Project Lead (project manager)

JAR Audio is looking for a Canada-based creative and resourceful project manager to help us manage our audio production projects. As the project lead, you will lead your project team and your client to success. Your goal will be to deliver every show on time, on budget and mitigate any challenges during production. Your role in a project sometimes requires you to wear many hats, from acting as a scheduler and a planner, to budgeting to performing account management duties.

We’re looking for a cool headed multitasking specialist who is familiar with creative industries and a proactive leader who will act as the ‘superglue’ that will keep our projects moving forward.

The role will report to our Director of Delivery.

Who We Are

We produce original podcasts for brands to elevate dialogue and drive results. Some of our clients include Amazon, Lush, Royal Bank Canada, American Express, IBM, and more.

We take an audience-first approach. We believe podcasts are a perfect medium for a brand to engage with a new or current audience. We collaborate with our clients to uncover who their podcast audience is, what they care about, and how a podcast can deliver value. We root our podcasts in this strategy to provide value.

We’re a fully remote team that works with audio experts worldwide. At JAR, we’re proud of the team we’ve built, a culture that supports each member to speak up and keeps us on our toes, challenging us to raise the bar higher each time. We are building a team of independent thinkers and leaders who are not afraid of trying new things.

Role Description

JAR Audio is looking for someone with 4+ years of experience in the following areas:

Account Management

• Build great relationships with our clients, from onboarding to offboarding and beyond.
• You will be responsible for “traffic” related to several ongoing podcast projects.
• Be the main point of contact for internal teams and clients.
• Own the project kick-off process to ensure the client understands every part of our project.
• Assist accounting and sales with invoicing as required.
• Ensure the creative and client leads know when to step in for check-ins and season renewals.
• Manage scope prioritization and client expectations successfully.
• Facilitate the sharing, collaboration and final approval of podcast assets.

Project Planning

• Own project plan with scheduling, communications, risk, and deliverables.
• Evaluate, manage and mitigate project risks and opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project roadmap.
• Lead regular client and team meetings, kick-off meetings and retrospectives.
• Project management software updates: setup of tools, tasks and updating files.

Project Financials

• Manage production budget, project financials, resources allocation and priorities.
• Champion the creative workflows, and processes within project scope and budget.
• Identify and flag scope creep that could result in extra costs
• Review and provide feedback on work progress, ensuring high-quality standards and project goals are met.
• Coordinate all project vendors, invoicing reviewing and proper follow-up documentation.
• Predict resources needed to reach objectives and manage resources in an effective and efficient manner

Production Assistant Tasks

• Help producers onboard guests successfully, collecting assets and release agreements.
• Ensure podcast guests are ready for recording sessions as scheduled.
• Assist the creative team with episode transcripts, and manage all creative assets.
• Schedule recording sessions as needed.

Who You Are

While we appreciate strategic and ambitious individuals, this role is focused on project management. It is not intended as an entryway into the production department but rather for someone dedicated to growing a career in project management.

• Someone with strong emotional intelligence. You can read the room, navigate team dynamics, and build trust with clients and colleagues.
• An excellent communicator and listener. You can boil down complex ideas into concise communication and ensure everyone feels heard.
• Collaborative and team-oriented with an ability to foster a positive, open environment.
• Calm under pressure, you can adapt to shifting priorities and deadlines with a positive attitude.
• Self-motivated and organized and do not require micromanagement.
• Persuasive—you can navigate challenging conversations, whether negotiating project scopes or managing client feedback, you communicate tactfully and can find win-win solutions.
• A curious and creative problem solver
• A strategic thinker
• You love working with brands and are enthusiastic about podcasting and storytelling.

What You Need

• Proven working experience in project management.
• Experience working in an agency environment (required).
• Experience in a client-facing role, managing multi-stakeholder teams.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to quickly absorb and digest new information (especially if new to podcasting).
• Experience working with a diverse range of clients (startups, enterprise, corporate, etc.).
• Meticulous organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask.
• Familiarity with tech and project management tools like Slack, Google Drive, Basecamp, etc.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Bonus

• Podcast production experience is a nice-to-have.
• Experience in audio, film or media production, behind the scenes may be helpful
• Bilingual proficiency or multiple languages is a nice add-on (especially if French is your second language).

Location

100% Remote (Canada-based).

Culture & Benefits

Health and Dental Benefits

Included in your full time role you will have access to health and dental benefits, to always feel your best.

Remote Flexible Work

This role is a fully remote position; with flexible work hours. Our main business hours are 9am-5pm Pacific Time, Vancouver, as long as you’re available/online during core business hours (i.e. 8am-4pm Pacific Time, or 10am-6pm Eastern Time etc.) we’ll work with you to create a schedule that is best for you. Additionally, we will set you up for success with tech tools, Macbook and anything your office needs.

More paid vacation time

We encourage everyone to schedule time out of the office, enjoy family time and share photos when they return to our #life channel in slack. On average, our team members take at least a few weeks off a year plus all statutory holidays.

Career Growth

We are invested in watching you grow. We offer lots of training and opportunities to develop your career. From career coaches to group activities, you name it.

Team Work

We don’t micromanage. We hire the best, and we trust you to use your best judgment and do what’s best for our clients and JAR. However, as a team we meet regularly to discuss challenges, opportunities and support each other.

Company-wide meetups

We meet up once a year, for JARCon. We will fly you in to enjoy a weekend of learning, brainstorming, eating out and socializing.

Team-bonding events

Remote life doesn’t limit us from socializing. From our virtual ‘happy hour’ to virtual block parties and music bingo games, we love to catch up with each other regularly.

Work-life balance

In compliance with the Canadian government guidelines, JAR provides sick leave, maternity and parental leave to employees who need it. We have clear policies to help you balance your work, life, and mental health.

Committed with the Community

JAR donates annually to different non-governmental organizations on behalf of its team and clients. We’re committed to giving back to the community and getting involved in social projects.

Compensation

$70,000 CAD per annum

Equal opportunity employer

Research shows that women and other marginalized groups tend to only apply for a job when they meet every single criterion. Does this role sound like it was made for you, yet you don’t check every box?

Reach out anyway. We’re an equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment for employees from all walks of life. We hire based on talent, and we’re proud of our global perspective.