Associate Director - Programmatic

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.

About WPP Media 

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com. 

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

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values: 

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity. 
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust. 
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise. 

Role Summary and Impact

As part of our Global Operations Centre (GOC), you will partner with teams across the U.S., Europe, and Asia to deliver high-performance programmatic media solutions across multiple DSPs and channels.

You will lead strategy, execution, and optimization of display, video, native, CTV,  and emerging programmatic formats—ensuring global best practices are upheld while tailoring strategies to local market needs. This is a role for a programmatic expert who thrives at the intersection of data, technology, and media activation.

 

Skillset requirement:

Programmatic Strategy & Leadership

• Serve as the global lead for programmatic activation across all buying platforms.
• Develop strategies that leverage audience targeting, contextual intelligence, and dynamic creative optimization (DCO).
• Represent GOC in all programmatic-focused agency/market interactions, ensuring flawless communication and delivery.

Campaign Activation & Optimization

• Oversee setup, QA, optimization, and pacing of campaigns across DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon DSP, Yahoo DSP, and other platforms.
• Implement structured testing across formats, creatives, and bidding strategies.
• Optimize toward CPA, ROAS, reach, or other KPIs using both manual levers and automated bidding.

Data, Measurement & Insights

• Partner with analytics teams to build custom dashboards and reporting frameworks.
• Apply multi-touch attribution, brand lift studies, and incrementality testing to evaluate performance.
• Ensure consistent taxonomy, naming conventions, and tracking across markets.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Collaborate with market teams, creative partners, and platform reps to drive programmatic innovation.
• Guide local markets in adapting global programmatic playbooks while allowing for regional flexibility.

Operational Excellence

• Design SOPs for campaign workflows, QA, and optimization standards.
• Ensure compliance with brand safety, viewability, fraud prevention, and privacy regulations.
• Lead integration of automation tools, AI optimizers, and API-based workflows.

Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of programmatic traders and specialists, fostering growth in emerging areas like CTV and programmatic audio.
• Encourage certification completion (e.g., DV360, The Trade Desk Edge Academy, Amazon DSP).

Innovation & Growth

• Identify new inventory, data partners, and technology opportunities to expand programmatic capabilities.
• Lead tests on new formats such as AR-enabled display, retail media programmatic, and shoppable video.

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years in digital marketing with a strong focus on programmatic media.
• Hands-on expertise in DV360, The Trade Desk, Amazon DSP, and other major buying platforms.
• Strong understanding of data onboarding, audience segmentation, and DMP/CDP integrations.
• Experience managing large budgets across multi-market, multi-channel programmatic campaigns.
• Proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, and data visualization/reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to train and scale high-performing teams.
• Analytical, solution-oriented mindset with excellent communication skills.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits 

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include 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 are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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. 

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.