Programmatic Senior Executive

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 [wppmedia.com]. 2994 - Programmatic and Social Lead - GCS Role Summary and Impact MGM is a legacy Hollywood studio now operating as a subsidiary of Amazon, which acquired the company for $8.5 billion in 2022 and merged it with Amazon Studios. Today, it functions as a premium film and television production label, blending its historic legacy with Amazon's massive streaming platform. MGM releases multiple blockbuster films throughout the year.  Role Context:  * The Programmatic Director provides day-to-day leadership to their direct team across both London and Poland, and the client. You will ensure on-going and timely optimization is delivered whilst constantly looking for opportunities to deliver and improve campaign performance. This role takes the lead on delivering programmatic and paid social excellence for our clients and spearheading innovation both from in-house managed campaigns and via partners and 3rd parties  Key Responsibilities:  Campaign Management  * Oversee and ensure best-in-class campaign activation across relevant accounts, ensuring campaigns are operating at the highest standard and delivering highest quality output for our clients.   * Manage and develop a team of programmatic and social specialists based in Poland.  * Identify data, technology and tools and media sources that can be used to power performance and negotiate and manage these partners to deliver success.  * Work with WPP Media to drive through best practice from across the group into our programmatic outputs  * Adapt and establish processes, templates etc for campaigns management, optimisation and reporting approaches for key trading tactics and optimisation logs.  * Escalation points for your direct team on activation issues and challenges and any conflict between best practice and client requirements and asks  * Be involved in tracking and technical elements of campaign delivery (including mobile campaigns and MMPs), owning project areas as appropriate  * Ensure flawless activation and own/manage topline QA processes  Client and Partner Management  * Responsibility of client interaction and the success of the relationship, with a focus on nurturing key strategic relationship, and team operations/deliverables  * Agree and set business objectives for each campaign and review performance against these objectives   * Create/design programmatic strategy for client portfolio, ensuring strategy is clear and most appropriate to the client's objectives, KPIs and clients industry  * Drive revenue growth through spotting new optimisation opportunities, services or products and delivering excellent results.  * Develop strong relationships with media owners and other service providers to guide team in developing their understanding of the ecosystem.   * Drive understanding of the products and solutions that could be relevant for clients that have been developed within the group.    People Management  * Line management of Associate Social Director  * The ability to manage, motivate and train individuals, in line with business requirements, resource, and development needs  * Ensure individuals workloads are managed and prioritised in line with client needs and SLAs  * To have identified training requirements with Line Manager, and a formal plan for delivery over 12 months  * To be responsible for the team’s development (their 360’s, and task & objectives), and to be tied into their own objectives  * Highlight great teamwork, and client initiatives. Demonstrate examples of Programmatic best practice to the wider team, and contribute to department and wider agency PR and communications   Operational Excellence  * The appropriate use of tools to drive accountability in programmatic buying, operational efficiencies, and actionable business insights, with the scoping of agreed client outputs.  * Ensure financial accuracy, integrating the planning and buying process, and reconciliation of spends, including client terms and programmatic fees, via buying templates and processes.  * Maintain standards and process throughout the end-to-end campaign lifecycle  * Develop productive relationships with key internal departments and help develop new revenue opportunities through matching client needs to resource and facilitate introductions.   * Understand and promote the function and value of the other departments within the Agency and its partners within the group   Skills & Experience   * Passionate about programmatic and paid social activation and driving continued excellence. With proven experience in programmatic multi-channel campaign activation and management.   * Experience in developing and leading client relationships  * Exceptional people management skills, including support and development of junior team members   * Confidence in core trading platforms, in particular DV360, TTD and Amazon.  * An understanding of how Programmatic can integrate with other digital and offline channels  * Ability to translate technical and complex points to non-technical audiences and coach others to do the same.  * Ability to develop and execute comprehensive testing roadmaps in the Programmatic space – audience, media, creative  * Experience working on mobile-focussed campaigns including tracking via an MMP   ABOUT YOU:  * Experience in programmatic media with a good level of expertise across programmatic display  * Strong understanding of paid social platform,s techniques and optimisation mechanisms  * Strong understanding of how display works within the performance and digital ecosystem.  * Experience of setting up a programmatic buying unit.  * Working knowledge of best practices within display.  * Strategic understanding of how performance media can be leveraged to drive business growth  * Hands-on experience in planning, buying and optimising across all channels is useful.  * Ability to set appropriate performance centric KPIs and evaluate activity against these and understand the role of secondary KPIs and how they support media activation.  * Working knowledge of key tracking solutions.  * Proven people management and leadership qualities.  * Ability to manage upwards as well as downwards.  * Possesses initiative and demonstrates resourcefulness.  * All academic backgrounds will be considered – qualifications in maths, data, media of interest.  * Professional digital media/advertising qualifications will be of an advantage.  * Excellent organisational and communication skills.     Life at WPP Media & Benefits  Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to 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  Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy] for more information on how we process the information you provide.    While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.     #LI-Promoted    Please read our Privacy Notice [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy#:~:text=WPP%20Media%20Privacy%20Notice%20for%20Recruitment] for more information on how we process the information you provide.

