Senior Traffic Manager

Hill & Knowlton is a strategic and creative partner to drive breakthrough opportunities for growth and value creation, advance corporate strategy, and build reputation capital and resiliency. We’re a proven partner for business and brand transformation. A full-service global firm, we provide strategic communication, marketing and corporate affairs solutions distinguished by intelligence and creativity. Hill & Knowlton is part of WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company.

About Hill & Knowlton

Hill & Knowlton is the global strategic communications leader for transformation. We help brands, businesses and leaders build reputation, manage risk, and create breakthrough opportunities for growth. Founded in 1927, today’s Hill & Knowlton operates 70 offices in over 30 countries, providing advisory, public relations and creative solutions to local and global clients. Our global team offers integrated strategic services, grounded in deep sector expertise, and enabled by creativity and intelligence. Headquartered in New York, Hill & Knowlton is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.

The Role

Responsible for proactively overseeing the seamless coordination of projects and retainers, optimizing resource allocation, problem solving, and ensuring efficient communication among project owners to deliver high-quality creative work on time and within budget.

Client Responsibilities

• Build relationships throughout the agency. Be the first point of contact for retainer and small projects briefs.
• Keep all the account/project leads informed of project progress and potential issues.
• Review briefs for completeness and, if required, have the confidence to work with the account/project leads to make improvements.
• Support the Creative Project Managers by managing smaller projects during busy times.
• Stay updated on the status of projects, understand their deadlines, and work with the operations lead to support teams by finding effective solutions.
• Lead weekly resource meetings with the account/projects lead and contribute to relevant team meetings.
• Be aware of current and pipeline project workloads and deadlines to react to changes and resolve resource conflicts based on priorities.
• Identify and address potential issues and bottlenecks that may affect project quality.

Commercial Responsibilities

• Understand the importance of the creative process, ensuring adherence while suggesting changes to increase efficiency.
• Monitor day-to-day project activities and resourcing, identifying instances of underutilization and reallocating projects accordingly.
• Collaborate with the Operations Lead to assess and improve traffic management processes.
• Manage and allocate resources for all projects/retainers, ensuring the right people with the right skills are working on the right jobs.
• Manage project timelines, ensuring projects are on schedule and within budget.
• Cost small to medium scale projects understanding revenue considerations and the role of each creative on the project.
• Understand the commercials and costing requirements for each market.
• Identify the need for freelance support and use your network to find the right talent, negotiating contracts at the right rate.
• Work diligently on a schedule, effectively prioritize tasks, and maintain composure under pressure.
• Manage a range of small-sized projects.
• Build a database of freelancers across different markets and discuss rates and availability with them.

People & Culture Responsibilities

• Work with the Operations Lead to identify skills gaps and opportunities for upskilling and training within the team.
• Build strong relationships with different team members of The Studio, including secondees.
• Build strong relationships with the Accounts teams through daily updates.
• Contribute to a vibrant and creative work environment with a positive and proactive attitude.
• Act as a Hill & Knowlton ambassador, both internally and externally.

Technical Skills

• Great organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Able to work with project management software and tools (e.g., Monday.com).

Personal Development

We believe that true learning requires self-motivation and curiosity. You are encouraged to explore all aspects of society to learn, grow, and inform your outlook. You are expected to:

• Explore different disciplines and commit to learning new skills and techniques every day.
• Attend training courses arranged by P&C or recommended by your line manager, including the H&K Way, Octave, etc.

#LI-RS1

Hill & Knowlton is more than an agency. It’s a collection of thousands of brilliant, collaborative and driven employees – all united around a single vision of transforming our clients, our company and the world. Across 70 offices in 30 countries, our people are the heartbeat of our business, bridging countless cultures, backgrounds and lived experiences. We are drawn together by a common drive and a collaborative spirit – called to our craft each day by the desire to deliver the best work.

At H&K, diversity, equity and inclusion are not just values; they are strategic imperatives that fuel our future in an industry built on the art of understanding, connecting and developing relationships. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue and cultivating meaningful experiences that drive innovation and creativity.