Who We Are Looking ForThe Director is responsible for leading the day-to-day retail media strategy and buying across key agency clients. The Director is both the primary client contact and the leader responsible for holding the media team accountable for delivering strong performance against KPIs like ROAS, sales lift, and market share. The Director will bring the latest trends in Retail Media Network (RMN) strategy and thought leadership, including advancements in closed-loop measurement, and artificial intelligence to their accounts and team members to drive innovation. This role reports to the Group Director.
What You'll Do- Act as the retail media strategy lead on 3-5 key client accounts, serving as the senior point of contact for all retail media initiatives.
- Grow and develop team members by providing regular, actionable, and motivating feedback that supports strengths and identifies areas for growth.
- Lead oversight of all aspects of retail media investment, including budget pacing and management, performance reporting, and financial reconciliation.
- Oversee retail media activation strategy, including campaign structure, keyword strategy, bidding optimization, and a rigorous test-and-learn agenda across sponsored search, display, and DSP placements.
- Manage full-funnel campaigns on key RMNs (e.g., Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, Instacart) to achieve KPI targets.
- Present directly to clients, gaining their trust by telling a concise and compelling story around retail media performance, insights, and strategic recommendations.
- Partner with integrated account teams to connect retail media strategy with broader commerce objectives, including digital shelf optimization, inventory planning, and promotions.
- Provide thought leadership to the agency and clients to educate and inspire innovation in the rapidly evolving retail media space.
- Institute rigor for test-and-learn capabilities across RMNs, ad formats, and audience tactics to drive continuous improvement.
- Stay at the forefront of the retail media landscape, presenting new RMNs, ad products, and measurement solutions to help clients achieve their objectives.
Who You Are- An empathetic leader who builds trust with clients and fosters a supportive, growth-oriented environment for team members.
- A strategic and analytical thinker who leverages data, curiosity, and consumer insights to solve complex challenges and optimize campaign performance.
- A forward-thinking innovator comfortable with ambiguity, ready to champion new retail media trends, test-and-learn approaches, and bold strategies.
What You'll Need- 8+ years of experience in digital media, with at least 5 years focused specifically on retail media planning and activation within an agency or brand.
- Minimum 3 years of direct management experience.
- Expert understanding of the retail media ecosystem, including major RMNs (Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, etc.), their ad products (Sponsored Products, Brands, Display, DSP), and unique measurement capabilities.
- Proficiency with retail media management and optimization platforms (e.g., Pacvue, Skai, Perpetua).
- Strong analytical skills with a proven ability to interpret campaign data, leverage first-party retailer insights, and translate performance into actionable strategic recommendations.
- Expert presentation skills with the ability to articulate a compelling story to senior-level clients.
- Ability to be hands-on when needed, especially in relation to problem-solving and generating business solutions.
- Experience understanding the intersection of business strategy, consumer insights, and digital shopper behavior in grounding ideas.
- Powerful communication and presentation skills; technically and creatively proficient in presentation planning and development.
The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.
$75,000-$180,000 USD
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 an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
