Senior Vice President, Operations

Connecting humankind to its best healthlife is not just our mission at Spectrum; it’s what drives us to “Be Thinkful.” A term we use to encourage innovation, spark creative solutions to our client’s greatest challenges and your invitation to passionately share your unique perspective and ideas. As the only full-service, fully-integrated, science-focused firm that unites global marketing, communications, and media under a single P&L, we specialize in going beyond the science quo to deliver best-in-class work for our clients.Position Overview:Responsible for leading all aspects of project management, business operations, and process improvement within the Communications pillar. This strategic leadership role collaborates closely with senior leadership, knowledge centers, and client teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. The role aligns Communications initiatives with overall enterprise operations, working with Finance and HR to optimize resources, streamline processes, and ensure financial discipline. By driving cross-functional collaboration and operational efficiencies, this position supports the company’s long-term growth and success.Key Responsibilities:Project Management Leadership:

• Lead and oversee the project management function across the Communications pillar, directing a team of PM leaders to ensure the seamless execution of complex client campaigns and high-priority internal initiatives from inception through successful completion.
• Foster a collaborative environment by establishing and maintaining strong communication channels with internal teams, clients, and vendors, ensuring alignment on project objectives, milestones, and expectations.
• Set and enforce the highest standards of project management excellence, including best practices in project planning, risk mitigation, resource optimization, and quality assurance, while ensuring strict adherence to the organization’s work management system for consistent project documentation, tracking, and reporting aligned with established processes.
• Drive continuous improvement in project workflows, methodologies, and tools, promoting innovation to enhance team efficiency, effectiveness, and overall project delivery.

Business Operations Management:

• In partnership with Finance and the Pillar lead, lead the development of an annual business operations plan, including pillar-specific targets, to effectively manage costs and margins, aligning with organizational goals and ensuring profitability.
• Lead and manage the Resource Management (RM) team, overseeing the development and execution of resource allocation strategies to ensure optimal deployment of talent across projects, meeting client needs while maximizing team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Oversee staff mix modeling to ensure the right balance of skills and expertise is applied to projects, aligning with both short-term demands and long-term strategic goals.
• Set and manage utilization targets for project teams, monitoring performance to ensure that resources are being used effectively and within budgetary constraints.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop data-driven forecasts and staffing plans that align with business growth, project demands, and operational goals.

Client Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative partnerships with client relationship leads to ensure alignment on project goals, deliverables, and overall strategy, fostering long-term, trust-based client relationships and identifying new opportunities for growth and service expansion.
• Provide counsel to internal teams and clients regarding project scope, timelines, and expectations, ensuring transparency and effective communication throughout the process.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and mentor a team of project managers, operations professionals, and other key staff to foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback to develop the team’s skills and capabilities and ensure that this cascades down to other PM leaders.
• Cultivate a high-performance culture through ongoing training, team-building, and professional development opportunities.

Financial and Resource Management:

• Oversee budget management, ensuring proper allocation of resources and maintaining financial health of client engagements.
• Work closely with finance and leadership teams to create accurate project forecasts, track performance against budget, and adjust strategies as necessary.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess operational effectiveness and client satisfaction.