Manager, Project Manager - Experiential Programming & Content Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager, Project Manager - Experiential Programming & Content Designer

Company: Capital One

Location: McLean, VA & Richmond, VA

Job Type: Full time

Category: Experiential Programming & Content Design / Project Management

Date Posted: 2026-07-24

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creative architecture and execution of in-Café financial health experiences, translating complex strategy into tangible, modular customer engagement moments.

• Act as a hybrid creative strategist and experiential copywriter, leveraging physical space as a primary canvas for customer connection and financial confidence building.

• Develop and manage scalable programmatic toolkits and frameworks to ensure consistent, high-fidelity execution of Money & Life programming nationwide by Café Ambassadors.

• Drive continuous innovation and optimization of experiential programming across four distinct event tiers, utilizing data-driven insights to enhance future deployments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a managerial level, requiring a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, and robust operational discipline. The focus on "Experiential Programming & Content Design" suggests a need for deep understanding of customer journey mapping, physical space design, and engaging storytelling, particularly within a regulated industry like financial services. The "Project Manager" aspect highlights the necessity for strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple workstreams, and to deliver scalable solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate Capital One’s Financial Health Framework (Spend, Save, Borrow, Plan) into engaging, modular content and interactive experiences tailored for the in-Café environment.

• Design intentional physical customer journeys that seamlessly integrate into customer interactions, sparking curiosity and bridging product offerings with experiential engagement.

• Invent net-new experiences and continuously innovate existing programming to meet evolving community needs and strategic imperatives of the experiential ecosystem.

• Build scalable toolkits and structured, repeatable programming frameworks that empower Market Engagement Leads and Café Teams to execute uniform experiences with high brand fidelity.

• Manage the full design lifecycle, including continuous refresh and execution frameworks for four core experiential event tiers: Closed-Door Events, Pop-In Events, Scheduled Programs, and Light Interactions.

• Prioritize modular, framework-driven templates that can be effortlessly adapted to various floor plans across Capital One's extensive Café network.

• Evaluate qualitative and quantitative performance metrics, such as event sentiment, engagement data, and QR scan rates, to iteratively improve creative toolkits and program effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed breakdown of event tiers (Closed-Door, Pop-In, Scheduled, Light Interactions) indicates a need for a candidate capable of designing for diverse engagement levels and objectives, from premium partner events to quick, impactful customer touchpoints. The emphasis on "eliminating the need for bespoke local creation" underscores the critical requirement for scalable, repeatable design and operationalization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent military experience.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in retail UX/UI, experiential programming, environmental design, or educational curriculum development.

• Minimum 2 years of consumer-facing copywriting experience within financial services, technology, or other highly regulated industries.

• Preferred: 5+ years of experience in Experiential Content Design or physical customer journey design, ideally within a high-growth corporate or creative agency setting. Required Skills:

• Creative Strategy Development: Ability to translate high-level business objectives and financial frameworks into compelling experiential concepts.

• Experiential Content Design: Proven expertise in designing interactive, tactile, and gamified consumer moments that foster confidence and engagement.

• Scalable Program Design: Skill in creating modular, repeatable toolkits and frameworks that ensure consistent brand execution across a distributed network.

• Consumer-Facing Copywriting: Expertise in crafting clear, concise, and empathetic copy for regulated financial products and services, effectively reducing customer anxiety.

• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects from ideation through execution, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.

Preferred Skills:

• Retail UX/UI Design: Understanding of user experience principles within a physical retail or branch environment.

• Environmental Design: Familiarity with how physical spaces can be leveraged to enhance customer experience and communication.

• Curriculum Development: Experience in designing structured learning modules or educational content.

• Financial Services Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the unique constraints and opportunities within financial services.

• Digital Design & Project Management Suites: Proficiency with relevant design software and advanced project management tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for experience in "highly regulated industries" is crucial. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of compliance, risk, and the need for precise, approved messaging, especially when dealing with financial health topics. The preference for agency or high-growth corporate experience suggests a need for individuals accustomed to fast-paced environments and significant scale.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies in Experiential Design: Showcase projects that demonstrate the conceptualization, design, and execution of physical or hybrid customer experiences, detailing the problem, solution, and impact.

