WPP Media
Manager, Strategic Partnerships
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2598 – Manager, Strategic Partnerships
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—united by WPP Open, our AI-driven marketing platform—we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.
WPP Media is WPP’s AI-driven media business, combining media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected via WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients gain full visibility over their media investments—where, how, and why they’re working.
For more, visit wppmedia.com.
ONE WPP – Vision '30
Join the transformation of our industry with Vision '30, WPP’s bold strategy to lead the AI era. Guided by four pillars:
- Collaboration: Amplify data collaboration via WPP Open, turning every channel into smarter opportunities.
- Data & Technology: Harness AI-powered Open Intelligence to uncover insights, drive predictive performance, and deliver superior brand experiences through globally consistent DPAM (Data-Powered Adverting and Marketing).
- Innovation: Leverage trillions of privacy-by-default data points, focusing on the "why" behind customer behaviour to create unparalleled competitive advantages.
- People: Evolve from traditional media planning to strategic business outcomes, advanced technology, and real-time results, as AI automates 80% of media investment by 2030.
We empower ambitious talent to challenge conventional thinking and deliver extraordinary results. If you’re passionate about AI-driven marketing, thrive in a collaborative data environment, and strive for unparalleled growth, we invite you to join.
Role Summary & Impact
The Manager, Strategic Partnerships is an operational hands-on role, responsible for delivering objectives within a defined business area. You’ll:
- Support the execution of partnership plans,
- Manage day-to-day activity through teams,
- Ensure operational standards, process adherence, and stakeholder service excellence.
This role demands strong organisation, judgement, and problem-solving within clear guidelines—with senior-level support.
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Key Responsibilities
1. Joint Business Plan Support & Delivery
- Partner with Meta, TikTok, Google, Amazon, ITV, and Sky to delivery key Joint Business Plans.
- Track governance and partner plan commitments, identifying value-creation opportunities.
- Align partner activities with WPP’s broader growth priorities via senior stakeholder collaboration.
- Monitor delivery, escalating risks/issues to leadership as needed.
2. Strategic Client & Agency Enablement
- Bridge strategic partnerships to client outcomes, ensuring partner capabilities translate into practical value.
- Work with Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, Mindshare, T&P, and other agency teams to:
- Optimise partner tools and investments,
- Attribute learning/activation to commercial goals.
- Develop value propositions, prioritising partner engagement across key accounts.
- Improve learning/training activities and communication campaigns.
3. Data & Technology Partner Ecosystem Support
- Coordinate WPP Media’s data and technology partner ecosystem, including:
- Collaborating with OpenDoor (Amazon), Media Futures Group (Google), OpenMind (Nestle), OpenConnect (BT/EE) teams.
- Ensuring implementation alignment between partners and internal stakeholders (timelines/deliverables).
- Track partner investment value delivery, maintaining visibility on progress and outcomes.
- Serve as a resource for client teams identifying relevant partnerships.
- Manage procurement and partner programming across the ecosystem.
Skills & Experience
- Essential:
- Strategic experience in partnerships, commercial roles, business development, or client-facing positions within media/advertising/technology.
- Deep knowledge of media/digital advertising ecosystems.
- Hands-on experience in supporting joint plans, partnership activity, or cross-functional programmes.
- Strong relationship management: Internally (cross-functional teams) and externally (partners).
- Exceptional organisational attention to detail with multiple-priority management skills.
- Commercial leadership: Proven ability to translate partnerships into value for clients/business.
- Collaboration under decentralised structures—strong communicator (verbal/written).
- Operational flexibility: Within defined frameworks to drive process improvements.
- Experience with data/technology platform partners is advantageous.
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- Bonus: Data-literate with experience in AI/data applications, process mechanisation, or automation.
Measures of Success
Within 6 Months
- Understand your remit: Grasp WPP Media, strategic partnerships framework, and Vision '30 impact on daily work.
- Prioritise effectively: Articulate business challenges, align your team’s priorities with stakeholders.
- Deliver responsiveness: Fostering clear direction, professional collaboration, and day-to-day support.
- Initiate improvement: Identify practical operational changes, including AI/data-enabled efficiencies.
Within 12 Months
- Consistently deliver: Operational partnership objectives with measurable stakeholder input on:
- Service quality, organisation, and commercial impact.
- Leadership contribution to Vision '30, team development, and client growth.
- Drive impact:
- Enhance team collaboration, partnership outcomes, and new business initiatives.
- Maintain high stakeholder confidence and support process/system evolution.
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
We invest in your growth and development while fostering a dynamic, inclusive culture. Expect:
- Career development: Networking opportunities within global WPP Media/WPP networks, cutting-edge thought leadership, and innovation exposure.
- Hybrid flexibility: Office presence ~4 days/week. Discuss accommodations during interviews if needed.
- Employee resources:
- Resource groups, global events (team wins, milestone achievements).
- Competitive benefits:
- Medical, retirement, vision/dental plans.
- Paid time off, partner discounts, mental health awareness days.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Equal opportunities without discrimination; fostering belonging across careers.
Candidates advancing past the application stage will be contacted directly. View our Privacy Notice here for details on data handling.
Ready to lead? Apply here: [link]
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