Business Director, Live Planning

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the worlds leading brands. With exceptional talent trusted data and intelligence and world-class partnerships all united by ourpioneeringagentic marketing platform WPP Open we help clients navigate change capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

WPP Media is WPPs 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.

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2259 - Business Director Live Planning

Role Summary and Impact

Mindshare delivers Good Growth for its clients. As Growth Architects we drive growth thatbenefitsall stakeholders better for people planet and business by using media with intention. This approach creates more meaningful connections with consumers increases consumer trust in the brand and delivers better outcomes for all stakeholders.

Role Objective

We are recruiting for a Business Performance Director who is an exceptional and driven performance media planner to join our Implementational Planning team. The Performance Director is responsible for translating client business goals into high-impact cross-channel performance plans that drive measurable outcomes. You will shape the tactical performance direction across Search Social Programmatic and emerging platformstranslating strategy into activation frameworks that accelerate client growth.

You will be working on the Ford account in the UK the biggest auto advertiser and one of the biggest accounts at Mindshare. We work in a unique full service model meaning that the media teams collaborate closely with creative and account management teams within the Ford agency structure (primarily working with VMLYR).

Therefore we foster a fully integrated team approach across media creative and client working together across the 3 team locations - 2 days (Mon-Tue) at Fords Dunton office (a short taxi from Shenfield on the Elizabeth Line- Travel costs are covered) 1 day (Wed) at VML Sea Containers House and 1 day (Thu) at Mindshare Rose Court.

More detailed information below:

Key Responsibilities:

Performance Strategy

• Translate briefs into actionable measurable media plans with clear KPIs and performance guardrails.
• Design the connections system and cross-channel activation plan collaborating closely with Search Social Programmatic and Data teams.
• Ensure continuous proactive knowledge sharing so activation teams are informed aligned and delivering consistently.
• Lead the performance planning approach and drive workstreams that elevate our digital performance product.
• Leverage analytics outputs (MMM MTA GA4 platform insights) to guide planning and optimisation.
• Provide expert advice on data activationincluding audience strategies first-party data usage and signal strengthening.
• Develop experimentation agendas test-and-learn frameworks and feed insights back into activation planning.

Relationship Management:

• Maintain strong partnerships across Ford UK VMLYR Channel teams central agency teams and other cross-agency partners.
• Act as primary strategic liaison with VML teams for responsive inputs creative assets and delivery management.
• Ensure consistent transparent communication across all campaign developments and changes.

Team Leadership:

• Oversee weekly reporting maintaining clear accountability for campaign outcomes.

Campaign and Budget Management:

• Own the strategic management and adaptive allocation of annual always-on performance campaigns
• Identify potential campaign risks and proactively manage mitigation strategies to safeguard performance.
• Ensure campaigns deliver effectively against set KPIs adapting strategies in real-time as needed.

Innovation and Collaboration:

• Collaborate closely with central strategy teams to integrate local initiatives with broader strategies.
• Continuously explore and introduce innovative media solutions to enhance campaign effectiveness.
• Champion digital innovation and emerging media platforms to maintain Ford UKs competitive advantage.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media we believe in the power of our culture and our people. Its what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Medias 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.
• Experience across paid media digital performance strategy retail or consulting.
• Deep understanding of at least two performance disciplines (Search Social Programmatic Retail Media).
• Ability to turn complex data into compelling activation stories that influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of measurement data tracking platforms and AdOps.
• Proven experience managing large complex performance accounts with measurable business results.
• Exceptional communication leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate financials model budgets and influence investment decisions.
• Confident operating in matrixed organisations providing leadership through change and maintaining high team performance.
• Experience guiding indirect teams and cross-functional specialists through shared KPIs.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments and capable of driving teams to deliver high performance under pressure.

Life atWPP Media& Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment toBe Extraordinary investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We alsoLead Optimisticallyfirmly believingin andChampioning Growth and Developmentfor every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees toleveragethe extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions build vital professional connections and learn at thecutting edgeof marketing and advertising.

WeCreate an Open environmentbuilt 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 eventsshowcasingteam wins sharing thought leadership and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens whenweretogether fostering creativity collaboration and connection in this open and supportive a hybrid approach with teams in the office around four days a week. If yourequireaccommodations 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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