About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is about leading strategic partnerships to enhance WPP Media's AI-driven media operations. You'll be responsible for fostering collaboration and leveraging data to drive innovation and growth, primarily working with internal teams and external partners. It's a senior-level position focused on strategy rather than day-to-day execution.

Good fit

Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in strategic partnerships, particularly in media or technology sectors, and a strong understanding of AI and data analytics. A collaborative mindset and a passion for innovation are essential.

Worth noting

The role emphasizes a shift towards AI and data-driven strategies, which may appeal to those looking to be at the forefront of industry transformation. However, the focus on collaboration and innovation may require a tolerance for ambiguity and change.

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.

Director, Strategic Partnerships

About WPP Media

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, AI, Data, People and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit www.wppmedia.com

The UK is the largest market within the WPP Media EMEA region, with over 4,500 people employed within the WPP Media ecosystem. Marquee UK key clients include the likes of Amazon, UK Government, BT, Tesco, Coca Cola, Bayer, Dell, Unilever, M&S, Ford, Nestle, Mazda, Danone and Colgate. We have a bold ambition: to make WPP Media UK the undisputed leader in our industry. We are evolving our business operating model, our ways of working and placing data, technology and AI at the heart of everything we do for our people and our clients.

ONE WPP – Vision '30

Join us in shaping the future of our industry with Vision '30 – our ambitious strategy to lead in the AI era. We are revolutionizing our business to unlock limitless growth opportunities for our clients and ourselves, built on four core priorities:

Collaboration: Foster unprecedented levels of data collaboration across WPP and partners through WPP Open, turning every channel into a smarter opportunity.
Data & Technology: Leverage our AI-powered Open Intelligence solution, connecting vast data to uncover unique insights, deliver predictive performance and superior brand experiences through our globally consistent DPAM process.
Innovation: Drive true innovation by generating intelligence from trillions of privacy-by-default data points, focusing on the 'why' behind customer behaviour to create unparalleled competitive advantages.
People: Developing future-ready talent involves evolving our focus from traditional media planning to strategic business outcomes, advanced technology and real-time measurable results, as AI increasingly automates media investment by 2030

We empower ambitious experts to deliver extraordinary work by challenging ordinary thinking. If you are passionate about an AI-driven future, thrive in a collaborative and data-centric environment, and are driven to deliver unparalleled growth, we invite you to be part of our transformative journey.

WPP Media is a single client centric company with a portfolio of go to market brands. Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, Mindshare and T&P are our agency teams, these house multiple local and global clients. In addition, we have a number of client specific brands built to service specific clients. These include OpenDoor (Amazon), MFG (Google), OpenMind (Nestle), OpenConnect (BT/EE) and Media Futures Group (Google). All of these teams are supported by consistent capabilities, enterprise level tools and systems and our market leading OPEN platform.

Role Summary and Impact

The Director is a key role within WPP Media, responsible for leading a defined area of the business and ensuring leadership and operational excellence through effective planning and execution. They translate broader functional priorities into practical action, delivering results through others and driving improvements across processes, client service and commercial performance. This role requires strong leadership, sound judgment and the ability to manage complexity within a clearly defined area of responsibility.

Capability Description

As Director, Strategic Partnerships, you will own the day-to-day relationship, governance and commercial delivery for an assigned set of strategic partners and a defined slice of WPP Media's data & technology partner ecosystem. You'll work closely with the VP, Strategic Partnerships and senior internal stakeholders, but the operational and commercial ownership of your portfolio sits with you.

You will be the person who decides how a partner plan gets delivered for your partners, you track and are responsible for the value being extracted, and who represents partnership priorities into agency and client teams. You'll also manage partner implementation, tracking investment and value, and support making the call on which partnerships matter for WPP’s Open platform.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Data and Technology Partner Ecosystem Support

Own management of a defined portfolio within WPP Media's data and technology partner ecosystem.

Manage implementation of partner plans for your portfolio, holding internal stakeholders accountable to priorities, timelines and deliverables.

Own tracking and reporting of partner investment and value delivery for your portfolio, with clear visibility for the VP on progress and outcomes.

Lead data strategy and client teams in identifying and recommending the right data and technology partnerships for their needs.

Manage procurement and partner administration processes for your portfolio end-to-end.

Skills and Experience

Experience in strategic partnerships, commercial roles, business development or client-facing roles within the media, advertising or technology sectors

Strong understanding of the media and digital advertising landscape

Experience supporting joint plans, partnership activity or cross-functional commercial programmes

Skills & Tags
go rust ai data marketing

Aplyr's read

WPP Media (GroupM) is a powerhouse in advertising, attracting professionals who thrive in dynamic, global marketing environments.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•GroupM offers a diverse range of roles across strategy, data, and creative fields.
•The company is part of WPP, providing access to a vast network of global resources.
•Strong focus on digital and programmatic advertising aligns with market trends.

What to watch

•High-pressure environment may not suit those seeking work-life balance.
•Complex organizational structure can lead to bureaucratic challenges.
•Frequent restructuring may cause job insecurity among employees.

Why WPP Media (GroupM)

•GroupM's scale allows for unparalleled access to global advertising data.
•Specialized roles in programmatic and digital media reflect cutting-edge industry practices.
•As part of WPP, GroupM benefits from a broad spectrum of marketing expertise.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About WPP Media (GroupM)

WPP Media (GroupM)

wpp.com

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WPP plc is a British multinational advertising and public relations company, known for providing a wide range of marketing and communications services.