Top Benefits
About the role
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 byBalancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
- Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
POSITION
Director**,** Programmatic Excellence
ORGANIZATION
Agency
WPP Media
Department
MMD + Investments
Location
Toronto
FUNCTION
Grade
GRD8
Reporting to
GAD, Sell-Side Excellence & Optimization
Manage teams
Directors, Managers
of Direct Reports
TBD
IMPACT
The Director of Programmatic Excellence will collaborate on the strategic development and execution of our partner allocation strategy for all buy-side programmatic investments, including display, video, and advanced TV. This role demands extensive experience in managing sophisticated demand-side strategies and a deep understanding of the intricacies of programmatic platforms, both from the demand and supply perspectives. Collaborating closely with programmatic activation teams, the Director will set a new standard for buy-side, optimization and performance strategies with proper resource allocation while ensuring strong commitments to WPP Media demand side partners. Additionally, this individual will be continually monitoring campaign performance across all demand-side initiatives to ensure proper practices are being met. Serving as the primary escalation point for programmatic teams regarding strategic partnerships, the Director will also act as the key liaison for all demand-side partners, fostering relationships that drive success and innovation in our programmatic endeavors.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
DSP Partnerships Management and Resource allocation:
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key DSP partners to drive mutual growth and innovation.
- Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment with DSP goals and objectives.
- Achieve and hit deal partner commitments while exploring opportunities to onboard to strategic partners
- Lead the onboarding process for new DSP partners, ensuring a seamless integration and operational readiness.
- Develop and execute managed service strategies that align to Nexus needs and while maintaining exceptional support and value for our clients
Optimization and Brand Safety Strategy Development:
- Design and implement optimization strategies to enhance performance across all DSP partnerships.
- Utilize data analytics and performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement actionable solutions.
- Create repeatable and evolved optimization, playbook strategies that can help the activation team achieve the best outcomes while client needs while inspiring a test and learn culture
- Responsible for upholding gold standard practices as it relates to brand safety and fraud detection and mitigation
- Creating, maintaining and executing of inclusion listing and blocklisting site list to increase performance and decrease/eliminate low quality inventory
- Work directly with strategic partners as well as internal Global stakeholders to ensure WPP Media is ahead of the curve when it relates to brand safety trends
Product Evolution:
- Collaborate with product management and development teams to identify and implement enhancements to existing products and services as they become available within our dedicated partnerships
- Drive initiatives that promote innovation in product offerings, ensuring they meet market demands and client needs
Margin and Performance Management:
- Oversee margin management initiatives to maximize profitability across DSP partnerships while maintaining our performance goals
- Analyze pricing structures, operational costs, and performance metrics to optimize margins and drive financial performance.
Certification Management:
- Oversee the certification processes for DSP partners, ensuring compliance with industry standards and company policies.
- Stay updated on certification requirements and best practices to maintain high operational standards.
Bidding Strategies:
- Develop and refine bidding strategies that maximize return on ad spend (ROAS) and align with client objectives.
- Monitor market trends and competitor strategies to inform bidding practices and decision-making.
Team Leadership and Development:
- Lead and mentor a team of operational excellence professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
- Provide training and support to ensure team members are knowledgeable about industry trends and operational best practices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with Investment and solutions teams to align operational initiatives, deal partner pacing and client business objectives.
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment across the organization.
- Serve as the primary point of contact in Canada for global programmatic investment initiatives, representing Canadian market needs and ensuring alignment with global WPP Media strategies.
- Adapt and implement global WPP Media programmatic requirements, strategies, and tools within the Canadian market to drive consistency, operational efficiency, and best practices across regions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct reports and staff (if any), via established management, hr and operational policies and procedures
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Accountable to performance and impacts of all Nexus Media solutions Billings
COMMUNICATION
Corporation/Department
External
- Business and Media representatives
- Professional Agencies representatives
Department/Position
Internal
- WPP Media Employees
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education Level
University Degree or proven equivalent experience in related field
Computer Skills
- Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
Key Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated track record of client relationship development and service
- Strong knowledge or proven experience account management/coordination, buying, client/campaign strategy, and media planning
- Highly developed communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills
- Advanced ability to plan, implement and manage strategic and operational initiatives
- Keen attention to details, robust critical thinking and proactive problem-solving
- Foster a team culture that creates highly effective teams who delight clients with great service and media results
- Deep understanding of the programmatic landscape
Professional Experience
- Minimum 5 years of related industry experience, and demonstrated strong internal stakeholder relationship responsibility, preferably agency:
- Programmatic, eCommerce, Advanced TV, Adtech, Supply side inventory
- Experience overseeing and managing organizational performance with strategic objectives and financial targets
Working Conditions
- Office environment with potential travel requirements within North America
COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies
Accepts Responsibility
Demonstrates commitment to grow, coach and mentor team members. Consistently addresses and takes corrective action when targets are not met. Manages and accepts responsibility for team performance and results.
