Head of Projects

About the company

Metro Production Group (MPG) is an event production agency focused on delivering tailored, high-quality experiences across a wide range of sectors. Part of WPP plc and operating within the WPP Production network, MPG creates live, hybrid, and experiential projects for prominent clients, blending inventive thinking with practical delivery to produce events that make a lasting impression.

About the role

MPG is hiring a Head of Projects to join its creative events business and report directly to the Executive Leadership Team. This is a senior, strategic position that coordinates collaboration across functions, works with department heads to build effective project teams, and supports both new business pitching and day-to-day client delivery. The role acts as a link between leadership strategy and hands-on execution.

Project delivery and pipeline management

• Lead major projects to ensure they are delivered within agreed scope, timeline, and budget while aiming to surpass client expectations.
• Maintain clear visibility of the project pipeline so planning and decision-making can happen early and with confidence.
• Spot delivery risks early, evaluate their impact, and put mitigation plans in place; escalate major issues to the Executive Leadership Team or other relevant stakeholders when needed.
• Support new business submissions by contributing commercial and budget expertise that helps secure work profitably and on time.

Leadership and line management

• Carry line management responsibilities.
• Distribute resources across the team based on project priorities and team capacity.

Client relationship management

• Act as the main point of contact for production, creative, and business development teams on project matters.
• Set and manage client expectations by keeping deliverables, timelines, and progress communication clear and consistent.

Budget and financial oversight

• Track live project spend, identify budget variances, and introduce corrective actions where required.
• Scrutinise budgets and resourcing before approval to support strong returns and commercial performance.
• Put measures in place to reduce margin erosion and protect profitability.

Quality and standards

• Promote MPG’s standards for creative production and delivery across all projects.
• Apply consistent project management methods throughout the delivery function.
• Run post-event reviews to capture lessons learned and improve future delivery.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate brings more than 8 years of experience in event or experiential delivery, ideally gained in varied live event agency environments. You should have strong commercial awareness, proven ability to manage complex budgets above £1 million, and a clear focus on profitability and return on investment. The role also calls for a steady, solutions-led mindset, the confidence to work under pressure, and excellent communication skills for influencing stakeholders at all levels. Experience of balancing creative ambition with operational reality is essential, along with a solid understanding of logistics, technical production, 3D builds, fabrication, and safety and compliance requirements. Experience across both B2B and B2C projects is highly desirable.

What MPG offers

• 25 days of annual leave plus a volunteer day.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• A pension arrangement with a 1.5:1 employer matching structure.
• Access to Help@hand enhanced benefits, the TELUS tool, an annual eye test, and other wellbeing support.
• Training programmes and development budgets designed to support ongoing growth.
• Wellbeing and sustainability initiatives throughout the year.
• Opportunities for international travel as part of the role.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Workplace nursery support and an electric vehicle car scheme.
• Life assurance and group income protection cover.
• Volunteer and CSR community day opportunities.

Values and working culture

MPG says its values shape how the team works and what it expects from each other: creativity, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and passion. The company offers a hybrid working model based from its London office in the WPP Campus and describes the opportunity as a senior role with meaningful influence in a business that values creative, cultural, and operational excellence.

Additional information

Salary is described as competitive and the position is based in London. Applicants were invited to send a CV by email for consideration. MPG also noted that personal data would be processed only for recruitment purposes under GDPR, and that unsuccessful candidate data would be deleted after six months in line with legal obligations and best practice.