Associate Director, Commerce, UK in Manchester

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.

As an eCommerce Associate Director, you will be responsible for the coordination and delivery of your client accounts across platforms whilst operating as the main campaign activation point of contact for our clients. Utilising platform expertise and account management practices, you’ll ensure effective management of projects to brief, schedule and budget. Ultimately, you’ll work to deliver industry-leading eCommerce campaigns which exceed our clients’ expectations.

The role will involve line management of more junior members of the team, overseeing their work and development to successfully deliver to client expectations. You will have the opportunity to work across well-known brands with a desire for innovation and growth, within a truly collaborative agency model with great opportunities for continued cross-media and performance marketing learning.

Measures of success:

• Proven to be the day-to-day lead for client contacts as well as internal stakeholders.
• Overseen the team’s workflow management, from brief to post-campaign analysis, striving for operational effectiveness.
• Ensured that client objectives and KPI targets are understood and optimised towards every day.
• Proposed short and long-term optimisations to develop the accounts and deliver improved performance.
• Challenged inherited ways of working with your own ideas for improvement.

In 12 months, you would have:

• Gained a complete understanding of the clients’ business and their needs, and shaped the eCommerce strategy in line with it, whilst incorporating industry developments and market changes.
• Become an extension of the clients’ teams, providing added value for eCommerce and beyond.
• Shown to be proactive, and a real driver who inspires direct reports.

Responsibilities of the role:

• Responsibility for the output of your team, both client facing and operational, and accountability for adherence to controls and best practices.
• Strategic understanding of the clients’ business and KPIs, keeping up to date with latest industry news and proactively spotting trends, product releases, and other opportunities which could enhance our activity.
• Maintain a forward thinking and innovative approach in the development of all activity.
• Develop strong relationships with your client and key suppliers, leading team communications with these stakeholders.
• Take responsibility for your team’s development and career progression within the agency.
• Play an active role in recruitment and interviewing processes to build strong teams.
• Communication lead with the client contacts, media partners and internal stakeholders with the support of the Senior Associate Director when required.
• Contribute to the development of strategic revenue and services opportunities.

Skills and experience:

• In-depth understanding of eCommerce campaign set-up, management, optimisation and reporting across media owner and technology vendor platforms.
• Excellent understanding of the strategic and tactical application of eCommerce and digital marketing in general.
• Proven project management, leadership and people management experience.

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.