Company Description
VGCA is a brand-obsessed creative agency located in Durham, North Carolina, and Austin, TX. We specialize in developing brand narratives through conceptual and idea-driven thinking. Our team has worked in both large and small agencies and aims to draw on the best of both to provide a more customized experience. With clients in North Carolina, California, Texas, Philadelphia, and Chicago, we work within many industries across the US.
At VGCA, we don't believe in bloated processes or unnecessary bureaucracy—we believe in smart systems that enable great creative work. As a freelance-focused agency, we value the concept of "play". We believe there is always a way to get things done. We love validating our intuitions with data, and we love cutting big holes in monotony's barbed wire fences to give mediocrity the middle finger. We're looking for a Project Manager who shares this philosophy and wants to help build something special.
____________________
Ready for what's next?
If you've put in your time at the big agencies and you're looking for a new path—one where you can lead, build, and have real control over your future—this is it. No more being a small cog in a massive machine. This is your opportunity to shape an agency's operations from the ground up.
This role is the backbone of our agency—the person who transforms ambitious creative ideas into flawlessly executed realities, keeps teams aligned and energized, and ensures every project lands on time, on budget, and beyond expectations. But here's what makes this opportunity unique: you'll have ownership of establishing and evolving how we work. You're not inheriting a rigid playbook—you're writing it.
You'll be the conductor of our creative orchestra, coordinating CD’s, designers, copywriters, account teams, print producers, vendors, and external partners while maintaining the delicate balance between creative ambition and practical delivery. If you thrive in entrepreneurial environments where you can shape operations from the ground up, and you get genuine satisfaction from seeing brilliant work make it into the world, this is your role.
____________________
What You'll Do
Project Leadership & Strategy
- Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of complex creative projects from kickoff to completion
- Develop comprehensive project timelines, resource plans, and budgets that balance creative ambition with business realities
- Serve as the primary operational liaison between account teams, creative departments, production, and clients
- Anticipate roadblocks, identify risks early, and implement solutions before they become problems
Monday.com Mastery
- Build, optimize, and maintain project workflows within Monday.com, serving as the agency's expert on the platform
- Create custom automations, dashboards, and reporting systems that streamline operations and increase team efficiency
- Train team members on best practices and continuously improve our project management systems
- Leverage Monday.com's capabilities to provide real-time project visibility to stakeholders
Print Production & Vendor Management
- Partner closely with print producers to oversee production from estimate through final delivery
- Build and maintain strong relationships with printers, specialty vendors, and production partners
- Negotiate pricing, timelines, and production specifications to secure optimal outcomes
- Review proofs, manage revisions, and ensure technical specifications are met for all deliverables
- Troubleshoot production issues and find creative solutions when challenges arise
- Coordinate between internal teams, print producers, and vendors to ensure seamless execution
- Process vendor invoices, manage purchase orders, and ensure accurate financial documentation
Digital Asset Management
- Manage and maintain the agency's DAM system, ensuring assets are properly organized, tagged, and accessible
- Establish and enforce file naming conventions, version control, and asset archiving protocols
- Train team members on DAM best practices and ensure compliance with established systems
- Coordinate asset delivery to clients and external partners through proper channels
Freelancer & Resource Management
- Lead the onboarding process for freelance creatives, ensuring they're set up for success
- Manage freelancer project assignments and availability across multiple concurrent projects
- Build and maintain relationships with a reliable roster of freelance talent across disciplines
- Coordinate with department heads on resource allocation and identify when external support is needed
____________________
What You Bring
Experience
- 10+ years of project management experience in advertising or creative agency environments
- Proven track record of managing complex, multi-phase creative projects with multiple stakeholders
- Extensive experience working with print producers and vendors to deliver high-quality print production
- Previous work references from Creative Directors and Account Managers who can speak to your collaborative approach and execution excellence
Technical Expertise
- Extensive, hands-on experience with Monday.com, including building custom automations, workflows, and boards. (Mandatory)
- Strong working knowledge of Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems and best practices
- Proficiency with project budgeting, estimates, and financial tracking
- Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and other creative tools—you don't need to be a designer, but you understand the tools and workflows
- Working knowledge of Google Suite of products
- Platform geek: You love discovering new tools, processes, and strategies to improve productivity and streamline operations
- Familiarity with creative production processes across print, digital, video, and experiential
Skills & Competencies
- Can-do attitude: You approach every challenge with a "yes, let's figure it out" mentality—obstacles are just puzzles to solve
- Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects without dropping a ball
- Outstanding communication skills—you can translate between creative teams, account managers, and clients with ease
- Detail-oriented without losing sight of the big picture
- Natural problem-solver who anticipates challenges and implements solutions proactively
- Collaborative team player who builds strong relationships across departments and with external partners
- Process builder: A geek for establishing agency processes to make us more efficient and effective
Soft Skills That Matter
- Diplomacy and emotional intelligence—you're the calm in the storm
- Adaptability and resilience in the face of changing priorities and tight deadlines
- Leadership presence that earns respect from the team members and senior creatives
- Entrepreneurial mindset—comfortable with ambiguity and energized by building systems
____________________
Location
• We are a remote-based agency where everyone has the freedom and responsibility to work from their own space.
• Not a must, but a bonus if you're based in North Carolina or Austin, TX.
• We do have access to WeWorks across the nation for those interested.
____________________
Timing
This role starts as a freelance, part-time opportunity with a 6-month initial engagement so we can get to know each other. The right fit will transition to a 12-month contract with the potential to grow from there.
____________________
How to Apply
Please submit the following:
- Your resume highlighting relevant agency experience
- A brief cover letter explaining why you're the right fit for VGCA
- Your favorite sports experience
We're excited to meet project managers who share our commitment to operational excellence in service of exceptional creative work. Cheers!