Account Director, Programmatic New London, United Kingdom

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.

EssenceMediacom, part of WPP, 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.

The Programmatic Account Director will have extensive, proven, and detailed knowledge and experience in Programmatic and DSP implementations. Striving to deliver excellence in campaign activation and is responsible for providing day to day leadership of their campaigns. You will ensure on‑going and timely optimisation is delivered whilst constantly looking for opportunities to improve campaign performance. You will also be responsible for collating spend forecasts, creating and monitoring campaigns to deliver on planned targets. Your focus will be on in‑depth analysis, trend spotting, accurate execution, and leading and developing a team.

Key Responsibilities

• Campaign Management: Build effective media plans to organise campaign actions and goals. Oversee and ensure best‑in‑class campaign activation across relevant accounts, ensuring campaigns are operating at the highest standard and delivering highest quality output for our clients. Take a proactive role, supervising campaign activation and optimisation rigor, while also supporting GOC, 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. Demonstrate an understanding of the media and technology developments that influence our client’s 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 the products and solutions that could be relevant for clients that have been developed within the group.
• People Management: The ability to motivate and train individuals, being a key stakeholder in the development of junior staff. To support and nurture junior and GOC employees, ensuring their training and development needs are constantly evaluated and fulfilled. Clearly outline tasks and objectives with the Programmatic Associate Director, with specific deliverables and timelines for progression. Highlight great teamwork, and client initiatives. Demonstrate examples of Programmatic best practice to the wider team and contribute to department and wider agency PR and communications.

Skills & Experience

• Passionate about programmatic activation and driving continued excellence.
• Proven experience in programmatic multi‑channel campaign activation and management.
• Confidence in core DSPs, DV360, TTD and Amazon.
• Confidence in ad serving technologies with experience in troubleshooting tags.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to translate technical and complex points to non‑technical audiences and coach others to do the same.
• Ability to develop and execute comprehensive testing roadmaps in the programmatic space – audience, media, creative.
• Ability to lead and manage a hybrid team located in different markets.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from all diverse backgrounds, cultures, countries.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to 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 this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.