Associate Director, Commerce Programmatic

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.
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.

About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand
EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.
Role Summary & Impact
The Associate Director, Programmatic Commerce will utilize their retail expertise to drive excellence in tactical activation and day-to-day management of programmatic-based activations. You will lead audience and creative strategy development, competitive research, day-to-day campaign setup, management, and reporting of programmatic media buys. This role will be focused on programmatic activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, CitrusAd, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc. The role will require an understanding of each of the platforms and DSP’s programmatic offerings – from self-serve to managed service buys. You will connect directly with the retail media networks at each of the key customers on behalf of, and in partnership with the client. You will be supporting the Director, Programmatic Commerce as we seek to maximize retail media investment for our client accounts. An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action and problem-solving is necessary to be successful in this role.
Skills and Experience

• • Manage a team of direct reports and their career development.
  • Oversee programmatic media activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, CitrusAd, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc.
  • Execute campaign setup, bid recommendations, and budgeting to ensure overall client goal attainment, including the use of retail bid management technologies where applicable such as Pacvue, Skai, and Epsilo.
  • Maintain excellent relationships with key account stakeholders to maximize promotional opportunities and assist them in navigating the Commerce activation landscape.
  •  Ensure on-going campaign compliance to GroupM established guidelines and best practices.
  • Lead the incorporation of cross-channel testing and optimization strategies.
  • Prepare campaign performance reports on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
  • Synthesize key data points, identify trends, and recommend activities to maximize business results and deliver an optimal customer experience.
  • Address technical issues with media campaign serving.
  • Stay up to date on changing marketplace dynamics surrounding ad products, technology and measurement across programmatic partners.
  • Manage reconciliation, invoicing/billing, trafficking, and mapping data to our internal media campaign management platform.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Analytics, Marketing, Communications, Advertising; OR equivalent professional work experience
• 5+ years of experience in biddable performance media execution or paid ecommerce, with a strong preference for retail media programmatic execution.
• Experience managing a team of direct reports.
• Experience across the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Deep understanding of retail commercial elements such as profit margin, inventory levels, forecasting, and demand planning to inform media decisions.
• Deep understanding of how different media channels work together and how retail media fits within the wider ecosystem.
• Strong drive to understand the retail landscape and latest trends in commerce media.
• Experience with retail bid management platforms, such as Pacvue or Skai.
• Experience in campaign management and optimization across multiple retail platforms (Amazon, Instacart, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Criteo, Google, Meta, etc.).
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• A self-starter attitude that thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent project-management skills; able to coordinate projects across multiple teams and functions.

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.
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