Associate Program Director

This job is with WPP Production, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

About WPP Production: We are WPP Production - the unified global production company that brings together all of WPP's content producers, studios and craft experts into one connected organisation. We combine world-class human craft with next generation technology to originate, design, and deliver multi-channel content systems at scale.

About WPP: WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

A Hybrid working model: 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.

What does an Associate Program Director do at WPP Production? WPP Production Health Studios (a division of WPP) is seeking an Associate Program Director in a client-facing account management role who will oversee team activities for the Oncology therapeutic area. As an Associate Program Director at WPP Production Health Studios, you are a senior executive leader responsible for the holistic ownership of a major group of clients, business growth, and the cultivation of enduring, high-level client partnerships. You will operate as the primary strategic interface for WPP Production with C-suite and executive client stakeholders, defining the long-term vision and roadmap for our engagement. Your mandate is to ensure WPP Production is embedded as an indispensable trusted partner for derivative content and production.

This role combines profound business acumen, executive-level relationship management and the team leadership driving successful program delivery across the Therapeutic Area book of business. Ideally, you will have experience leading and thriving in an agile and collaborative work environment. You will have worked on complex production delivery projects/campaigns, inclusive of all project elements and phases from inception to completion while remaining cool under pressure. You must be collaborative and a proactive problem solver with the skills to manage fast-moving projects with many moving pieces and various client relationships. You have a constant eye to standardizing ways of working and improving upon existing processes. You have a proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop a team of senior professionals (Client Partner Leads), fostering a culture of high performance and continuous innovation. You enjoy mentoring and/or supervising Client Partner Leads and Client Partners when necessary. Responsible for building the team and cultivating a strong team dynamic. You are familiar with the complexities and regulations within pharma marketing content and its production. You consider yourself a team leader, able to set the vision and priorities for the team while driving team success. The Associate Program Director will primarily sit on-site with the team/clients in Titusville, NJ and/or Horsham, PA. 2-3 days a week onsite required.

Responsibilities

• Executive Client Leadership: Own and cultivate strategic, C-suite relationships with key client decision-makers, positioning WPP Production as a critical business partner and thought leader. Define and articulate the long-term vision, roadmap, and growth strategy for WPP Production's partnership with the client, identifying and securing significant new business and transformational initiatives. Proactively identify client challenges and market opportunities, driving the development and adoption of innovative WPP Production solutions, technologies, and services to meet evolving client needs and expand our footprint. Identify, assess, and mitigate high-level strategic risks to the program's P&L, overall client relationship, and WPP Production's strategic objectives.
• Strategic Program Oversight & Innovation: Provide high-level guidance and oversight for the successful coordination and execution of all production projects across the assigned Oncology therapeutic area, ensuring operational excellence and high-quality, compliant deliverables. Take a holistic approach to program management, driving standardization of ways of working and continuous process improvement. Serve as an intermediate and second level of escalation for Client Partner Leads' accounts, providing expert guidance and problem resolution for complex project-level challenges. Collaborate with the Client Service Lead and Operations & Readiness Manager to align client expectations with metrics, establish forecasting frameworks, and monitor team performance against operational and growth KPIs.
• Team & Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Client Partner Leads and Client Partners, providing guidance, performance oversight, and empowering career development. Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, continuous improvement, and client-centricity across the entire program team, attracting and retaining top talent. Oversee talent planning, resource allocation, and organizational design to ensure optimal team structure and performance.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Represent WPP Production as an industry expert, leveraging deep market intelligence and competitive insights to inform program strategy and contribute to WPP Production's broader business objectives. Collaborate with WPP Production's senior leadership, product development, and other internal stakeholders to ensure service offerings meet future client demands. Step in to represent the VP, Client Services when available and needed, confidently speaking across all disciplines for WPP Production Health Studios and escalating strategic challenges with proposed solutions to the leadership team. Share accountability for the multi-million dollar P&L of a major client Therapeutic Area, including brand revenue forecasting, budgeting, strategic financial planning, and profitability management. Drive the identification and realization of business growth opportunities within the existing client relationship, including new therapeutic areas, service offerings, or market segments.

Who You Are

• A Team Builder: You possess an entrepreneurial attitude and strong business acumen, with an innate ability to rally people and create gravity around innovative ideas.
• A Pharma Marketing Expert: You understand the complexities and regulations within pharma marketing content and production.
• A Champion of Culture: You actively foster individual growth, professional skill-building, and employee happiness, emphasizing retention at both the business and personnel levels.
• A Proactive Problem-Solver: You exhibit strong problem-solving skills, anticipate production challenges, and possess proficiency in conflict resolution, always upholding fiscal responsibility and ethical standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements: 8+ years of progressive client-facing account and/or project/delivery management experience in advertising or marketing communications, with at least 4-5 years focused on managing digital and omnichannel campaigns (digital, social, print, video, etc.). Proven experience managing and overseeing large teams on significant client accounts. Proven track record in a client-service environment, including activating growth opportunities and presenting work/solutions to senior client stakeholders. Strong understanding and experience with design, development, and production processes for omnichannel delivery (website, print, email, social media, video). Demonstrated ability to present work and solutions effectively, influencing senior client stakeholders and internal leadership team members to align on priorities and cultivate strong partnerships. Expertise in maintaining fiscal responsibility and integrity across all projects, including ownership of forecasting and budget discipline for team accounts. Excellent attention to detail and strong written and verbal communication skills. High Emotional Intelligence (EQ) with the ability to understand and motivate team members. Proficiency in MS Office products. Availability to travel to the Titusville, NJ or Horsham, PA Offices on a 2-3 times a week hybrid schedule.

Preferred Qualifications: Pharmaceutical Focus (Desired): Familiarity with the complexities and regulations within pharma marketing content and its production, including an understanding of pharmaceutical review submissions, is a significant plus. Technical Acumen: Good understanding of design, development, and production for omnichannel delivery, including web standards, user-centered design, optimization, and search practices. Software Proficiency: Proficiency in Adobe, MS Office products and familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud). Solid understanding of emerging web standards, user-centered design, optimization, and search practices. Interest in industry and emerging trends, including application of AI and technology to support team efforts. Familiarity with both traditional production workflows and Agile/Omnichannel methodologies.

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $75,000 to $180,000. Individual compensation varies based on job related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package.

Inclusion and Impact: WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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.