What does a Senior Project Manager for Hex do at WPP Production?As
Senior Project Manager for HEX, you will be at the operational heart of HEX Studio. You will drive the scoping, delivery, and scaling of highly experimental, AI-native production workflows, innovation workstreams, and commercial proofs-of-concept.
To learn more about the Hex Studio: https://www.wpp.com/en/news/wpp-launches-hex-creating-a-new-kind-of-talent-pipeline-designed-for-the-ai-era.
This role requires a rare blend of creative tech literacy, delivery discipline, and commercial acumen. You will act as the crucial translator between client/agency leadership and specialized technical teams (AI engineers, creative technologists, developers)-turning frontier tech ambitions into structured, high-impact deliverables on time and on budget.
Key Responsibilities: - AI & Frontier Tech Delivery
- End-to-End Delivery: Lead the project lifecycle for complex AI and creative technology initiatives-spanning generative AI asset pipelines, agentic tools, spatial/interactive experiences, and rapid prototyping.
- Pipeline & System Architecture Support: Partner with technical leads to scope and build bespoke production workflows, ensuring fluid handoffs between traditional creative teams and AI-enabled pipelines.
- Beta Tech & Risk Management: Proactively identify, evaluate, and manage technical, legal, and operational risks inherent to working with beta software, emerging AI models, IP boundaries, and fluid technical scopes.
- Strategic Client & Stakeholder Leadership
- Forward-Deployed Leadership: Serve as a trusted delivery partner for forward-deployed HEX teams, agency leads, and brand partners, articulating complex technical concepts into clear strategic choices and actionable milestones.
- Education & Enablement: Guide clients and agency stakeholders through the shift toward AI-assisted workflows, building confidence in rapid iteration, experimentation, and iterative learning.
- Financial & Agile Governance
- Financial Control: Take end-to-end accountability for project budgets ($250K+ individual budget size), managing resource allocation, burn rates, margin targets, and financial reconciliations with precision.
- Hybrid Agile Methodologies: Adapt and apply Agile/Scrum frameworks tailored to creative technology R&D-balancing sprint speed and rapid feedback loops with commercial deadlines.
- Operational Scaling & Knowledge Transfer
- Best Practice Definition: Establish standard operating procedures, pilot evaluation frameworks, and delivery playbooks for AI-native production within HEX.
- Network Scaling: Oversee post-project documentation, capturing learnings from pilot programs and R&D workstreams to scale successful AI workflows across WPP Production and the broader WPP agency network.
Core Competencies & Skills- Technical Literacy: Practical understanding of modern generative AI tools, diffusion models, LLMs, agentic workflows, and real-time engines (e.g., Unreal Engine/Unity) applied to creative production.
- Scope & Fluidity Management: Proven ability to bring structure, clarity, and control to highly complex, fluid, and experimental tech scopes without stifling creative innovation.
- Commercial & Financial Acumen: Rigorous budget management skills, with a track record of running $250K+ engagements profitably while managing complex resource models.
- Cross-Disciplinary Translation: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to bridge conversation between technologists, creative teams, client leaders, and legal/procurement teams.
- Adaptive Leadership: Comfort with ambiguity, rapid technological shift, and pioneering new delivery models in a high-growth studio environment.
Experience: - 5+ Years in Creative Tech / Digital Production: Proven experience as a Project Manager or Producer in a creative agency, innovation lab, or creative tech studio.
- Hands-On AI & Innovation Track Record: Demonstrated experience delivering complex technical projects involving AI integration, custom workflows, or interactive technology from initial concept through to final deployment.
- Multi-Stakeholder Environments: Track record of operating successfully across matrixed agency environments, client-embedded teams, and third-party tech partners.
- Agile Certification or Equivalent Practice: Exposure to or practical experience with Agile, Scrum, or Kanban methodologies applied to creative technology.
Desirable Skills: - Direct experience helping to define new commercial or operational models for creative production.
- Experience building or managing production pipelines as the primary project deliverable.
- Active personal engagement and ongoing experimentation with emerging AI models, tools, and developer platforms.
#LI-hybrid #LI-RS1
The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range as listed below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click here for more details.
US Pay Range
$60,000-$140,000 USD
