Strategy Lead

About WPP Media 

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com. 
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com 
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. 

Role Summary & Impact

WPP Media is seeking an experienced and visionary Strategy Lead to join our dynamic Strategic Department. In this pivotal role, you will serve as the lead communication strategist for key accounts, including a prominent flagship client. You will be instrumental in shaping groundbreaking strategies that solve complex business and communication challenges for brands with significant market presence and reputation. This role demands provocative thinking, ensuring consistency across all strategic outputs, and driving seamless translation of communication strategies into effective day-to-day media planning, leveraging advanced data and AI capabilities. You will collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Media Planning, Data Science, and Insights & Analytics, to deliver innovative, high-quality strategic products that significantly impact client success and WPP Media's strategic growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Insight & Development:

• Lead in-depth market and brand analysis, proactively leveraging advanced analytics and AI-powered tools to uncover powerful, predictive insights that inform strategic recommendations and drive business growth.


• Collaborate closely with the Data Science team to strategically define growth audiences, utilizing cutting-edge methodologies and AI models to articulate compelling insights, including consumer decision journey pain points, to build robust communication platforms and architectures.


• Drive the development of comprehensive communication strategies, overseeing annual planning, major campaign launches, and high-level strategic projects such as Masterbrand strategies and integrated media/e-commerce planning.


• Contribute to new business pitches on an ad-hoc basis, extending strategic expertise beyond assigned client scopes.


• Ensure the highest quality and consistent aesthetic of all strategic deliverables.

Cross-Functional Integration & Quality Assurance:

• Translate overarching communication strategies into consistent and high-quality day-to-day media planning outputs, optimizing through data-driven approaches and potentially AI-assisted media allocation.


• Effectively integrate specialized expertise, including Data Science, Commerce, and Content, alongside emerging AI applications, to elevate the overall quality of the complete media planning product.


• Champion creative ideas, including content and partnership initiatives, to enhance media planning executions and drive engagement.


• Monitor and maintain rigorous quality control across daily workflow and strategic outputs.

Collaboration & Leadership:

• Cultivate strong, inspiring, and collaborative working relationships with internal teams (Media Planning, Data Science, Activation, Content, Commerce) and external partners, including senior clients and other agencies.


• Act as a leader who fosters an environment of intelligent risk-taking, innovation, and creativity within the team.


• Proactively identify and develop novel solutions to complex client challenges and strategic opportunities.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience:

• 5-6+ years of progressive experience in media/communications planning, with a strong emphasis on strategy development and media planning execution.


• Comprehensive understanding and practical application of qualitative and quantitative research techniques, major desktop research tools, and big data analytical offerings, including familiarity with AI-driven analytics platforms.


• Fluent written and spoken English.

Core Skills & Attributes:

• Strategic Thinking: Possesses strong analytical and conceptual skills to translate complex insights into actionable and impactful strategies, anticipating trends and optimizing decisions with a long-term vision.


• Collaboration: Builds effective relationships and fosters an inclusive environment, working cooperatively with diverse internal and external stakeholders to achieve common goals.


• Communication: Conveys complex messages clearly, influentially, and incisively, facilitating constructive dialogue and active listening, with proven experience interacting and presenting to senior-level clients.


• Leadership: Inspires and guides others responsibly towards shared objectives, fostering an environment that encourages intelligent risk-taking and creativity.


• Innovation: Generates creative ideas and explores cutting-edge solutions, proactively thinking outside the box to address challenges and drive forward-thinking approaches.


• Adaptability: Acts and moves quickly in dynamic and constantly evolving contexts, driving organizational and technological change, thriving independently and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.


• Open-mindedness: Demonstrates genuine curiosity and openness to new ideas, approaches, and diverse perspectives, coupled with a deep interest in clients' businesses and evolving market trends.


• Continuous Learning: Actively seeks new knowledge and maintains a constant desire for professional growth, acquiring new skills relevant to the evolving media landscape and technological advancements, including AI.


• Technological Proficiency: Leverages opportunities offered by the current technological landscape, embracing and applying AI to foster digital transformation, automate processes, and enhance strategic output.


• Client Orientation: Promotes a culture of accountability towards the client, delivering valuable solutions and nurturing strong, long-term partnerships to achieve extraordinary results.


• Project Management: Manages complex projects effectively, coordinating multiple stakeholders, ensuring adherence to deadlines, and simultaneously handling various initiatives, adopting an Agile approach where beneficial.

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. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. 

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

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