WPP Media is a global media collective that brings together platform, people, and partners to create limitless opportunities for growth.
Role Summary and Impact
As the Director, Operational Excellence, you will be a critical driver of efficiency and innovation within WPP Media's Global Client Solutions (GCS) Operations unit. This role is central to defining, identifying, and implementing best‑in‑class operational practices across our global client portfolio. You will work to deeply understand how client teams operate, pinpoint areas for improvement, and lead initiatives that enhance both the quality and efficiency of our ways of working. Collaborating closely with senior operations leaders and client‑embedded teams, you will play a key part in embedding operational excellence into the DNA of WPP Media, directly contributing to superior client satisfaction and business performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Define Operational Excellence: Lead the ongoing definition and articulation of what "operational excellence" means within the context of WPP Media's global client operations, establishing clear standards and benchmarks.
- Identify Key Initiatives: Proactively identify, research, and champion key initiatives and opportunities for improving operational excellence across the GCS unit.
- Strategic Alignment & Prioritization: Collaborate closely with the Senior Operations team to align and prioritize operational excellence initiatives with broader strategic goals and critical business needs.
- Build Relationships with Client Operations Leads: Foster strong, collaborative relationships with operations leads embedded across GCS client teams to understand their challenges, gather insights, and facilitate the adoption of best practices.
- Contribute to High‑Stakes Initiatives: Act as an integral member of the "Black Ops" team, contributing operational expertise and insights to high‑stakes initiatives such as pitch defense, client operating model design, and strategic team restructuring.
- Facilitate Community Engagement: Actively contribute to and facilitate the client operations community by providing valuable content and insights for regular connects, fostering knowledge sharing and the dissemination of best practices.
- Process Improvement Leadership: Drive continuous improvement by analysing existing workflows, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing optimized processes that enhance both quality and efficiency for client teams.
How Success is Measured
- Successful identification and validation of key operational excellence initiatives that demonstrably address critical business needs.
- Effective implementation of the most important and high‑impact initiatives, leading to measurable improvements in operational processes and outcomes.
- Establishment and integration of robust measurement frameworks to continuously track, evaluate, and report on the progress and impact of operational excellence efforts.
Skills and Experience
- Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
- Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences, cultivating Trust.
- Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilise the Enterprise.
- Extensive experience working within client‑facing teams, with a significant portion of that experience specifically focused on operations within the media, marketing, or agency sectors.
- Solid knowledge of research methodologies and analytical techniques used to evaluate and measure operational performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively navigate and influence within complex, matrixed organizational structures.
- A deep understanding of how client teams collaborate and a proven capability to analyse and improve their ways of working, focusing on both quality and efficiency.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at various levels.
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.
Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.
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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