Director, People Partner

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 Media is WPPs global media 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

Role Summary and Impact

The Director People Partner is a critical strategic leader responsible for developing and executing people strategies which drive business outcomes across multiple brands critical functions or major segments across WPP Media UK. This role drives the People First strategy and influences senior leaders (EVP SVP VP) to advance our Client Obsessed and AI Powered vision leading transformations resolving complex challenges and managing a team of People Partners. This individual orchestrates collaboration with HR Centres of Value and the People Services Hub to deliver integrated HR solutions enhance employee experience and fuel business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Business Partnership & Influence (Client Obsessed):

• Serve as a trustedstrategic business partnertoEVP SVP and VP-level business leaders understanding their business goals challenges and opportunities and proactively identifying people-related risks and opportunities.
• Develop and implement people strategies specific to their assigned remit brands or functionsthat align with broader business objectives drive organisational performance and champion the One WPP Media culture.
• Anticipate future workforce needs within their domainand proactively develop comprehensive people solutions to address them ensuring WPP Media UK maintains its competitive edge.
• Lead HRpartnershipfor highly strategic and complex internal client groups including multiple UK Client Presidents Open Clients and Global Client Solutions teams as well as major enabling and embedded teams providing comprehensive strategic people guidance.

1. Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead mentor and develop a team of People Partners fostering a high-performing collaborative and engaged environment.
• Provide expert coaching and guidance to team members on complex people issues professional development and navigating WPP Media UKs matrix organisation.
• Set clear expectations provide regular performance feedback conduct performance reviews and champion a culture of continuous learning and development.

1. Organisational Effectiveness & Transformation Leadership (Unified Operating Model):

• Lead the design and execution of complex organisational transformation programmes (e.g. significant restructures integrations new operating models )within their scope ensuring effective change management and communication leveraging support from CoVs where needed.s.
• Address deep-seated structural and leadership ambiguities across their business remit driving clarity on reporting lines decision rights and the relationship between WPP Media and agency brandsin collaboration with CoVs.
• Champion and lead initiatives to fundamentally re-engineer critical HR and talent processes (e.g. end-to-end hiring internal mobility frameworks performance management cycles) based on feedback from PSH/People Partners and strategic needs collaborating closely withPSH leadershipand relevantCentres of Value.
• Provide strategic input into the overall HR technology roadmap and implementation (including WPP Open) ensuring it addresses business needs streamlines processes and enhances user experience always exploring and advocating for AI-driven solutions.

1. Advanced Talent Strategy & Leadership (People & Talent Focus):

• Collaborate withTalent AcquisitionandOrganisational Effectivenessto develop and implementdomain-specifictalent acquisition and development strategies for critical skill sets (e.g. AI specialists digital transformation roles) building a future-ready workforce.
• Lead robust succession planning and talent calibration for senior leadership roles within their domain identifying and developing the next generation of WPP Media UK leaders.
• Design and implement programmes to foster a high-performance inclusive culture ensuring clarity on performance expectations and robust development frameworksby partneringwith relevant CoVs.
• Provide significant business input to theRewardCentre of Value on compensation philosophy market competitiveness and effectiveness of reward programmes influencing strategic reward decisions.

1. Strategic Employee Relations & Risk Management (Consistent & Excellent Employee Experience):

• Oversee and provide expert guidance on highly complex high-profile or systemic employee relations matters often involving legal implications or widespread impactpartneringclosely with theEmployee RelationsCentre of Value and legal counsel. This role also serves as a point of escalation for their team and manages high-profile cases directly.
• Develop and implement proactive strategies to mitigate significant HR risks across their domain ensuring ethical practices and legal compliance.

1. Executive Data & Insights (People Data as a Managed Product):

• Direct the utilisation of advanced people data and analytics (fromPSHand thePeople DataCentre of Value) to provide strategic insights and recommendations that drive significant people and business outcomes.
• Develop and present compelling data-driven business cases for major people initiatives tosenior leadership demonstrating clear ROI and strategic alignment.

1. Enterprise Change Management & Communication Leadership:

• Lead and direct the communication changeswithin their scope ensuring clear consistent and actionable messaging stakeholder buy-in and effective adoption leveraging guidance fromCoVs as required..
• Translate complex strategic visions into clear actionable people strategies and communication plans forsenior leadership improving overall clarity and addressing identified communication gaps directly addressingExCofeedback.

