Activation Snr Director (Digital Lead)

Description

OpenDoor I Regional XCM EU Activation Lead – Job Description

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

ABOUT WPP & OPENDOOR

At WPP, we’re constantly reinventing the future of creativity on an ever-broader canvas, bringing together unrivalled talent, resources and skills to provide an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce and technology.

Over the last decade, we have developed a dedicated global client practice with the mission of accelerating WPP’s impact for our largest clients by bringing them the best of WPP. Each team is custom-built around a client’s specific needs and challenges, providing easy access to the right capabilities. And that’s why we’ve built OpenDoor for Amazon .

OpenDoor is a unique integration of the best of WPP and Amazon – building on their respective strengths and visions. Whether at WPP or at Amazon, every project is an OpenDoor on new possibilities. Anything and everything can be an opportunity for our people to drive impact – for them to innovate, learn, thrive, and occasionally fail too.

The unique OpenDoor partnership model is built to deliver next level Productivity, fueled by our industry-leading approach to People, Platforms, and Process. OpenDoor spans across all WPP agencies and disciplines such as media, business consultancy, communications and brand strategy, tech and commerce, public relations, and production.

OpenDoor’s values are built from Amazon’s own 16 Leadership Principles , and WPP’s core values of Open, Optimistic and Extraordinary. Together, when WPP’s Creative Transformation meets Amazon’s next-level customer centricity, our people come together to challenge and impact what’s done today and build a better future.

By joining OpenDoor, not only are you joining a cross-function team partnering with one of WPP’s top five global clients, but you are also taking a step to challenge yourself and the world around you every day, working in the most unusual way on some of Earth’s most ambitious opportunities in marketing, tech, media, business, and creativity.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are searching for a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our OpenDoor team as a XCM EU Activation Lead. This is a Full-time position based in London. This role plays a crucial part in supporting WPP's mission to deliver consistency, delivery excellence and best in class service for Amazon in every country across XCM EU, Amazon’s Cross Channel Marketing.

This role creates an effective link between the Strategy & Planning teams and Activation. The XCM EU Activation Lead and their team ensures that comprehensive briefs are developed in collaboration with the strategy and planning teams and ensures that Implementational planning specialists and in platform experts meet clients’ expectations by achieving campaign KPI’s timely and through operational excellence. They are also developing and supporting the delivery of tasks such as reporting output, offer insights and recommendations across strategic planning and agency pitches.

This role would oversee the XCM EU Regional Hub Activation teams which includes staff in London working with a Poland nearshore team that will act as your team and closely with local markets who will plan offline and IO based market display/partnerships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Activation Leadership & Strategic Thinking :

• Develop and champion the OpenDoor XCM EU Activation vision, aligning with Amazon’s customer-centricity and WPP’s strategic objectives.
• Ensure high-quality delivery of XCM EU Regionall Hubbed Activation services (implementation, ad ops, reporting) adhering to SLAs and optimizing the Campaign Delivery Process.
• Contribute to the XCM EU transformation agenda, overseeing Activation's role in executing the strategic vision.
• Synthesize insights from biddable channels to inform strategic recommendations for clients.
• Provide expert guidance on digital investment and optimization strategies.
• Collaborate with Measurement teams to enhance data analytics frameworks for performance media.
• Lead the development and delivery of exceptional cross-channel activation plans for key campaigns.
• Drive digital learning initiatives across EU markets, introducing new products and data opportunities.
• Drive innovation in media activation, exploring new channels and technologies to maximize campaign performance.
• Ensure WPP solutions are integrated into all activation plans.

Team Management & Development:

• Oversee the XCM Activation teams in London, working in collaboration with a Poland nearshore team that will act as an extension of your Activation team, and closely with local markets who will plan offline and IO based market display/partnerships.
• Responsible for coordination of collaboration with nearshore Warsaw (Poland) for XCM EU
• Foster team growth, development, and a positive work environment.
• Manage large multi-market, networked and dynamic teams
• Manage team resources and budgets effectively, adhering to commercial agreements.

Client Relationship & Communication:

• Serve as a senior client contact for XCM digital strategy and activation, including in-house digital team
• Guide local markets in developing and integrating digital plans into a cohesive activation strategy and plans
• Act as a consultant to both clients and internal teams to improve activation strategies and contribute to industry thought leadership.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, providing strategic guidance.
• Address all digital client and internal inquiries effectively and efficiently.

Campaign Management & Execution:

• Collaborate with Regional Ops and LOB Leads to optimize delivery and scale operations across XCM EU.
• Partner with EU xLOB Activation Leadership to achieve client KPIs and drive activation excellence.
• Oversee digital planning across all disciplines, ensuring clear and integrated responses to briefs.
• Manage campaign performance, budgets, and bid strategies to achieve client goals.
• Analyze performance data to identify opportunities for campaign improvement and optimization.
• Ensure seamless translation of plans into effective activation strategies.
• Collaborate with the planning team to align strategic outputs with real-time performance data.
• Develop and implement standardized processes for audience targeting across platforms.
• Set digital KPIs and optimize budgets based on performance and opportunity.
• Challenge channel plans to ensure platform excellence.
• Manage all aspects of digital budget allocation and spending.
• Establish and enforce best practices for digital workflows with offshore hubs and onshore planning.
• Manage and optimize cross-channel brand safety, viewability, and attention metrics.
• Lead weekly reporting calls, ensuring data accuracy and insightful analysis.
• Manage analytics, data provisioning, and dashboarding teams to ensure timely delivery of insights.

Commercial & Financial Acumen:

• Ensure fulfillment of trading deals (including Nexus Media Solutions) and identify new revenue opportunities for Amazon and WPP.
• Oversee all digital aspects of the XCM business (media, data, technology, creative, reporting and finance).

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 .

Skills and Experience

• Strong experience across digital paid media, strategy, retail, or consulting
• Advanced understanding of multiple/at least 2+ digital practice areas by remaining current on leading trends and coaching junior team members on what they need to know.
• A strong background in biddable media is a must.
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-market accounts where you’ve delivered measurable business outcomes.
• EU regional experience is required
• Ability to craft a compelling, data-driven story that is anchored in the client’s business need.
• Ability to anticipate challenges/opportunities and deliver highly persuasive, strategic & structured communication.
• Confident in forecasting budget during campaign delivery as many times as needed.
• Solutions-oriented and high levels of organisation.
• An empathetic and thoughtful leader comfortable with working through detailed, written communications.
• Ability to effectively work in a matrix organization.

BONUS POINTS

• Ability to travel frequently on short notice and manage work ‘on the road’, and to work flexible hours to be available for regionally spread teams.

BENEFITS OF OPENDOOR

• Unparalleled Access: Gain direct experience working with one of the world's most innovative and influential companies.
• Mentorship & Training: Receive guidance from experienced professionals at both WPP and Amazon.
• Cutting-Edge Technology: Utilize industry-leading tools and platforms, including WPP Open.
• Data-Driven Environment: Develop your analytical skills and contribute to data-driven decision making.
• Global Impact: Be part of a team that is shaping the future of marketing on a global scale.

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

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