Associate Director, Resource Management
VML, Kansas City, MO, United States
About the Company
VML, a leading creative agency within WPP, drives brand experience, customer experience, and commerce for top clients such as AstraZeneca, Colgate‑Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca‑Cola Company, and Wendy’s. With a global network of 26,000 professionals across 55 markets, VML delivers award‑winning creative, content, and marketing solutions.
About the Role VML is seeking a Resource Management Specialist to build highly effective teams, balance business priorities with career aspirations, and ensure optimal talent allocation to deliver world‑class client experiences.
Responsibilities
Develop relationships with talent at all levels and work as a trusted partner to departmental leadership, making staffing recommendations based on skillset and career aspirations rather than availability
Maintain knowledge of current and upcoming projects across the agency, building strong relationships with client engagement, Operations, Delivery, and new business teams
Pulse on the overall health and happiness of the department, ensuring any talent concerns are escalated to leadership through the appropriate channels
Alert capability leads of potential concerns or issues in meeting key client deliverables due to resourcing and make recommendations to resolve them
Lead weekly resourcing meetings to ensure talent is properly utilized and resolve any conflicts or workload imbalances
When internal options are exhausted, identify needs for freelance talent, create the business case to hire, and work with TA to secure temporary support
Partner with operations to review monthly utilization reports and share insights and action plans with leadership
Work with the Talent Acquisition & Human Resources teams to onboard department new hires and freelancers
Work with project management functions to ensure internal resourcing platforms are maintained
Overall focus on optimizing talent while balancing constant changes to organizational priorities
Maintain a knowledge database of team skillsets and career ambitions to properly assign resources and retain top talent
Actively work to maintain a balance between agency margin goals and employees’ ability to do their best work in a profitable organization
Work with department leads and HR to ensure mobility of talent within the agency and network
Proactively strategize department staffing needs, identifying peaks/valleys and core competency gaps/redundancies based on client forecasts and trends
Continuously strategize new ideas for process improvements and ways to foster a connected and inclusive creative department culture
Required Skills & Experience
7-10 years of resource management experience in the advertising/marketing industry
Firm grasp of agency processes and a passion for creating order in the chaos
Deep understanding of the functional skills and responsibilities of various departmental roles
Successful experience leading large departments with resources across North America
Independent thinker who can translate departmental and agency needs into resource management strategies for leads
Excellent interpersonal communication skills capable of motivating and influencing across all levels of seniority
Strong acumen for translating data into trends, insights, and actionable steps
Comfortable working in an environment of constant change with a positive attitude
Proactive and confident in prioritizing competing demands in a fast‑paced environment
Compensation & Benefits Base salary range: $75,000—$180,000 USD. VML offers a competitive benefits package and a hybrid work model with an average of four days in the office. Accommodations and flexibility are available upon request.
WPP (VML) is an equal‑opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination. The company fosters a culture of respect where everyone can progress in their careers.
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About the Role VML is seeking a Resource Management Specialist to build highly effective teams, balance business priorities with career aspirations, and ensure optimal talent allocation to deliver world‑class client experiences.
Responsibilities
Develop relationships with talent at all levels and work as a trusted partner to departmental leadership, making staffing recommendations based on skillset and career aspirations rather than availability
Maintain knowledge of current and upcoming projects across the agency, building strong relationships with client engagement, Operations, Delivery, and new business teams
Pulse on the overall health and happiness of the department, ensuring any talent concerns are escalated to leadership through the appropriate channels
Alert capability leads of potential concerns or issues in meeting key client deliverables due to resourcing and make recommendations to resolve them
Lead weekly resourcing meetings to ensure talent is properly utilized and resolve any conflicts or workload imbalances
When internal options are exhausted, identify needs for freelance talent, create the business case to hire, and work with TA to secure temporary support
Partner with operations to review monthly utilization reports and share insights and action plans with leadership
Work with the Talent Acquisition & Human Resources teams to onboard department new hires and freelancers
Work with project management functions to ensure internal resourcing platforms are maintained
Overall focus on optimizing talent while balancing constant changes to organizational priorities
Maintain a knowledge database of team skillsets and career ambitions to properly assign resources and retain top talent
Actively work to maintain a balance between agency margin goals and employees’ ability to do their best work in a profitable organization
Work with department leads and HR to ensure mobility of talent within the agency and network
Proactively strategize department staffing needs, identifying peaks/valleys and core competency gaps/redundancies based on client forecasts and trends
Continuously strategize new ideas for process improvements and ways to foster a connected and inclusive creative department culture
Required Skills & Experience
7-10 years of resource management experience in the advertising/marketing industry
Firm grasp of agency processes and a passion for creating order in the chaos
Deep understanding of the functional skills and responsibilities of various departmental roles
Successful experience leading large departments with resources across North America
Independent thinker who can translate departmental and agency needs into resource management strategies for leads
Excellent interpersonal communication skills capable of motivating and influencing across all levels of seniority
Strong acumen for translating data into trends, insights, and actionable steps
Comfortable working in an environment of constant change with a positive attitude
Proactive and confident in prioritizing competing demands in a fast‑paced environment
Compensation & Benefits Base salary range: $75,000—$180,000 USD. VML offers a competitive benefits package and a hybrid work model with an average of four days in the office. Accommodations and flexibility are available upon request.
WPP (VML) is an equal‑opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination. The company fosters a culture of respect where everyone can progress in their careers.
#J-18808-Ljbffr