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Overview
Mid-Level

Director, Retail Media

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

VML (Wunderman Thompson)

VML (Wunderman Thompson)

Compensation

$75,000 - $180,000/year

Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Hybrid
Posted April 20, 2026

Job Description

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

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. For more information, visit WPP.com.

Who We Are Looking For

The Director is responsible for leading the day-to-day retail media strategy and buying across key agency clients. The Director is both the primary client contact and the leader responsible for holding the media team accountable for delivering strong performance against KPIs like ROAS, sales lift, and market share. The Director will bring the latest trends in Retail Media Network (RMN) strategy and thought leadership, including advancements in closed-loop measurement, and artificial intelligence to their accounts and team members to drive innovation. This role reports to the Group Director.

 

What You'll Do

  • Act as the retail media strategy lead on 3-5 key client accounts, serving as the senior point of contact for all retail media initiatives.
  • Grow and develop team members by providing regular, actionable, and motivating feedback that supports strengths and identifies areas for growth.
  • Lead oversight of all aspects of retail media investment, including budget pacing and management, performance reporting, and financial reconciliation.
  • Oversee retail media activation strategy, including campaign structure, keyword strategy, bidding optimization, and a rigorous test-and-learn agenda across sponsored search, display, and DSP placements.
  • Manage full-funnel campaigns on key RMNs (e.g., Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, Instacart) to achieve KPI targets.
  • Present directly to clients, gaining their trust by telling a concise and compelling story around retail media performance, insights, and strategic recommendations.
  • Partner with integrated account teams to connect retail media strategy with broader commerce objectives, including digital shelf optimization, inventory planning, and promotions.
  • Provide thought leadership to the agency and clients to educate and inspire innovation in the rapidly evolving retail media space.
  • Institute rigor for test-and-learn capabilities across RMNs, ad formats, and audience tactics to drive continuous improvement.
  • Stay at the forefront of the retail media landscape, presenting new RMNs, ad products, and measurement solutions to help clients achieve their objectives.

 

Who You Are

  • An empathetic leader who builds trust with clients and fosters a supportive, growth-oriented environment for team members.
  • A strategic and analytical thinker who leverages data, curiosity, and consumer insights to solve complex challenges and optimize campaign performance.
  • A forward-thinking innovator comfortable with ambiguity, ready to champion new retail media trends, test-and-learn approaches, and bold strategies.

 

What You'll Need

  • 8+ years of experience in digital media, wit
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