Associate Director, Activation

WPP Media Limited; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advertising services firm in the United Kingdom seeks an Associate Director for the Activation team. The role involves managing campaign activations, mentoring team members, and ensuring excellent client outcomes. Candidates should have solid experience in ad operations and strong leadership skills, with a data-driven approach to problem-solving. The position offers competitive benefits and a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Competitive medical insurance

Group retirement plans

Significant paid time off

Employee mental health awareness days

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in digital broadcasting or programmatic spaces.
• Strong background in managing advertising operations and teams.
• In-depth knowledge of data-driven activation practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage campaign pacing and team performance.
• Lead end-to-end campaign activation for Tier 1 clients.
• Oversee demand forecasting and client outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Ad Operations

Data Analysis

Communication

Problem Solving

Tools

Excel

Programmatic Tech Platforms

Job description

Join to apply for the Associate Director, Activation role at WPP Media.

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.

Role Summary And Impact

The Activation Associate Director is a pivotal senior position within the Nexus Media Solution Activation team, responsible for managing both people and advertising operations to achieve client and business objectives. This role involves leading a top‑tier team, excelling in activation expertise, to deliver Nexus Media Solutions. Additionally, the Associate Director oversees weekly and monthly forecasting of demand and supply. Reporting to an Activation Director, this role encompasses leadership of a dedicated agency/business segment and guidance of both onshore and offshore activation specialists.

Activation Excellence & Delivery

• Oversee campaign pacing and performance within your team's remit.
• Oversee successful end‑to‑end campaign activation for your assigned GroupM Nexus Media Solutions portfolio.
• Serve as the primary stakeholder for key projects, overseeing their execution across the team.
• Guide and coach the activation team to deliver client outcomes.
• Oversee and coordinate the campaign lifecycle for Tier 1 clients, ensuring the team effectively handles setup, optimisation, and reporting to achieve client goals.
• Support Client Leadership and Client Services to meet KPIs.
• Act as the voice of activation, offering programmatic expertise.
• Lead business projects to enhance solutions and servicing.
• Provide escalation support and technical troubleshooting for your assigned GroupM Nexus Media Solutions portfolio.
• Report and raise conflicts where necessary between best practice and client requirements.
• Advocate for data‑driven, multi‑channel best practices.
• Collaborate with Client Services on targeting recommendations and forecasting.
• Implement data, AI, and analytics solutions with the Activation Director and Marketing Science.
• Contribute to AdTech Product Development with a focus on activation requirements.
• Handle troubleshooting and communication with technology partners.

Performance and Demand Management

• Oversee campaign pacing and performance, forecast demand, and manage margins.
• Guide the team in recommending and implementing optimisations to achieve campaign KPIs.
• Mentor the team in investigating and resolving delivery, performance issues and discrepancies.
• Foster collaborative practices with internal and Operations teams to enhance client performance.
• Key stakeholder in monthly and weekly forecasting of demand and supply, in partnership with NMS and Group M Premium Supply.
• Conduct detailed analysis for monthly and weekly ADTV demand forecasts, communicate critical information to stakeholders, and manage issues, including portfolio management involving multiple clients and supply points.

Processes and Operational Efficiencies

• Collaborate with the Director, Activation to refine processes and best practices, enhancing quality, efficiency, and accuracy across campaigns.
• Ensure your team adheres to established activation controls and best practices.
• Drive quality and efficiency through automation, offshoring, and specialist training and certification among others.
• Work with Associate Directors and stakeholders for cross‑vertical and agency knowledge sharing.
• Deploy data, AI, and analytics in collaboration with Nexus Associate Directors to elevate campaign results.
• Integrate onshore and offshore hubs to ensure seamless collaboration in delivering client campaigns.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and training, ensuring processes and best practices are well‑documented and accessible.
• Monitor campaign delivery using available systems, addressing recurring issues within your team.
• Coordinate with internal teams to align business processes with activation team needs and ensure compliance.
• Collaborate with Marketing Science and data teams to implement data, AI, and analytics solutions.
• Approve supplier reconciliations from across the agency Patch.

Team & Culture

• Act as the escalation point for your agency "patch", providing your team with support for troubleshooting, technical assistance, and serving as a liaison for your agency teams.
• Mentor team members and manage their performance.
• Uphold high standards of behaviour and professionalism.
• Collaborate effectively with Nexus UK for campaign success.
• Focus on team career development, training and continuous improvement towards their goals.
• Oversee effective management of onshore and offshore teams and resources to achieve business objectives.
• Handle recruitment, onboarding, and training processes for new team members.
• Ensure your team maintains up‑to‑date market and technical knowledge, including platform certification.
• Drive accountability with clear performance KPIs.
• Foster a "one team" ethos with GroupM for client growth, locally and regionally.
• Encourage a culture of curiosity and learning through partner engagements.

Skills And Experience

• 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 Mobilise the Enterprise.
• Proven leadership in digital broadcasting and/or programmatic spaces.
• Strong background in Ad Operations with team management experience.
• In‑depth knowledge of programmatic tech platforms including DMPs, DSPs, SSPs, and brand safety tools.
• Expertise in video advertising and understanding of related metrics.
• Proficiency in digital cross‑channel operations and data utilisation from planning to insight generation.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills with the ability to communicate findings effectively.
• Preferred experience with offshore team collaboration.
• Data‑driven approach to enhance team performance in activation practices.
• Excellent communication skills at all organisational levels.
• Skilled in building and maintaining relationships to meet client needs.
• Ability to simplify complex technical concepts for a non‑technical audience.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities with a proactive mindset.
• Initiative‑taking self‑starter open to seeking and offering help.
• Highly organised with exceptional time‑management 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 particular 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 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) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Business Development and Sales

Industries

Advertising Services