Senior Associate Director - Paid Search

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 

About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand 

EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve. 

Role Summary and Impact 

We are looking for a Search Senior Associate Director who will lead an eight people strong team working on the UK’s most recognised Health & Beauty retailer: Boots. This is an exciting opportunity to join a large team working across business areas for Walgreens Boots Alliance, including the core categories of their stores.

With Boots being at the forefront of trends and developments within the health and beauty vertical and subject to the usual peaks within retail (Black Friday for example), the work is fast paced for this large-scale e-commerce retailer.

This role is suitable for a proactive, motivated, and diligent individual who is able to work independently as well as understands the principles behind effective teamwork to deliver on the client’s performance targets. It is a unique opportunity to work on one of the UK’s largest e-commerce brands with huge scope for learning and development – and to become a Shopping expert within Paid Search - with the support of a large client team spanning WPP entities.

The Senior Search Associate Director will be responsible for leading the PPC planning and strategy, team management, and optimisation process towards KPIs to deliver growth, and meeting efficiency targets.

They will be self-motivated, and able to manage their and their seven direct reports’ time effectively. They will be operationally proficient and have in-depth specialist knowledge of PPC principles and how the market operates. They will also have solid knowledge of other media channels, how they fit within the overall media/marketing mix and how they influence Search.

Responsibilities of the role

Team Leadership

• WBA’s vision around Mass Personalisation at Scale means we are redefining what communications look like for Boots – increasingly moving into addressable media (at scale) and digital platforms that are going to engage their audience and drive sales. The Senior Search AD role will form a vital part of this.


• Oversee the workflow management and training for seven direct reports.


• Share learnings and best practice with the team and wider Search/client group.


• Show initiative and proactivity to achieve our goals, working together with Google and Microsoft to improve the following workstreams: product adoption (such as automated bidding and DDA), investment, ad creative, data integration and measurement.

External and Internal Communication

• Communication lead (such as weekly calls and meetings) with the client contacts, media partners and internal teams (such as the client planning teams) with the support of the Digital Director when required.

Search Expertise

• In-depth PPC specialist experience


• Strong direct response experience i.e. working towards strict cost per sale/ROI targets


• Up to date with Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising and SA360 developments


• Knows how to create, work to, and forecast accurate media plans, even when targets and market conditions may change


• A strong understanding of other media lines and how it works in conjunction


• Strongly process driven, from budget management to brief responses

Technology and Systems

• Knowledge of SA360, Google Analytics, Google Ads and Microsoft Ads


• Savvy lead of automated account management systems and processes


• Working knowledge of how to utilise and apply standard and customised scripts

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 Extraordinaryby Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity. 


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


• Lead Optimisticallyby Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise. 

Who are you?

You are an established senior member of the wider Search and Google Practice community and a known experienced Search specialist within the Business Group, proactively sharing client campaign successes. You demonstrate to be inquisitive, and a real driver who inspires direct reports and peers alike. You are confidently challenging inherited ways of working with your own ideas for improvement and evolution that fit the overarching MediaCom processes and vision.

What you will need

• Detailed knowledge about data interrogation and how to apply this to granular account optimisation in line with KPI metrics and targets


• Striving for excellence and inspiring direct reports along the way


• A savvy people manager who is approachable and supportive


• Able to delegate and escalate swiftly


• Positive and proactive attitude


• A great understanding of the client’s business and the challenges they face


• Keen to establish a collaborative and trusted relationship with our client contacts


• A strong communicator who presents with conviction


• A real team player who keeps internal stakeholders updated

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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