Associate Director, Media Activation

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's 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.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

As an Associate Director, Media Activation, you will lead the strategic development, activation, and optimization of cross-channel biddable media programs, with a strong emphasis on Programmatic and YouTube, while also supporting Paid Social and other digital channels. You will bridge day-to-day activation with broader media strategy and planning, providing leadership across campaign execution, performance, and client recommendations.

You will play a key role in driving integrated media strategies, identifying opportunities for optimization and innovation, and ensuring operational excellence. In addition, you will mentor and develop team members while fostering collaboration across media, analytics, strategy, and creative disciplines.

Skills and Experience

• Lead the development and execution of Programmatic and YouTube strategies, while supporting integrated Paid Social and broader biddable media initiatives.
• Oversee campaign activation across Programmatic Display, Video, CTV, YouTube, Paid Social, and other emerging digital channels.
• Provide strategic recommendations, performance insights, and proactive optimization opportunities to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Bridge day-to-day activation with broader media planning and strategy to ensure campaigns align with client business objectives.
• Partner with analytics and measurement teams to establish KPIs, evaluate campaign performance, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Identify testing and innovation opportunities across audience targeting, platform capabilities, automation, and emerging advertising technologies.
• Oversee campaign execution, pacing, optimization, quality assurance, and budget management to ensure operational excellence.
• Provide hands-on guidance and oversight to junior team members, helping troubleshoot campaigns and maintain activation best practices.
• Collaborate with media partners, ad technology platforms, publishers, and internal stakeholders to identify new opportunities and improve campaign performance.
• Develop and implement best practices and processes that improve campaign effectiveness and team productivity.
• Support cross-functional collaboration with strategy, investment, analytics, and creative teams.
• Mentor and develop team members through coaching, technical guidance, and leadership.
• Keep senior leadership informed of key client opportunities, performance trends, potential risks, and strategic recommendations.

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Analytics, Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in biddable media activation, with a strong background in Programmatic and YouTube advertising.
• Hands-on experience with The Trade Desk (TTD), DV360, and Google Ads/YouTube.
• Experience across additional Paid Social platforms such as Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit, and X is a plus.
• Strong understanding of programmatic buying, campaign optimization, audience targeting, measurement, and performance reporting.
• Experience balancing hands-on campaign activation with strategic planning and team leadership.
• Significant client-facing experience, including presenting performance insights and strategic recommendations.
• Prior experience managing and mentoring junior team members.
• Agency experience is highly preferred.
• Experience supporting entertainment, theatrical, or film marketing campaigns is a plus.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across multiple teams and priorities.

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