Search, Senior Associate Director in London

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. 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.

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.

The Search Associate Director supports the strategic vision and drives the overall growth of the account, acting as the senior strategic advisor to our EMEA based clients. They provide hands-on experience & oversight through strategic reviews of all tactics, ensuring modern search methodologies and best practices are consistently applied. A core part of their role involves offering expert consultancy on test designs and innovation frameworks to shape the account's learning agenda. Leveraging deep EMEA knowledge, the Director provides guidance on regional nuances, such as market-specific dynamics, seasonal shifts, and key cultural moments. Ultimately, they deliver actionable, top-level recommendations that empower the team to drive continuous performance improvement and ensure all programs exceed client expectations.

Some of the things we’d like you to do:

• Support the strategic vision and drive the overall growth of campaigns, acting as the senior strategic advisor to key clients.
• Build campaigns with modern search methodologies and ensure best practices are consistently applied.
• Offer expert consultancy and provide a point of view on test designs and innovation frameworks to shape the account's learning agenda.
• Leverage deep EMEA knowledge to guide the team on regional, seasonal, and cultural nuances (e.g., market-specific dynamics, holidays, language prioritisation).
• Deliver actionable, top-level recommendations that empower the Global team to drive continuous performance improvement and exceed client expectations.
• Ultimate accountability for adherence to controls and best practices across all relevant platforms and help to manage regional development of search best practice.
• Be the primary contact point between the Media Activation team and regular stakeholders both internal & external.
• Develop strong relationships with your client and key suppliers, leading team communications with these stakeholders.
• Share and maintain in-depth knowledge of all search platforms and bid management platforms, operating as in-agency expert in your field of specialism.
• Gain a more strategic understanding of the client's business and KPIs, and keep up to date with latest Industry news and be proactive in spotting trends, product releases, and other opportunities which could enhance our activity.
• Contribute to the wider regional paid search strategy & goals, providing strategic insight to individual campaign wrap-ups.

Competencies (Specific knowledge, skills and abilities):

• Strong written and verbal communication skills across all platforms.
• Expert organisational skills, great attention to detail.
• Concrete knowledge of all areas of digital marketing and media.
• Ability to adhere to and meet deadlines and project manage multiple requests.
• Excellent client relationship and management skills.
• Proven problem-solving skills and ability to think outside of the box for creative solutions.
• Ability to lead and motivate team members in a positive light.
• Detail oriented and responsive, deadline-driven with strong quantitative reasoning skills.
• Delivers results against priorities proactively with little or no senior input.
• Apple search experience (preferred but not required).

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.