1. Compliance & Governance:

• Oversee compliance with local UK employment laws and regulations in all people-related activities across their domain ensuring robust governance.
• Proactively identify and recommend strategic adjustments based on HR best practices trends and evolving legal landscapes ensuring implementation of changes to the team and business.

Key Behaviours (Rules of engagement and delivery):These behaviours are demonstrated by leading and mentoring People Partner teams driving significant strategic initiatives within their defined domain and influencing EVP SVP and VP-level business leadership across a major segment of WPP Media UK.

• Own It End-to-End and Prevents Gaps:Takes ultimate personal accountability for strategic client inquiries and people initiatives seeing them through to full resolution. Acts as the primary HR leader shielding the business from internal complexities and demonstrating unwavering ownership. Ensures no strategic people initiative or critical business issue falls through the cracks
• Seek & Simplify (Coordination):Proactively seeks out and synthesises complex information across PSH and allCentres of Value(Resource Management Reward Employee Relations Talent Acquisition Inclusion & Impact Organisational Effectiveness People Data Immigration). Prioritises direct strategic communication over passive methods. Drives simplification and clarity in HR processes and solutions.
• Curious & Strategic:Demonstrates exceptional curiosity to uncover the strategic why behindsenior business needs. Challenges existing paradigms and explores the broader organisational context (budget funding people capabilities) to provide transformative AI-driven and forward-thinking HR strategies that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Cultivate Partnership (Connectedness):Builds and maintains strong influential and trusting relationships withEVP SVP and VP-level business leadersand key internal business stakeholders across WPP Media UK. Acts as a critical bridge owning the end-to-end client relationship and championing a One WPP Media mindset at a leadership level.
• Deliver Clarity & Simplicity (Collaboration Communication):Drives clarity and simplicity in all HR communications strategies and processes forsenior leaders. Orchestrates seamless collaboration across the entire HR function (People Partners PSH CoVs) to deliver a unified high-impact One HR Team experience.
• Upholds Discretion & Confidentiality:Consistently handles privileged and sensitive information with the utmost discretion and confidentiality demonstrating a high level of maturity and emotional intelligence in all interactions.
• Demonstrates Integrity & Resilience:Acts with unwavering integrity upholding ethical standards and WPP Medias values in all decisions and actions. Exhibits resilience and adaptability when navigating complex challenging or ambiguous situations.
• Fosters Inclusive Culture & Values:Actively champions WPP Medias culture and values promoting an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and all individuals feel respected and have a sense of belonging.

Key Relationships:

• Internal: Global and Regional People Partners Incl. Client People Partner People Partner reports PSH Leadership Leads and Specialists within all Centres of Value (Reward Employee Relations Talent Acquisition Inclusion & Impact Organisational Effectiveness People Data) Finance Leadership Legal Counsel IT Leadership.
• Internal Stakeholders/Clients:EVP SVP and VP-level business leadersacross major internal client groups managers and employees including Global Client Solutions teams enabling teams and embedded teams.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Proven extensive experience in a senior HR leadership role (e.g. Head of HR for a significant business unit Senior Manager People Partner) preferably within a large complex matrixed and fast-pacedUK operating environment or similar markets.
• Deep expertise in UK employment law HR best practices and strategic application of HR principles to complex business challenges.
• Extensive experience in leading and resolving highly complex and sensitive employee relations issues at a strategic level including high-profile investigations and managing systemic ER trends.
• Demonstrated ability topartner with coach and influencesenior business leaderseffectively on strategic people-related matters organisational design and change leadership.
• Proven track record in leading and successfully implementing large-scale talent management organisational development and significant organisational change initiatives.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills with proven ability to build develop and inspire high-performing HR teams (including Senior Managers and Managers).
• Expert-level analytical and data interpretation skills with the ability to translate complex people data into actionablesenior leadership-levelinsights and strategic business decisions.
• Outstanding communication (written and verbal) presentation negotiation and influencing skills at senior organisational levels.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems (e.g. Workday) and other HR platforms (e.g. Greenhouse Trinity/Slingshot) with an understanding of HR technology strategy.
• Ability to strategically lead manage ambiguity drive transformation and operate effectively within a dynamicUK-based media organisation.

Desired Qualifications:

• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent senior HR professional certification.
• Masters degree in Human Resources Business Administration or a related field.
• Extensive experience within the media marketing or advertising industryin a complex matrixed operating environment.

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 were 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 were together fostering creativity collaboration and connection. Thats why weve 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 ( for more information on how we process the information you provide.

#LI-Promoted

Please read our Privacy Noticefor more information on how we process the information you provide.