Associate Programme Director

At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create ideas, products, and services that shape culture and drive meaningful outcomes. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit, we design adaptive digital experiences that combine creativity, technology, and craft. The Delivery team sits at the heart of everything we do, ensuring work is delivered with precision, care, and commercial clarity. As Associate Programme Director for the Amsterdam office, you will lead a portfolio of complex, technology-led production programmes, including work shaped by AI and advanced CGI techniques.

Responsibilities

Oversee a portfolio of projects (up to €2M), ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and aligned with AKQA standards across modern production and technology-enabled workflows; Act as primary client interface, building trusted senior relationships and advising on delivery strategy, including the effective use of AI and CGI where relevant; Lead end-to-end delivery of complex digital programmes, ensuring excellence in execution, strong coordination across teams, and resolution of delivery challenges; Own project financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and risk of overrun; Define delivery approaches (fixed-price and T&M), leading scoping, estimation, scheduling, and SoW creation for complex programmes; Partner with internal teams and clients to shape solutions and support new business opportunities, contributing to growth in AI-enabled production and advanced CGI work; Identify and mitigate delivery risks, including ethical considerations, data usage, and production complexity; Coach and develop delivery teams, strengthening capability in modern production pipelines and emerging technologies

Requirements

Extensive experience delivering complex digital production programmes in fast-moving, technology-led environments; Strong grounding in CGI, animation, real-time, or generative production workflows; Expert understanding of programme and project management across Agile, Hybrid, and Waterfall approaches; Proven ability to manage budgets, forecasting, and commercial delivery with strong attention to value and efficiency; Confident in working with business metrics, forecasting models, and financial principles; Strong commercial awareness with a focus on ROI, delivery effectiveness, and long-term value creation; Excellent stakeholder management skills, including engagement at senior and executive level; Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling business narratives; Experience mentoring and developing multidisciplinary teams; Strong understanding of emerging technologies, ethical considerations, and modern production models; Strong alignment with human-centred design, creative craft, and outcome-driven delivery; Strong understanding of creative technology, AI ethics, and emerging production models; High affinity with human-centred design, creative craft, emerging technologies, and OKR-driven outcomes