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 [wppmedia.com]. 3002 - Digital Planning Manager - GCS Role Summary and Impact ABOUT WPP & OPENDOOR  At WPP, we're constantly reinventing the future of creativity on an ever-broader canvas, bringing together unrivalled talent, resources and skills to provide an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce and technology.  Over the last decade, we have developed a dedicated global client practice with the mission of accelerating WPP's impact for our largest clients by bringing them the best of WPP. Each team is custom-built around a client's specific needs and challenges, providing easy access to the right capabilities. And that's why we've built OpenDoor for Amazon.  OpenDoor is a unique integration of the best of WPP and Amazon – building on their respective strengths and visions. Whether at WPP or at Amazon, every project is an OpenDoor on new possibilities. Anything and everything can be an opportunity for our people to drive impact – for them to innovate, learn, thrive, and occasionally fail too.  The unique OpenDoor partnership model is built to deliver next level Productivity, fueled by our industry-leading approach to People, Platforms, and Process. OpenDoor spans across all WPP agencies and disciplines such as media, business consultancy, communications and brand strategy, tech and commerce, public relations, and production.  OpenDoor's values are built from Amazon's own 16 Leadership Principles, and WPP's core values of Open, Optimistic and Extraordinary. Together, when WPP's Creative Transformation meets Amazon's next-level customer centricity, our people come together to challenge and impact what's done today and build a better future.  By joining OpenDoor, not only are you joining a cross-function team partnering with one of WPP's top five global clients, but you are also taking a step to challenge yourself and the world around you every day, working in the most unusual way on some of Earth's most ambitious opportunities in marketing, tech, media, business, and creativity.  ABOUT THE ROLE  We are searching for a talented, enthusiastic, and creative individual to join our OpenDoor team as Digital Planning Manager, MGM Theatrical. This is a full-time position based in London.  This role sits within the central digital and biddable hub for MGM — a team built to lead innovation, platform governance, and scalable digital campaign delivery across global markets. The hub works closely with central data and tech teams, local activation teams, and media partners to drive adoption of shared standards, ensure cross-market consistency, and continuously improve performance at scale.  This is an exciting time to join the account. MGM's theatrical slate is one of the most ambitious in the industry, and this team is primarily tasked with leading central trailer and content breaks and pan-regional partnerships — delivering media-first opportunities and genuinely unique campaigns that make movies matter to audiences worldwide.  The Digital Planning Manager is a genuinely multifaceted role. You will be a trusted, client-facing member of the team with regular direct contact, while also managing key media partner relationships from briefing through to post-campaign reporting. You will oversee the Digital Planning Executive, support the Digital Lead in delivering strategy and recommendations, and take ownership of campaign workstreams from start to finish. You will know your campaigns inside out and take real pride in the standard of your delivery.  This role reports into the Digital Lead.  RESPONSIBILITIES  Client Relationships & Communication  * Become a trusted day-to-day client contact, developing a genuine understanding of MGM's business and maintaining regular contact through weekly calls, campaign updates, and campaign performance reviews  * Contribute to client-facing outputs including campaign strategies, reporting, and digital planning recommendations — delivering clear, value-added insights  * Anticipate client needs and escalate risks or issues to the Digital Lead early   Media Partner Management  * Build and lead strong relationships with key media partners from briefing through to post-campaign reporting  * Stay close to platform developments and innovation opportunities, bringing relevant recommendations to the team and clients  * Support the Digital Lead in securing first-to-market opportunities, betas, and exclusive executions — and