• Content Design & Copywriting Samples: Provide examples of consumer-facing copy, particularly for financial products or educational content, highlighting clarity, empathy, and regulatory awareness.

• Scalable Toolkit Examples: Include any examples of frameworks, templates, or program kits designed for repeatable execution by field teams, demonstrating modularity and ease of use.

• Metrics-Driven Improvements: Present examples where qualitative or quantitative data was used to iterate and improve upon existing programs or content.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Examples: Highlight projects where collaboration with various stakeholders (e.g., marketing, product, legal, field operations) was critical to success.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping out customer journeys, identifying friction points, and designing streamlined processes for program delivery.

• Content Lifecycle Management: Showcase understanding of managing content from ideation, creation, review, deployment, and refresh cycles.

• Performance Measurement & Iteration: Detail processes for tracking program effectiveness, analyzing feedback, and implementing iterative improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is paramount. It should not just list past work but tell a story of how the candidate transformed strategic intent into engaging, scalable customer experiences. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating the ability to design for a distributed network and to translate complex financial concepts into accessible, actionable content.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• McLean, VA: $151,900 - $173,400 annually

• Richmond, VA: $138,100 - $157,700 annually Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health benefits package.

• Financial Benefits: Including potential for performance-based incentive compensation.

• Performance Based Incentive Compensation: Eligible for cash bonuses and/or long-term incentives (LTI).

• Comprehensive Well-being Support: A broad suite of benefits designed to support total well-being.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth within a large financial institution.

Working Hours: Full-time position. While the role is hybrid, specific daily working hours are not detailed but are standard for a professional managerial role, typically 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday, with flexibility for project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are specific to the McLean and Richmond locations. Candidates hired in other locations will be subject to their respective pay ranges. The inclusion of performance-based incentives, cash bonuses, and long-term incentives indicates a compensation structure that rewards achievement and contribution to business goals, common for managerial roles. The "full-time annual salaries" suggest a standard 40-hour work week, but the hybrid nature implies flexibility in how those hours are structured between in-office and remote work.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking and Technology). Capital One is a leading technology company that offers a data-driven, customer-centric approach to financial services.

Company Size: Large enterprise, with tens of thousands of employees globally. This scale implies robust processes, significant resources, and opportunities for impact across a wide customer base.

Founded: 1994. Capital One has a history of innovation, particularly in leveraging technology and data to transform the banking experience.

Team Structure:

• Signature Experiences Pillar: This role sits within the Market Programming pillar of Signature Experiences, indicating a focus on customer-facing initiatives that enhance brand perception and engagement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with Market Engagement Leads, Café Teams, product strategists, brand teams, and potentially risk/compliance departments.

• Centralized Design, Decentralized Execution: The team likely operates with a centralized strategy and design function, creating scalable toolkits that are then executed by regional or local teams (Café Ambassadors).

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using qualitative and quantitative metrics to inform creative decisions and program optimization.

• Customer-Centric Design: Prioritizing customer confidence, reducing vulnerability, and addressing financial anxiety in all programmed experiences.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Implied by the continuous refresh and iterative improvement of creative toolkits and programming.

Company Website: https://www.capitalone.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One's classification as a "leading technology company" within financial services is key. Operations professionals here will likely encounter a tech-forward environment, a strong emphasis on data analytics, and a culture that values innovation and continuous improvement, mirroring many GTM and RevOps environments. The "Signature Experiences" pillar suggests a strategic investment in customer engagement beyond traditional banking services.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Managerial. This role oversees project management and content design for experiential programming, requiring leadership in strategy translation, creative execution, and operational scalability. It sits higher than an individual contributor role but may report into a Director or VP level within the Signature Experiences or Marketing division.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Director or Senior Manager overseeing Experiential Programming or Market Engagement within the Signature Experiences pillar. The role will also heavily influence and collaborate with Market Engagement Leads and Café Teams.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts customer engagement, brand resonance, and perceived financial health support within Capital One Cafés. By creating effective, scalable experiences, it contributes to reducing customer anxiety, building trust, and driving deeper customer relationships, which indirectly influences customer loyalty and potential for broader product adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in experiential design, financial literacy content, or program scaling within regulated industries.

