Director, Partnerships, Global in London

About WPP Media

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.

Role Summary and Impact

This Partnerships Director role is the link between our Global Investment specialists and WPP Media and agency Client Account teams, working to define and deliver joint business plan (JBP) partnership opportunities for key global clients, primarily The Coca Cola Company but with the opportunity to expand to other brands such as Ford, Colgate and Estee Lauder. This role will also work in tandem with Strategy leads and Account teams to identify relevant media partners, to then develop integrated investment strategies with, delivering best in class, progressive, strategic client partnerships.

Aided by support from the broader team, the Partnerships Director will define client’s JBPs with media partners, such as Google, Amazon, Pinterest, Meta and TikTok, to maximise client benefits, and then work to deliver these commercial and strategic benefits throughout the year. Cooperation with, and co-ordination of, local and regional market teams will be central to this, to ensure a consistent approach and successful execution of the negotiated benefits.

This role will require high levels of relationship management, strategy, coordination and organization as it will involve management of a complex client and agency structure. The Partnerships Director will need to gain a deep understanding of our client’s businesses and will need to apply their digital (and to a lesser extent, offline) landscape and strategic knowledge to ensure that the client partnership team delivers the most effective plans to deliver on the client’s objectives and the changing entertainment marketing landscape.

They will be responsible for managing partner relationships with the key digital vendors (Meta, Amazon, Google, etc.) to ensure that our clients gain maximum benefits from trading deals brokered and JBPs. Measurement is a key part of the role, so this role is also responsible for ensuring that digital investment associated with the JBPs is tracked and reported back to the client, to ensure full transparency of pacing versus any investment endeavours in place.

Reporting of the role

This role reports to the Global Head of Partnerships.

Responsibilities of the role:

• Strategic Skills
• Work collaboratively within the WPP Media network, and specialist practice departments e.g. DPAM teams, Brand Safety and Governance, to deliver innovative and media-first, cross media Global JBP opportunities.
• Develop a strong understanding of media landscape working closely with on and offline Global partners, to ensure first mover opportunities are leveraged for client.
• Support in development and monitoring of opportunities with key vendors in the Diversity, Sustainability and Inclusion space, helping to grow client spend.
• Identify key areas of partnership growth and work collaboratively with client teams, as an extension to their strategy & planning teams, to deliver and activate Global JBPs.
• Support in the deployment and monitoring of Global JBPs, across local markets and regions, to ensure targets are met and value is unlocked.
• External Relationship Management
• Demonstrate an ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, global media vendors, proprietary media opcos and internal teams, to drive collaboration and best in class delivery.
• Develop and sell partnerships persuasively and with confidence, passion and enthusiasm to both clients and internal stakeholders.
• Delivery Excellence
• Present confidently, with gravitas & impact.
• Proactively share global marketplace updates and work with markets to do the same.
• New business
• Support where needed in new business pitches and proposals, supporting client and strategy teams in content partnership proposals in group pitches.
• General tasks:
• Develop a full understanding of in all areas of the WPP Media and agency suite of products and services, in order to speak confidently with clients about them, ultimately increasing client adoption.
• Deliver best in class JBPs, ensuring client value, innovation and excellence are delivered.
• Develop global integrated investment strategy and then actively work with regional and local leads to deploy in markets, adapting as needed.
• Work closely with Regional and Market leads to support in roll out of investment frameworks & JBP benefits.
• Develop best in class campaign measurement frameworks and build out case studies of the best case studies, to be socialized within local and regional teams, as well and with the client directly.
• Develop, deploy, and monitor client’s global inclusive marketing investment roadmap, partnering with global strategy and integrations leads.
• Partner with global lead on media quality processes and governance and ensure same rigor applied to all media.
• Actively scout for new opportunities bespoke to the GroupM client set.
• Manage monthly partner investment pacing against agreed JBP endeavours, ensuring correct framework is in place to hit spend thresholds across regions and markets.
• Brief and manage set up of client QBR and JBP reviews coordinating with regions and markets where required.
• People Responsibilities:
• Develop relationships with both clients as well as internally at WPP Media.
• Build trusted relationships with media vendors, proprietary media opcos and internal stakeholder teams.
• Manage, motivate and encourage growth and skillset of junior members of the team.

Skills and Experience

Leading by example, with integrity and good citizenship. Positive and passionate approach that motivates the team. Independently owning and managing relationships confidently. Ambition and drive to execute new ideas and be at the forefront of new industry developments.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

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 that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country. Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.

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