Associate Project Manager (CFA)

As an Associate Project Manager at AKQA, you'll be intricately involved in the planning, execution, and monitoring of projects. Your duties will include scoping and budgeting projects, managing communication among multi-disciplinary teams, identifying project dependencies, and monitoring project health. You will work closely with Client Services to manage scope and seize opportunities, while also ensuring collaboration between client and agency teams.

To be successful as an Associate Project Manager at AKQA, you should have 1-3 years of experience managing or supporting digital projects, particularly in an agency or consulting environment. Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Lean, or Kanban is vital, along with experience using tools like Jira, MS Project, or Slack. Strong analytical and communication skills, along with a keen attention to detail, are essential qualities for this role.

At AKQA, your development as an Associate Project Manager is supported with opportunities to learn project management best practices, engage in diverse project types, and collaborate with talented professionals. Those who demonstrate skill and initiative have the chance to advance to senior project roles or specialize in areas that interest them, contributing to both their personal growth and the company's success.

Communication is a cornerstone of the Associate Project Manager role at AKQA. You’ll be required to facilitate teamwork, ensure everyone is aligned with project goals, and navigate challenges that arise during the project lifecycle. Strong communication skills help you convey expectations clearly to both internal teams and clients, ultimately leading to the success of the projects you manage.

AKQA prides itself on a collaborative work culture that encourages creativity, innovation, and inclusivity. As an Associate Project Manager, you will play a vital role in fostering a ‘One Team’ approach, bringing together diverse backgrounds and perspectives to enrich project outcomes. The hybrid work model ensures balance, offering in-office collaboration three days a week while allowing for flexibility, making AKQA a supportive environment for all employees.

In preparing for this question, think about specific projects where you've utilized Agile methodologies. Discuss how Agile's iterative nature helped in managing project changes, how you facilitated daily stand-up meetings or sprints, and your role in adapting to changing requirements. This shows your understanding and practical experience with Agile in a project context.

When addressing this question, highlight your method for task prioritization, referencing techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix or MoSCoW prioritization. Illustrate with an example of how your prioritization led to successful project outcomes, demonstrating your ability to focus on what adds the most value to the project and client.

For this question, provide an example of a conflict you've resolved in the past. Discuss the steps you took to mediate the situation, listen to both sides, and facilitate a collaborative solution. Highlight your communication and negotiation skills that helped bring about a positive resolution.

In your response, mention tools like Jira, Trello, MS Project, or Confluence, and explain how you've used them to track project progress, manage tasks, and communicate effectively with team members. This shows your familiarity with industry-standard tools and your proactive approach to project management.

When answering, detail your experience juggling multiple projects. Discuss how you organized your time, kept track of various timelines, and communicated with stakeholders. Emphasize your organizational skills and ability to remain calm under pressure, showcasing your multitasking capability.

Here, you can explain the metrics you monitor, such as budget, timeline, and scope, and how you document these for updates. Highlight any tools you use for monitoring and how you present this information to stakeholders, showcasing transparency and accountability in project management.

Discuss how effective stakeholder management directly impacts project success. Provide examples of how you've engaged stakeholders, understood their needs, and managed expectations throughout a project lifecycle. This illustrates your commitment to building relationships and ensuring project alignment with stakeholder goals.

This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Describe strategies you’ve employed in past projects when faced with delays. Discuss how you communicated transparently with the team and kept morale high through supportive leadership and positive reinforcement.

When addressing this question, mention techniques like stakeholder interviews, surveys, and collaborative workshops. Share an example demonstrating how thorough requirement gathering contributed to project success, emphasizing the importance of understanding the client's vision from the start.

Emphasize your alignment with AKQA’s values around creativity and collaboration. Discuss your passion for project management and how you see yourself growing within the company. Your answer should reflect genuine interest in contributing to AKQA's mission and being part of their unique culture.