Traffic Manager/ Project Manager (Advertising Agency)

Traffic Manager / Project Manager (Advertising Agency)
Location: Irvine, CA (Hybrid)
Contract Duration: Minimum 12 months, with potential for extension based on performance and business needs
$44-$48/hr based on benefit selections
 
Orion Group is seeking an experienced Traffic Manager to join a fast-paced advertising agency environment for our pharmaceutical client in Irvine, CA.
 This role is responsible for driving projects through the agency workflow from initiation to completion, ensuring deliverables remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with established processes.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously while partnering with cross-functional teams across creative, account, production, and leadership functions. This individual will serve as a central point of coordination, identifying risks, removing roadblocks, maintaining timelines, and championing agency processes that keep work moving efficiently.
Key Responsibilities

• Manage multiple print and non-interactive projects through the agency project lifecycle from kickoff to final delivery.
• Monitor project progress and maintain visibility into the status of all active work.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure tasks are completed on schedule and deliverables meet deadlines.
• Serve as a process champion, ensuring adherence to agency workflows and identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Create, maintain, and update project timelines, schedules, estimates, and resource plans.
• Facilitate project kickoff meetings, status meetings, and workflow discussions.
• Manage routing and approval processes through digital workflow systems.
• Anticipate project risks, bottlenecks, and scheduling conflicts, proactively developing solutions to keep projects on track.
• Partner with account, creative, production, and leadership teams to prioritize workloads and allocate resources effectively.
• Develop and maintain project estimates and internal fee structures.
• Generate and maintain daily and weekly project status reports.
• Forecast workload and staffing requirements to support project demands.
• Communicate project status, next steps, and key milestones to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Support additional operational and project management activities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an advertising agency environment.
• Strong understanding of print production processes and advertising workflows.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Experience tracking project status, managing timelines, and ensuring deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, anticipate challenges, and implement effective solutions.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with employees at all levels, from Account Coordinators to Vice Presidents.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field, or equivalent agency experience.
• Experience with project management and workflow tools such as:
  • Workfront
  • ProofHQ
  • Microsoft Project
  • Advantage
• Knowledge of graphic design workflows and advertising print production techniques.

Success Factors
The successful candidate will:

• Thrive in a fast-paced agency environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Demonstrate strong follow-through and accountability.
• Effectively influence and coordinate teams without direct management authority.
• Maintain a solutions-oriented mindset when navigating project challenges.
• Serve as a trusted resource for project planning, workflow management, and process execution.

People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.