Associate Program Director

About the role

WPP Production Health Studios 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Drive the identification and realization of business growth opportunities within the existing client relationship, including new therapeutic areas, service offerings, or market segments.

Qualifications

• 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.