Business 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.

2033 - Business Director, Programmatic

Role Summary and Impact: 

We are seeking an experienced Programmatic Director for our prestigious automotive client account. This role will sit within the wider activation team and be integral to the programmatic output of the team.  As a Programmatic Director, you will lead and deliver excellence in programmatic campaign activation, leveraging extensive knowledge of Programmatic, DSP implementations and direct buying with partners. You will provide day-to-day leadership for campaigns, ensuring ongoing and timely optimization, trend spotting, and accurate execution. Your focus will be on in-depth analysis, driving campaign performance, and leading and developing a team of junior programmatic specialists. You will be responsible for collating spend forecasts, creating and monitoring campaigns to deliver on planned targets, and acting as a key client interface for programmatic strategy and results within the WPP Open ecosystem. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Line Management:  

• Line manage a team of junior Programmatic team members (e.g. Programmatic Account Managers, Programmatic Executives), providing coaching, mentorship, and support for their development and career progression. 

Campaign Management: 

• Build effective programmatic media plans to organize campaign actions and goals. 

• Oversee and ensure best-in-class campaign activation across relevant accounts, ensuring campaigns operate at the highest standard and deliver top-quality output for clients. 

• Take a proactive role, supervising campaign activation and optimisation rigor, while also supporting global hub, executives, and managers across your clients. 

• Create templates and proven methodologies for optimisation approach for key trading tactics and optimisation logs. 

Client and Partner Management: 

• Build strong, effective relationships with clients and partners, maintaining trust and respect. 

• Demonstrate an understanding of media and technology developments that influence client business. 

• Drive revenue growth through spotting new optimisation opportunities, services, or products and delivering excellent results. 

• Develop strong relationships with media owners and other service providers to select the most appropriate suppliers for campaigns. 

• Understand relevant products and solutions developed within the group. 

People Development: 

• Motivate and train individuals, being a key stakeholder in the development of junior staff. 

• Support and nurture junior & global hub employees, ensuring their training and development needs are constantly evaluated and fulfilled. 

• Clearly outline tasks and objectives with team members, with specific deliverables and timelines for progression. 

• Highlight great teamwork and client initiatives; demonstrate examples of Programmatic and Display best practice to the wider team and contribute to department and agency PR. 

Operational Excellence: 

• Utilise appropriate tools to drive accountability in programmatic buying, direct buying, operational efficiencies, and actionable business insights, including scoping agreed client outputs. 

• Ensure financial accuracy, integrating the planning and buying process, and reconciliation of spends, including client terms and programmatic fees, via buying templates and processes. 

• Maintain standards and processes throughout the end-to-end campaign lifecycle. 

• Proactively seek opportunities to develop and enhance understanding and knowledge of the programmatic landscape, latest tech platforms, vendors, and suppliers. 

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. 

• Programmatic Expertise: Passionate about programmatic activation and driving continued excellence. Proven experience in programmatic multi-channel campaign activation and management. 

• Platform & Technical Proficiency: Confidence in core trading platforms (DV360, TTD, Amazon) and ad serving technologies, with experience in troubleshooting tags. 

• Analytical & Strategic Acumen: Strong understanding of optimisation levers & testing approaches. Ability to develop and execute comprehensive testing roadmaps in the Programmatic space (audience, media, creative). 

• Strategic Partner Proficiency: Confidence in managing media partners, optimising their performance and maximising the opportunity for you clients. 

• Leadership & People Management: Proven Project Management, Leadership, and People Management experience, including being a key stakeholder in the development of junior staff, motivating, and training. Ability to lead and manage a hybrid team. 

• Client & Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build strong relationships with clients, media owners, and other service providers. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships both internally and externally. 

• Communication & Influence: Ability to translate technical and complex points to non-technical audiences and coach others to do the same. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. 

• Mindset: Proactive, self-motivated, and eager to expand knowledge of the programmatic landscape and industry trends. 

Life at WPP Media & Benefits 

 Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.  

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. 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 that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country. 

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

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

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