Digital Account Director, Leeds Manchester, United Kingdom

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. 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.

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.

Role Summary and Impact: We are looking for a digital specialist across display and programmatic to continue their career as Account Director. This person will assume day-to-day responsibility and strategic digital planning across the display and programmatic space and will also help oversee a team of more junior staff responsible for the everyday running of the account. Experience managing a team of digital specialists, preferably in an agency environment, would be of benefit. This person will also be required to develop strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders becoming a trusted voice for all things display and programmatic.

A closer look: You hold excellent knowledge of the UK digital media landscape and are well-versed in planning and activating across digital media. You have strong communication and project management skills and can engage with stakeholders effectively. You will also work closely with other media specialists to oversee delivery of an integrated plan, often taking the lead in using digital/social to link other media channels and understanding how other media plans fit in the system. You will be responsible for delivering exceptional and exciting digital work as well as the output of a manager for a team of planners.

• Key Responsibilities:
• Account Directors are charged with responsibility for the day-to-day digital strategy and output of one (or more) client accounts, with several key areas of focus.
• Client & Partner Management: Responsible for delivering on the over-arching display and programmatic strategy across the account(s) and ensuring this ties in with the wider digital and comms strategy. Acting as a key digital point-of-contact for your client(s) ensuring their continuing confidence in the quality of the team and agency’s digital output. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the media and technology developments that influence your client’s business. Able to identify opportunities to test and innovate in the display & programmatic space, presenting these opportunities to stakeholders and securing client backing. Managing internal and external stakeholders to ensure multiple projects can be delivered simultaneously and to the required standard. Building and maintaining relationships with the key media partners and tech platforms.
• Campaign Management: Overseeing the production of comprehensive digital media plans (+ supporting material) that align with client’s objectives and KPIs. Able to clearly articulate the rationale for proposed campaign tactics (channels, budget, audience, formats etc.) and present these back, both to internal and external stakeholders. Responsible for the end-to-end setup (from brief to end of campaign report) of digital campaigns across all relevant platforms/partners, working with 3rd party vendors and in-house programmatic teams to ensure accurate setup of campaigns. Responsible for maintaining the standard of regular quality assurance (QA) checks undertaken by those working on the account to ensure campaigns are set up to defined best practice standards and helping to evolve these best-practices as necessary. Working with team to ensure the standard and accuracy of weekly/monthly campaign performance reports. Leading client calls on a regular basis and supporting the wider team to present results as necessary. Ensuring all performance commentary delivers valuable insight and recommendations to clients. Working with the team to identify trends and recommend actions to capitalize/mitigate these trends as necessary. Ensuring the standard of end-of-campaign reporting and quarterly/annual reviews. Leading standalone research projects as required by the client.
• People Management: Ensuring the effective management of Planner Buyers, ensuring workloads are sufficiently monitored & prioritized to ensure deadlines are met. Work with your team leadership to help train and develop entry level team members. Leading by example to motivate and encourage all those with less experience on the team. Communicate clearly and in a timely manner with internal and external stakeholders as required across email, chat, video and in-person. Leading presentations where necessary.
• Operational Excellence: Identify opportunities to test and innovate in the digital space. Presenting these opportunities to stakeholders and securing client backing. Developing these into initiatives that can be used to further evolve the standard & efficiency of digital buying across the wider team. Developing tailored testing/learning agendas for clients that drive clear and actionable insight. Working closely with planning team + other channel specialists to ensure our digital activity compliments and enhances the wider marketing mix. Collaborating on thought-leadership pieces and POVs for the agency. Responsible for the accurate and effective management of agency finance processes. Ensuring the immediate team fulfil the mandatory finance process in a timely and accurate manner to ensure prompt payment/invoicing and minimise finance queries.

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.

About You: Experience working in a busy agency or client-sided display and programmatic team is key to this role. We are looking for a candidate who is able to display the following attributes:

• Strategic Campaign Management: You have a strong background in planning, managing, and optimising display and programmatic campaigns.
• Reporting & Insights: You are skilled at compiling detailed, insightful end-of-campaign reports and presentations, and have experience collaborating with teams to deliver regular client updates, such as QBRs and annual reviews.
• Client & Stakeholder Relationships: You have a track record of building strong relationships with clients and external partners. You are confident presenting to clients and leading calls, ensuring clear and effective communication at all times.
• Collaboration & Attitude: You thrive in a collaborative team setting, bringing a positive, proactive, and solutions-focused approach to your work.
• Team Leadership & Development: You have experience line managing and mentoring team members, supporting their development, and ensuring day-to-day workloads are managed effectively. You are comfortable training junior colleagues and fostering an inclusive, supportive team environment. Teamwork is key to this role and we are looking for someone who is collaborative, friendly, and with a can-do attitude.

In return the successful candidate can expect to work as a member of a fun and engaging team that is part of a company that truly champions learning, development and will invest in your career over the long term. 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. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.