Director, Activation

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.

The Media Activation team is responsible for providing thoughtful, high-impact recommendations across digital channels, maintaining platform partnerships, and executing media buys with precision.

We are seeking an experienced Director, Activation to lead digital activation across key client business. In this role, you will lead the channel activation strategy with a primary emphasis on Paid Social and a foundational focus on Programmatic, ensuring flawless operational execution and strong cross-functional alignment.

The ideal candidate brings extensive digital media expertise, a structured approach to workflow management, and proven experience managing media teams, client relationships, and inter-departmental collaboration.

What You’ll Do

• Activation Leadership: Direct the end-to-end strategy, setup, and optimization of Paid Social (core focus) and Programmatic campaigns, driving performance against lower-funnel KPIs including app acquisition and conversions.
• Team Management & Resourcing: Lead and mentor a team consisting of a Social Manager and a Programmatic Manager, while coordinating deliverables with global offshore support teams. Actively manage team capacity, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Operational Process & Structure: Establish robust QA processes, pacing protocols, and standardized operational workflows to ensure consistency and execution excellence.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Planning and Performance leads to align on strategic briefs, balance deliverables, and maintain clear operational boundaries across departments.
• Client Stewardship: Serve as the senior activation lead in client interactions, translating complex technical campaign data into strategic insights and managing expectations effectively.
• Platform Innovation: Evaluate and pilot emerging digital ad platforms and formats (including conversational AI and new discovery ad channels) as client media plans evolve.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: 6+ years of digital media activation experience within an agency or brand environment, including proven experience managing direct reports.
• Paid Social Acumen: Advanced expertise in Paid Social platforms and performance strategies; hands-on experience with mobile app performance and conversion-driven campaigns is an asset.
• Programmatic Working Knowledge: Solid foundational understanding of programmatic buying, DSP mechanics, and data targeting strategies.
• Resource & Scope Management: Demonstrated ability to manage project scope, balance bandwidth, and negotiate timelines with cross-functional partners and external stakeholders.
• Organizational Skills: Proven track record of managing multi-channel workflows and implementing structured processes in fast-paced environments.
• Stakeholder Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate media rationale clearly to both technical teams and senior clients.
• Channel Agility: Willingness to adapt to and test emerging media formats; traditional paid search experience is not required.

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. 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. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer. We have adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week.

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