Global Director, Programmatic

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.

About EssenceMediacom

This role is within EssenceMediacom, a leading brand within WPP Media, where you will be instrumental in driving breakthroughs for the world’s best brands through data-driven media and creative strategies.

About the role

As a Global Director, Programmatic, you will guide and direct the programmatic buying team, including Associate Directors, Managers, and a team of new and experienced programmatic specialists executing campaigns across multiple channels, platforms, and devices such as video, mobile, social, display, and native advertising. You will lead cross-departmental work streams and communication with Strategy, Planning, Direct Investment, and Analytics to facilitate best-in-class execution and service to clients. In addition to team leadership, you will contribute to practice-level thought leadership and be responsible for higher-level programmatic deliverables such as SWOTs, QBRs, POVs, and account-level programmatic roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Provide programmatic leadership to Associate Directors, Managers, and junior staff.
• Collaborate with the Data Science and Analytics team to develop measurement plans for tactical recommendations.
• Continuously expand the knowledge base and improve our Programmatic offerings.
• Lead account-level programmatic roadmap creation in lockstep with the Data Science teams.
• Partner with our client and agency brand teams to drive their understanding of programmatic and its advantages, and our capabilities to grow the adoption of programmatic as part of a holistic measurement plan that aligns optimizable media and brand metrics.
• Develop, apply, and share standard methodologies for desk operations, communications, campaign management, cross-departmental coordination (finance, ad ops, etc.), measurement planning, and reporting.
• Help lead overall development of desk-level programmatic buying strategies; leadership of programmatic specialists; evaluation and identification of optimal partners (tech, data, media).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Analytics, Marketing, Communications, Advertising; OR equivalent professional work experience.
• 7+ years of progressively senior/technical experience in programmatic, ad operations, or biddable media on the media owner, agency (preferred), or ad tech side.
• Hands-on experience with ad technologies including data management platforms, DSPs, SSPs, ad-verification, and third-party data providers.
• Familiarity with viewability measurement (MOAT, IAS, DoubleVerify) and audience measurement (Nielsen DAR).
• Practical experience with ad-serving solutions, tag management, and operations is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with Media Mix Modeling or attribution modeling is advantageous.
• Strong analytical abilities and quantitative skills, including math proficiency.

Life at WPP Media

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 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.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Group retirement plans.
• Significant paid time off.
• Preferential partner discounts.
• Employee mental health awareness days.

Pay

US Pay Range: $100,000 - $230,000 USD

Schedule

Hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week.