• Leadership: Advance into senior management roles overseeing broader program portfolios, strategic partnerships, or market engagement initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into related areas such as product marketing, customer experience strategy, or brand management.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in creative design, user experience, project management methodologies, and financial services innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Manager, Project Manager" title suggests a dual focus. Growth opportunities could involve specializing further in the creative/content design aspect or leaning more into the program management and operational scaling side, potentially leading larger teams or more complex initiatives. The hybrid nature of the role also points towards a modern approach to work, which can be attractive for career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This role requires presence in the McLean, VA or Richmond, VA office for 3 days per week, with the remaining days worked virtually. This blends in-person collaboration with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s):

• McLean, VA: A significant hub for Capital One, offering a dynamic corporate environment.

• Richmond, VA: Another key operational center for Capital One, providing a similar professional setting. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model suggests a workplace designed to facilitate team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional interactions during in-office days.

• Technology Enabled: Expect access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, including necessary software for design, project management, and communication.

• Team Interaction: In-office days will be crucial for direct collaboration with colleagues, managers, and potentially external partners, fostering a sense of team cohesion.

Work Schedule: Standard professional work hours (likely 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. This allows for structured workdays with flexibility for personal needs, while ensuring dedicated time for in-person collaboration and team presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should expect a structured approach to in-office days, likely focused on collaboration, strategic planning, and team building, while remote days will offer more autonomy for focused individual work, content creation, and analysis.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review applications and resumes, focusing on alignment with core requirements and experience.

• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely be asked to present a portfolio showcasing their work in experiential design, content creation, and project management, particularly highlighting examples relevant to financial services and scalable programming.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Expect questions assessing customer focus, results orientation, collaboration skills, and problem-solving abilities, potentially using the STAR method.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from marketing, product, or field operations teams to assess collaboration and communication fit.

• Managerial/Leadership Interview: Discussions focused on strategic thinking, team leadership potential, and alignment with Capital One's culture and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that directly demonstrate skills in experiential design, content creation for regulated industries, and scalable program development.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact (e.g., increased engagement, improved sentiment, successful execution by field teams).

• Highlight Scalability: Explicitly showcase how your designs were made repeatable and adaptable for diverse locations or audiences.

• Demonstrate Financial Acumen: If possible, include examples that show an understanding of financial concepts and how to communicate them effectively and compliantly.

• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, answer detailed questions about your design choices, and discuss your project management approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you might need to design a new in-Café experience or a piece of content, requiring you to outline your thought process, creative approach, and scalability considerations.

• Process Improvement: Anticipate questions about how you would improve an existing program or streamline a process for Café Ambassadors.

• Strategic Thinking: Prepare to discuss how you would align experiential programming with broader business objectives and financial health strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review for this role is significant. Candidates should prepare to not only present their work but also to deeply articulate the strategic thinking, design choices, and operational considerations behind each project. The interview process will likely assess both creative prowess and project management discipline.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency in tools like Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or similar platforms for managing project timelines, tasks, and team collaboration.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, Sketch, or similar for visual design and potentially creating mockups or prototypes of physical experiences.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with platforms for managing and distributing content, particularly if it involves digital elements within the Café.

• Collaboration Platforms: Expertise in Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for day-to-day communication and team coordination.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Experience with tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or more advanced BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) for analyzing qualitative and quantitative performance metrics.

• Survey & Feedback Tools: Familiarity with platforms like SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics for gathering customer sentiment and feedback on experiences.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how customer data and interactions flow can be beneficial. Familiarity with CRM concepts or basic automation principles might be useful for understanding how experiences integrate into the broader customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "digital design and advanced project management suites" mentioned in preferred qualifications suggest a need for candidates who are comfortable with modern digital tools. While the role is heavily focused on physical experiences, digital integration (e.g., QR codes, digital displays) is likely, making proficiency in design and project management software essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the customer, particularly in reducing financial anxiety and building confidence.

