Manager, Organic Performance in Manchester

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

Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision-making and experiences through media, content, and technology. Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together.

The Organic Performance Manager’s role is the operational lead on their accounts, responsible for the smooth day-to-day delivery of high-quality SEO work, and to deliver world-class client service, creating strong relationships with our brands.

Candidates should have a proven track record in organic search and online marketing, supported by an understanding of campaign and digital content marketing, and possess an expert-level understanding of how AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and generative search experiences are reshaping the search ecosystem.

In this role, you will:

• Main day-to-day contact with clients in the delivery of the SEO strategy, demonstrating an enterprising and pro-active attitude to all aspects of the project delivery, including proactively integrating AI-driven insights and adapting to generative search trends.
• Have a deep understanding of the client’s business, brand, sector, competitors, and audiences, with a keen awareness of how AI and LLMs influence their market and consumer behaviour.
• Ensure all client requests are met and surpassed in a timely, professional, and efficient manner, with client expectation managed effectively, especially in the context of rapidly evolving search technologies.
• Responsible for setting up, preparing and the delivery of regular client status meetings and reports, including analysis of generative search performance and AI-driven optimisations.
• Responsible for the management and delivery of client SEO work such as advanced on-site optimisation, comprehensive technical audits (identifying opportunities and challenges posed by AI indexing and generative content), and sophisticated reporting that includes the impact of AI and LLMs.
• Work closely with the Organic Performance Director to understand and proactively manage client short, medium, and long-term objectives and expectations, developing strategies that capitalise on emerging AI and generative search capabilities.
• Lead the integration of AI-powered tools and LLMs into daily SEO workflows, ensuring their effective and responsible use for content optimisation, keyword research, competitive analysis, and performance forecasting.
• Act as a contributor to the subject on AI in search for clients and internal teams, providing strategic guidance and training.

Skills and Experience

• SEO Strategy and Project Management: Independently manage deliverables for our clients and ensure everything is of industry-leading quality. Applies best practices to campaign management and acts as the escalation point for issues. Manages and takes ownership of projects from start to completion, maintaining accurate pipeline and campaign information across all key systems. Delivers accurate reports with value-added insights and actionable findings to improve performance. Monitors performance through Google analytics, Google Search Console and performance dashboards, and tracks this performance against forecasts.
• Commercial Acumen: Completes the finance process for all assigned clients, including carrying out regular budget management checks. Ensures exceptional finance management by accurately completing the WPP finance process for clients including any required booking and reconciling activity within deadline and addressing finance queries. Demonstrates a deep understanding of the financial impact of decisions/solutions, including the ROI and cost-effectiveness of integrating AI and LLM technologies into SEO strategies, to drive projects and analyses that support the organization’s mission. Understands all third-party costs for each client and ensures that these costs are not exceeded at any point.
• Data Analysis: Devises new methods and procedures for collecting data, especially in relation to generative search insights and AI model outputs. Performs complex data analyses and presents findings on the underlying principles, reasons or facts, including how AI is influencing user behaviour and search results. Guides others to critically analyse client and performance data and acts as a subject matter expert on outcome models, including predictive analytics powered by AI. Takes ownership for data being sourced accurately and the integrity of conclusions drawn by the team, with a critical eye on potential biases or inaccuracies from AI-generated data or insights.
• Tools Proficiency: Demonstrates an understanding of complex offerings and tailors solutions to meet the unique needs of the customer. Demonstrates advanced understanding of products, technologies, and offerings, including but not limited to AI-powered keyword research tools, LLM-based content generation and optimisation platforms, advanced technical SEO analysis tools (e.g., for crawl budget optimisation influenced by AI), generative search monitoring tools, AI-driven analytics, and automation tools. Coaches other junior colleagues in building their knowledge and effective application of these advanced tools. Leverages knowledge of competitors’ products and services as well as their strengths and weaknesses to compare choices, especially in the context of their AI adoption in search.
• Practice Area Knowledge: Utilises expert understanding of practice area/industry terminology, industry players, and key performance indicators to draw conclusions. Remains aware of rapid practice/industry changes, challenges and findings; proactively integrates insights from AI, LLMs, and generative search developments for client benefit. Serves as an expert on how products/services/systems are applied across a particular practice area/industry; recommends the best options for the business, particularly those leveraging AI technologies. Effectively guides junior team members on the technicalities of the platform/system and best practice application, including responsible AI use in SEO. Develops and nurtures relationships with relevant stakeholders and industry thought leaders to maximise their value and stay ahead of the AI-driven curve.
• Problem Solving: Uses critical questioning and maintains a broad perspective when analysing information to gain a deeper understanding of the problem and wider impact, especially when diagnosing performance shifts influenced by AI algorithms or generative search results. Quickly generates appropriate and innovative solutions, often leveraging AI-driven insights and previous experience to anticipate future challenges. Understands how to resolve escalated issues and supports others to problem solve, acting as the authority on AI-related SEO challenges. Supports or leads troubleshooting communication for issues, effectively explaining complex SEO/AI/LLM related problems and solutions.
• Stakeholder Relationships: Has an expert knowledge of client and agency structures. Can identify key decision makers and understand their perspectives, which is used to build relationships. Has strong knowledge of the client sector/industry, which is shared to build strategies and plans, providing foresight on how AI and generative search will impact their market. Identifies strategic issues and raises questions to help stakeholders explore and understand their wider business challenges, proposing AI-driven solutions. Can easily suggest business solutions to match client/stakeholder needs and achieve objectives, demonstrating how advanced technologies can deliver competitive advantage.
• Effective Communication: Breaks down complex technical information, including intricate AI concepts, LLM mechanics, and generative search implications, into understandable language, guiding others on best practice. Uses knowledge and expertise to generate comprehendible, broadly-applicable communications, translating AI-driven data into strategic narratives. Designs differentiated communications (content focus, style, presentation, etc.) for various internal and external audiences based on an understanding of their differing levels of familiarity, skillfully explaining the impact of AI and generative search to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Attends client and agency meetings to present, leading discussions on the future of search and the role of AI in client SEO success strategies.

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.

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