoffs between Retail Services teams, WPP Media, and client teams. Coordinate execution across platform specialists, content teams, analytics, and retail media partners to ensure launch readiness for initiatives including product launches, promotional events, and retail updates.
Communicate & Risk Manage:
Run weekly execution cadences and status forums across RMS teams, maintain a clear execution rhythm, and ensure stakeholders remain aligned on priorities, timelines, and performance signals. Identify execution risks related to timelines, retailer systems, or operational dependencies, and proactively escale issues for timely resolution. Maintain a single source of truth for delivery trackers, status documentation, and program updates.
Who You Are
Builder:
Entrepreneurial attitude coupled with strong business acumen. Ability and appetite to bring people together and marshal them around ideas.
Open and Collaborative:
Champions a team environment that is comfortable and encouraging, supporting collaboration across unknowns.
Optimistic and Resilient:
Dig in and find ways around problems with a “yes and why not” posture, maintaining stamina and positivity for self and team.
Ego‑less:
Willingness to wear multiple hats and foster a team‑success mentality.
What You'll Need
10+ years of project management experience within commerce operations or retail execution environments.
Management of multi‑retailer commerce or retail programs, within an agency, commerce consultancy, or retail operations environment. Preferred experience supporting enterprise CPG brands.
Proven ability to coordinate complex initiatives across cross‑functional teams.
Familiarity with Amazon, Walmart, or multi‑retailer commerce ecosystems.
Strong experience with workback planning, dependency mapping, and program governance.
Ability to manage execution across retail operations, content teams, media partners, and client stakeholders.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
What We Offer
Passionate, driven people:
We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
Consciously cultivated culture:
We strive to empower creative bravery through inclusive community and active listening.
Competitive benefits:
Full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) plus a generous 401(k) match (100% dollar‑for‑dollar match up to 5% of salary) and paid time off reflecting overall life balance and wellness.
Growth‑minded opportunities:
Real‑time feedback, growth‑oriented mindset, and training opportunities through VML and WPP.
Salary range:
$125,000—$180,000 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr