Project Manager

At AKQA, (part of WPP) we blend the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination and deliver impressive returns for our clients.

The Delivery team is at the heart of every project, ensuring work is delivered to the highest quality, on time, and that clients receive the greatest possible value from their investment. We build strong relationships, champion collaboration, and foster open communication between project teams and clients. AKQA’s process and governance standards are industry-leading, providing the tools, training, and support to make this possible.

Working with globally recognised and highly respected brands, the Project Manager is responsible for the full lifecycle client projects, from initial idea through to successful delivery. You will translate client needs into clear project plans, accurately estimate and budget projects, and effectively manage both the project and the team. 

This role sits at the intersection of design, user experience, and technology. Requiring strong collaboration across creative and UX disciplines as much as with engineering. 

This is a client-facing role requiring effective communication and management across all internal disciplines.

Located in Berlin, Germany, as part of the AKQA team, you will work in an environment that fosters a dynamic and meritocratic culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Serve as a key point of coordination between UX, Design, and Engineering teams, actively participating in design reviews, UX workshops, and creative processes, not just technical ceremonies. Guide the translation of design intent and user experience goals into actionable development tasks, ensuring consistency between user needs, business goals, and technical execution.
• Manage a range of digital projects ensuring delivery on time and within budget.
• Define what success looks like for each project, in agreement with the client, and ensure the team achieves those goals.
• Tailor and communicate the most appropriate project structure and methodology (e.g., agile, waterfall, or hybrid approaches) for each phase, documenting this clearly in the project scope.
• Collaborate with team leads to accurately estimate projects based on the most suitable model (e.g., fixed-price, capped time and materials).
• Develop clear and thorough project scopes of work that serve as the foundation for delivery, ensuring projects remain within agreed boundaries.
• Forecast resource requirements across teams and assist with proactive resource planning.
• Maintain close alignment across UX, UI, and engineering teams throughout the project lifecycle, guiding the translation of design intent into actionable development tasks and ensuring consistency between user needs, business goals, and technical execution.
• Manage and prioritize the product backlog, refining acceptance criteria, and ensuring alignment between business goals and delivery.
• Utilize AKQA's management information system to effectively create, track, and monitor overall project progress, burn rates, and financial status. Proactively highlight and resolve potential overruns or financial issues.
• Author well-crafted Project Status Reports, ensuring timely submission and accuracy.
• Present and communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, to internal teams and external clients.
• Manage suppliers, partners, and client teams to ensure optimal outcomes for both clients and AKQA. Keep stakeholders informed of project progress at all times and manage expectations proactively.
• Continuously strive to improve AKQA’s delivery practices, processes, and team efficiency.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Proven experience leading complex digital projects, such as websites, e-commerce platforms, or mobile applications.
• Experience as a Project Manager or Product Owner within an agile delivery environment.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating closely with UX and Design teams. Understanding design processes, user research cycles, and creative workflows, and knowing how to manage and protect design quality throughout a project.
• Comfortable navigating across UX, UI, and technical implementation, with the ability to speak credibly to each discipline, equally at ease in a design critique as in a sprint planning session.
• An accomplished communicator who builds confidence with internal teams and earns the trust of clients.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. Self-motivated and comfortable working independently.
• Possess strong business acumen and sound judgment.
• A customer-focused mindset, unwavering commitment to quality, and a drive to continually improve processes and outcomes.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Commitment to high standards of excellence and integrity.
• Fluency in both English (German is nice to have but not mandatory)

We provide an extensive range of benefits. To find out more click here.

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.