Senior Associate Director, Search

This role leads paid search strategies for clients, managing search campaigns, optimizing keywords, and driving performance. Deep knowledge of search engines and analytics is essential.

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 . 3151 - Senior Associate Director, Search - UK Role Summary and Impact The SEM Senior Associate Director acts as our client’s senior partner and expert for all paid search for an area of business. This role is responsible for delivering best in class media campaigns to meet our client’s KPIs, including managing Google Marketing’s very own Google Ads, SA360, and other SEM portfolios. Success in this role involves providing strategic insight across a breadth of products and channels, partnering with our client and planning leads on projects, owning best practice and optimization strategies, and inspiring a large team (including ultimate responsibility for quality of work within this team). Some of the things we’d like you to do Support Activation lead and Client Services in capacity planning & resource management for the team Be the ultimate owner of media activation best practices, adherence, and automation for your team, while coordinating with the NA/EMEA/APAC teams to ensure consistency and excellence across regions Develop strong relationships with key clients, fostering strong relationships and collaborating to deliver innovative thinking and inform our future activation product roadmap Supports the strategic vision and drives the overall growth of campaigns, acting as the senior strategic advisor to key clients. Delivers actionable, top-level recommendations that empower the team to drive continuous performance improvement and exceed client expectations. Ultimate accountability for adherence to controls and best practices across all relevant platforms and help to manage regional development of search best practice Escalating any potential conflicts between best practice and what is best for their region Be the primary contact point of contact between the Media Activation team and regular stakeholders both internal & external Develop strong relationships with your client, and key suppliers, leading team communications with these stakeholders. Be able to communicate with clients on subjects outside your remit, and provide them with useful insight, working independently Showcase thought leadership pieces & POVs throughout the course of the year to galvanise and elevate the role within wider industry as an expert Deliver quarterly, semi-annual, or annual updates on work quality as it relates to owned workstreams Be an inspiring and motivational Leader, leading by example while encouraging and coaching juniors on the team Gain a more strategic understanding of the client’s business and KPIs, and keep up to date with latest Industry news and be proactive in spotting trends, product releases, and other opportunities which could enhance our activity Contribute to the wider regional paid search strategy & goals, provide strategic insight to individual campaign wrap-ups Provide timely and actionable feedback to the team to aid in their development, improvement, and progress. Provide awareness and recognition for jobs well done Skills and Experience Demonstrated progression in a role managing a staff of 5+ Strong written and verbal communication skills across all platforms Expert organisational skills, great attention to detail Provides high-level oversight through strategic reviews of all tactics Concrete knowledge of all areas of digital marketing and media Ability to adhere to and meet deadlines and project manage multiple requests Excellent client relationship and management skills Proven problem-solving skills and ability to think outside of the box for creative solutions Ability to lead and motivate team members in a positive light Detail oriented and responsive, deadline-driven with strong quantitative reasoning skills Delivers results against priorities proactively with little or no senior input 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. Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location #LI-Promoted Please read our Privacy Notice for more

This senior leadership role oversees search marketing strategies, including both SEO and paid search. The Associate Director title indicates responsibility for leading a team, managing client relationships, and driving performance.

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 . 3831 - Associate Director, Search-Paid - Manchester Role Summary and Impact As a Senior Search Associate Director, you will serve as the strategic lead for paid search across a portfolio of high profile clients. You will own the direction and effectiveness of search activation while shaping how search integrates into broader media strategies. Operating as a senior leader within the Search team, you will set the vision for your client group alongside the Director, influence cross departmental processes and decision making. You will also play a key role within the WPP Media Search Community driving thought leadership, representing the agency with partners, and helping to define best in class standards together with the network. Key Responsibilities Performance Management Take full strategic ownership of paid search performance across large spending client portfolio, setting ambition and direction in partnership with senior client stakeholders. Develop paid search best practices, ensuring adherence to controls and processes. Act as the escalation point for paid search strategic problems, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and growth pathways. Champion innovation by testing and scaling new Google/Microsoft products and AI capabilities. Client & Partner Management Operate as the most senior day-to-day search lead, and strategic partner to client stakeholders. Influence broader integrated planning conversations, ensuring search has a seat at the table in defining brand and performance outcomes. Represent WPP Media with platform partners, contributing to joint business plans, beta programmes, and capability building initiatives. People Management Reports to the Search Director Directly manage and develop a team, setting high standards for delivery, communication, and craft expertise. Support on resource shaping, succession planning, and long-term team capability development. Contribute to recruitment efforts for your team, acting as an ambassador for EssenceMediacom and WPP Media Shape the culture of your team through clear leadership behaviours, coaching, and championing collaboration across offices and markets. Operational Excellence Drive operational and process excellence, ensuring your team is efficient, effective and fully utilising WPP Media’s suite of AI tools, tech, and automation capabilities. Contribute to commercial planning and identify opportunities for service evolution, scope expansion, and new revenue opportunities with clients. Ensure full governance and compliance across financial, operational, and activation workflows. Skills and Experience 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 . Deep platform expertise with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with a strong Significant experience leading complex search clients, either with multi-market, high profile or growth clients. Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders Strong track record in developing and managing people Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional workstreams and collaborate effectively with Media, Planning, Data, Analytics, and Creative. Deep platform expertise with Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and SA360, with a strong understanding of how AI, automation, and audience signals are evolving performance marketing. 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. Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location #LI-Promoted Please read our Privacy Notice ( https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for mo

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