Business Director, Innovation

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.

Join an award-winning team at the heart of UK government, where your work will genuinely shape lives. As part of WPP 650 you'll be part of a supportive, collaborative environment that values curiosity, kindness, and growth. Together, we use behaviour change principles to design smarter services, influence better decisions, and help millions of people across the country. Named WPP 650, after the 650 UK constituencies, the name is a reminder that our work must reflect the full breadth of the country, every community, every audience. No two days are the same. The challenges are complex, the problems worth solving, and the learning constant. You'll tackle issues that matter, alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about what they do. It's demanding - but always rewarding. This is meaningful work with real-world impact - the kind you can point to with pride.

The advertising industry is in the midst of the biggest multi-generational communications shift in history. CMOs and public sector leaders are mastering two critical transformations: delivering a data, technology & AI-powered future, and moving beyond paid advertising. Organizations must shift from interrupting people with ads to engaging people with highly relevant, trust-building experiences. WPP Media is establishing The Experience Capability, a transformational offering that sits at the heart of integrated ESOP (Earned, Shared, Owned, Paid) strategies. This capability creates and integrates experiences across Platforms, Applied Innovation, DCO, Creators, and Creative Excellence to unlock growth for our clients' most pressing business challenges.

We are seeking a Business Director (BD), Innovation to serve as the key strategic and operational driver for our flagship UK Government account (WPP 650). Reporting directly to the VP, Innovation, this role is instrumental in developing breakthrough innovation strategies, designing cutting‑edge thought‑leadership frameworks, and translating complex technology/media trends into actionable public‑sector campaigns. You will work closely with multi‑disciplinary planners and strategists across the entire WPP 650 team. Crucially, you will act as a key collaborative bridge—partnering with Citizen Consultancy and Behavioural Science specialists to ground creative technology in deep audience understanding, integrating DE&I frameworks to ensure innovations are accessible and representative, operationalising the implementation of innovation with Activation, Data, Tech & Analysis teams, and coordinating with dedicated Hub teams to turn strategies into high‑impact public service campaigns.

A core component of this leadership role is the direct line management, mentorship, and development of 1 Account Manager, while driving a culture of creative, evidence‑based experimentation across our client‑facing teams.

Skills and Experience

• This leader will possess a potent mix of strategic sharpness, creative curiosity, and operational discipline.
• They will be highly skilled at taking abstract emerging technology trends and framing them into practical, highly structured briefs that solve immediate government communication challenges.
• The role demands exceptional interpersonal skills, high EQ, and organizational agility.
• You will navigate a complex, multi‑department government landscape, building trusted relationships with senior civil servants, GCS (Government Communication Service) leads, and diverse internal agency capabilities.
• You must be comfortable presenting in client boardrooms and skilled at simplifying complex concepts into clear, persuasive, inclusive, and award‑worthy narratives.

Key Requirements:

• Strategy, creative, or technology‑driven planning experience within a leading media agency, digital shop, or innovation consultancy.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinker with a deep understanding of digital media, experience design (CX), and emerging technologies (such as Applied AI, conversational interfaces, and immersive formats).
• Proven track record in strategy development—specifically in turning cultural insights and technological trends into multi‑channel communication strategies.
• Collaborative mindset with experience working alongside specialized divisions, such as behavioral scientists, qualitative research consultancies, and DE&I advisory specialists.
• Direct report management experience with a passionate approach to mentoring junior talent, fostering their skills in strategic thinking and creative application.
• Impeccable presentation and storytelling skills, with the ability to confidently pitch bold, evidence‑based ideas and command rooms of diverse stakeholders.
• Strong operational and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects, keep delivery on track, and meet tight deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience in creating thought‑leadership content, such as trends whitepapers, capability‑building workshops, and client‑facing educational playbooks.
• An active problem‑solver and self‑starter who naturally challenges the status quo and seeks out novel ways to improve processes.

Leadership Areas

• Develop the UK Government Innovation Agenda: Partner with planners and strategists across the WPP 650 team to embed innovation strategies into the core of integrated communications planning.
• Design Solution Frameworks: Develop and scale proprietary strategic methodologies tailored to public‑sector challenges, aligning them to WPP Media's core priority territories.
• Integrate Multidisciplinary Insights: Lead the strategic intersection between technology, media, and human insights by collaborating with Citizen Consultancy and Behavioural Science teams to ensure all innovation frameworks are rooted in public trust and verified behavioral change models.
• Embed DE&I into Experience Design: Champion inclusive innovation by ensuring emerging technology applications (e.g., conversational AI, gaming, and digital hubs) are designed with accessibility, representation, and digital inclusion at their core.
• Operationalize the Innovation Pipeline: Run the day‑to‑day workflows that take innovation concepts from initial brief to live campaign implementation, measurement, and post‑campaign scaling.
• Coordinate with Data, Tech & Analytics (DTA): Partner directly with the DTA team to ensure all innovation pilots have established tracking, data clean room structures, and real‑time dashboarding so that clients can clearly verify performance.
• Partner with Department & Mission Hubs: Act as the primary innovation interface for dedicated Department & Mission Hubs, translating central innovation frameworks into highly localized, campaign‑specific plans that meet distinct policy and operational goals.
• Consult on High‑Stakes Briefs: Deliver bespoke strategic consultancy for key briefs across various UK Government departments, translating policy challenges into innovative, accessible citizen experiences.
• Lead Key Client Presentations & Workshops: Articulate the commercial, operational, and social impact of WPP Media's innovation solutions during strategic reviews, pitches, and senior‑level briefing responses.
• Establish a Robust "Test & Learn" Culture: Formulate clear hypotheses and design rigorous measurement frameworks alongside behavioural scientists to validate the real‑world impact (such as trust elevation or behavioural change) of innovative pilots.
• Cultivate Key Stakeholder Relationships: Act as a primary strategic liaison for senior marketing directors, department heads, and GCS specialists, positioning yourself as their go‑to advisor for creative tech and media innovation.

Team Leadership & Capability Development (~20%)

• Directly Manage and Mentor: Line‑manage, inspire, and guide 1 Account Manager, actively delegating tasks and fostering their professional growth in project execution and innovation strategy.
• Upskill the Wider Agency: Run internal training, masterclasses, and capability programs to elevate the collective strategic capability of the wider WPP 650 planning team in emerging media, inclusive design, and behavioural‑led innovation.
• Oversee Strategy End-to-End: Ensure high standards of strategic delivery from initial citizen insight generation and behavioural mapping through to concept development, partner evaluation, and final campaign measurement.

Network Collaboration & Internal Enablement (~10%)

• Bridge Strategy and Creative Tech: Act as the primary interface between the WPP 650 strategic planners, behavioural scientists, and the Creative Media & Tech Lab to ensure strategic insights are seamlessly translated into practical, inclusive, and executable prototypes.
• Collaborate with Specialist Divisions: Foster seamless cross‑functional collaboration within The Experience Capability, integrating innovation strategies with Platform & Creators, Applied Innovation, and WPP Production (HEX).
• Cultivate External Partner Ecosystems: Build and maintain active relationships with external tech partners, social platforms, and creator networks to secure first‑to‑market opportunities and inclusive beta tests for government campaigns.

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 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. Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.