Associate Director, Programmatic

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships - all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open - we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

3257 - Associate Director, Programmatic - UK

Role Summary and Impact  

Programmatic involves planning & flawlessly executing programmatically bought media plans, across display, video and mobile and emerging biddable & programmatic platforms, as well as deploying unsurpassed platform knowledge & smart use of audience data, and developing industry-leading technology (secured through collaborative supplier partnerships) to facilitate 1:1 communication with our audience. 

You will be the programmatic media lead for the team, providing strategic insight, consultancy to local markets to help them evolve programmatic best practice (incl. development of technology and leading supplier relationships), as well as oversee campaign executions managed centrally across multiple EMEA markets. 

What we need from you  

• Effectively oversee your team’s programmatic accounts; ensuring ongoing and timely optimization is delivered by the team, and that they and yourself are constantly proactively looking for both tactical and strategic optimization opportunities 

• Take full responsibility for all wider client or team programmatic deliverables, including the financial and commercial aspects of the programmatic accounts. Take responsibility for the bigger picture in terms of your clients’ accounts, (for example, take full responsibility for reviews of client or team deliverables) 

• Work closely with the current Social / Cross-Channel Activation Director to deliver integrated channel strategy across central campaign activations, as well as support any programmatic-involved transformation projects across AdTech 

• Consult and engage with local territories to drive digital maturity across Display & Programmatic 

• Act as a mentor to individuals both inside and outside of your team, encouraging them to develop their full potential, and helping them develop their longer-term career plans 

• Working with the Reservation Media, and Investment teams across GroupM local partner agencies, assisting with research into, onboarding of, and best practice development for emerging programmatic platforms 

Skills and Experience  

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values: 

• Be Extraordinary  by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity. 

• Create an Open  environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust. 

• Lead  Optimistically  by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise. 

• Experience in a digital media agency, or have commensurate experience in digital roles managing teams, and working with other Account Directors / Heads-of-Programmatic, and/or Marketing Directors / Marketing Managers on the client side 

• Experience with planning and running large-scale programmatic accounts, preferably via DV360 (formally DBM) but also Amazon, Trade Desk, AppNexus, Avocet 

• Advanced experience of YouTube (via Google Ads) is also required 

• Adept at running campaigns across multiple countries / languages 

• Advanced knowledge of in-market programmatic challenges for key EMEA, LATAM & APAC markets - UK, DE, AU, MX etc. Able to devise solutions and develop our programmatic practice in challenging environments 

• Experience delivering integrated digital campaigns for large clients - Search, Display, Social, etc                                                                                                                                      

Desired 

• Extensive knowledge of Campaign Manager and the Google tech stack 

• Google AdWords Certification (including Video Certification) 

• Experience with Doubleclick Search (plus certification) 

• Experience with Google Analytics (plus certification) 

• Experienced with programmatic tools and solutions to streamline workflows 

Life at WPP Media & Benefits  

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.  

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. 

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. 

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location 

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