ensure markets benefit from global partnerships and added value  * Identify and bring forward media-first opportunities and innovative pan-regional partner executions unique to the entertainment and theatrical space   Strategy, Ideation & Planning  * Develop and deliver digital strategy and ideation that brings the MGM brief to life — thinking creatively across biddable channels, pan-regional partnerships, and central trailer and content breaks  * Contribute recommendations on channel mix, pacing, and budget allocation, and play an active role in trailer planning across the full theatrical release cycle  * Support KPI forecasting and measurement frameworks, and develop fluency in OpenDoor planning tools to train others on their use   Campaign Management, Taxonomy & Delivery  * Manage campaign workstreams end-to-end — from planning and trafficking through to QA, finance, reporting, and post-campaign analysis  * Own and maintain campaign taxonomy standards including naming conventions, campaign structures, and tagging hierarchies across all markets and platforms  * Ensure all campaigns are booked, reconciled, and delivered to the highest standard of accuracy within required deadlines  * Act as an escalation point for activation teams and local markets, troubleshooting issues with speed and precision   Local Market Coordination  * Support the Digital Lead in coordinating with local markets — ensuring global frameworks are correctly applied and adapted where genuine local nuance requires it  * Help facilitate market updates and ensure local teams can access the full value of global digital deals, partner relationships, and added value opportunities   Reporting & Performance  * Manage the reporting process with analytics teams, ensuring campaign performance reviews are delivered accurately and on time  * Deliver reporting outputs that go beyond the numbers — providing actionable recommendations and contributing to post-campaign learnings   People Management & Team Development  * Act as direct line manager to the Digital Planning Executive — managing their workload, supporting their development, and reinforcing high standards of accuracy and craft  * Manage upwards as well as downwards — keeping the Digital Lead informed and escalating appropriately  Skills and Experience * Experience in digital media, with a strong level of expertise in digital activations and working with media partners on multi-market campaigns  * Genuinely passionate about entertainment, movies, and the theatrical space — you understand what makes this category unique and bring that energy to your work  * Proven experience managing campaigns end-to-end, with a track record of accurate, high-quality delivery across paid social, programmatic, video, and/or display  * Strong project management skills with experience managing multiple workstreams simultaneously without letting standards slip  * Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail  * A creative thinker who enjoys ideation and can translate a client brief into genuinely exciting digital recommendations  * Proven people management and leadership qualities — comfortable being a direct line manager and developing junior talent  * Trusted and confident in a client-facing capacity — able to build relationships and manage expectations with professionalism  * Proactive, logical, and practical approach — knows when to act independently and when to escalate  * Ability to manage upwards as well as downwards   BONUS POINTS  * Experience working on theatrical, entertainment, or release-driven marketing campaigns  * Familiarity with Amazon Ads, AVOD ecosystems, or studio-aligned digital activation models  * Awareness of Amazon DSP (ADSP) and its application within entertainment and theatrical marketing  * Exposure to WPP Open or similar global operating platforms  * Experience with platform partnerships, beta testing, or innovation pipelines   Life at WPP Media & Benefits  Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to 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  Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy] for more information on how we process the information you provide.  While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.   #LI-Promoted  Please read our Privacy Notice [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy#:~:text=WPP%20Media%20Privacy%20Notice%20for%20Recruitment] for more information on how we process the information you provide.