• Results Focus: Driving tangible outcomes and demonstrating impact through well-executed programs and initiatives.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively across teams and with field personnel to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation: A continuous drive to create new, engaging, and effective experiences.

• Integrity & Compliance: Adherence to regulatory standards and ethical practices, especially critical in financial services.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Works closely with various departments (Marketing, Product, Compliance, Field Operations) to ensure programs are strategically aligned, creatively sound, and operationally feasible.

• Empowerment & Enablement: Focuses on providing Café Ambassadors with the tools and content they need to deliver exceptional experiences consistently.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to receiving and providing constructive feedback to continuously improve processes and creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One's culture often emphasizes a blend of innovation and operational rigor. For this role, it means balancing creative freedom with the discipline required to ensure consistency and compliance across a large, distributed network. The "customer focus" and "results focus" are likely core tenets driving all initiatives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Regulation: Designing engaging, innovative experiences while adhering to strict financial services industry regulations.

• Scalability Across Diverse Locations: Ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience across a wide network of Cafés with varying layouts and local nuances.

• Measuring Impact of Experiential Programs: Quantifying the ROI and effectiveness of intangible experiences, requiring robust data collection and analysis.

• Keeping Content Fresh and Relevant: Continuously developing new program ideas and refreshing existing content to maintain customer interest and address evolving financial needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to internal and external training in experiential design, UX/UI, content strategy, and financial literacy.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend conferences or workshops related to customer experience, retail design, and financial innovation.

• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior leaders within Capital One's marketing, experience, or product teams.

• Cross-Functional Projects: Engaging in diverse projects that broaden understanding of different business functions within Capital One.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be translating abstract financial concepts and strategic goals into concrete, engaging, and scalable customer experiences that are also compliant. The growth opportunities lie in developing expertise at the intersection of creativity, operations, and financial services.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach translating Capital One's 'Spend, Save, Borrow, Plan' framework into a tangible, interactive experience for a 10-minute customer touchpoint in a Café?" (Assesses creative problem-solving, understanding of framework, and design for brevity).

• "Describe a time you had to design a program or content that needed to be scaled across multiple locations. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure consistency?" (Evaluates project management, scalability thinking, and operational awareness).

• "How would you measure the success of an in-Café financial health workshop, and what metrics would you prioritize?" (Tests data analysis skills, understanding of KPIs for experiential marketing, and ROI justification). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Capital One's commitment to financial health, and how would your role contribute to that mission?" (Assesses research skills and alignment with company values).

• "How do you balance creative vision with the need for regulatory compliance in a field like financial services?" (Probes understanding of industry constraints and ethical considerations).

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration with remote and in-office team members?" (Evaluates adaptability to modern work structures). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly define the problem, your proposed solution, the design process, the specific content created, how it was scaled, and the resulting impact (quantifiable if possible).

• Emphasize Process: Be ready to discuss your creative process, your project management methodology, and how you gathered and utilized feedback.

• Highlight Financial Services Experience: If you have relevant experience, clearly articulate how you navigated industry-specific challenges and requirements.

• Showcase Scalability: Demonstrate how your work is designed for repeatable execution and adaptation across different environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can think strategically, design creatively, manage projects effectively, and operate within the specific constraints of the financial services industry. A strong portfolio that showcases these abilities, coupled with thoughtful answers to behavioral and situational questions, will be key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Capital One careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your experience in experiential design, content creation for regulated industries, and scalable program development. Ensure these examples highlight your ability to translate strategy into tangible customer experiences.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize keywords related to experiential programming, content design, project management, copywriting, customer journey mapping, and experience in regulated industries. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, clearly articulating your role, process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you would approach specific challenges related to this role.

• Research Capital One's Financial Health Initiatives: Understand the company's mission and how this role contributes to their broader goals. Familiarize yourself with the "Money & Life" framework and the concept of Capital One Cafés.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.