Continuous Learning & Development
Identifies future competencies and required expertise in learning and development. Stays up to date with emerging trends in the industry. Encourages the team to network with professionals to maintain up to date knowledge.
Integrity
Promotes ethics and best behaviors always keeping a respectful demeanor. Inspires and mentor others to demonstrate principle-driven courage. Ensures decisions are made consciously, minimizing bias.
Teamwork & Collaboration
Is active in creating synergy across functions. Acts as a role model and provides coaching and mentoring. Builds trust and teamwork.
Leadership Competencies
Impact & Influence
Identifies linkages, relationships and reporting structures of decision makers. Initiates and builds key relationships to generate support for ideas. Uses personal influence to motivate others to action.
Leverage Expertise
Encourages a data driven approach. Acts as a technical or subject matter resource in non-routine situations. Introduces new technologies to increase the functionality of teams.
Relationship Building
Establishes effective communication approaches to achieve trust and respect. Coach teams to grow professional networks and develop relationship-building skills. Strengthens work relationships by contributing to team meetings and group activities.
Team Leadership
Ensures the team has the appropriate resources and autonomy to succeed. Looks for new and better ways to generate team ideas. Quickly recognizes conflicting priorities, initiating collaborative approaches to resolution.
Role Competencies
Listening, Understanding & Responding
Demonstrates a willingness to share and encourage innovative ideas. Develops and delivers against well-defined communication plans. Inspires people to create an environment that is conducive to productive communication.
Self Awareness & Feedback
Views challenges as opportunities for growth and development. Demonstrates self-control and manages the emotions of teammates during adverse times. Self-reflects, reviews setbacks, and draws learning points into new behaviors.
Taking Initiatives
Coaches team members to recognize and appropriately act on new situations. Builds an environment that encourages contribution to implement new ideas. Empowers others to increase their involvement, support, efforts, and initiatives.
Organizational Planning
Accounts for long-term implications in dealing with current problems and issues. Develops strategies, programs, processes, and initiatives that support hyper-growth. Accurately combine people, process, and technology to achieve strategic goals.
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.
WPP Media is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with WPP Media, please send an e-mail to WPP Media Leave Administration at Leave.Administration@groupm.com or call (212) 297-8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.
While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Top Benefits
About the role
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 byBalancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
- Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
POSITION
Director**,** Programmatic Excellence
ORGANIZATION
Agency
WPP Media
Department
MMD + Investments
Location
Toronto
FUNCTION
Grade
GRD8
Reporting to
GAD, Sell-Side Excellence & Optimization
Manage teams
Directors, Managers
of Direct Reports
TBD
IMPACT
The Director of Programmatic Excellence will collaborate on the strategic development and execution of our partner allocation strategy for all buy-side programmatic investments, including display, video, and advanced TV. This role demands extensive experience in managing sophisticated demand-side strategies and a deep understanding of the intricacies of programmatic platforms, both from the demand and supply perspectives. Collaborating closely with programmatic activation teams, the Director will set a new standard for buy-side, optimization and performance strategies with proper resource allocation while ensuring strong commitments to WPP Media demand side partners. Additionally, this individual will be continually monitoring campaign performance across all demand-side initiatives to ensure proper practices are being met. Serving as the primary escalation point for programmatic teams regarding strategic partnerships, the Director will also act as the key liaison for all demand-side partners, fostering relationships that drive success and innovation in our programmatic endeavors.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
DSP Partnerships Management and Resource allocation:
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key DSP partners to drive mutual growth and innovation.
- Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment with DSP goals and objectives.
- Achieve and hit deal partner commitments while exploring opportunities to onboard to strategic partners
- Lead the onboarding process for new DSP partners, ensuring a seamless integration and operational readiness.
- Develop and execute managed service strategies that align to Nexus needs and while maintaining exceptional support and value for our clients
Optimization and Brand Safety Strategy Development:
- Design and implement optimization strategies to enhance performance across all DSP partnerships.
- Utilize data analytics and performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement actionable solutions.
- Create repeatable and evolved optimization, playbook strategies that can help the activation team achieve the best outcomes while client needs while inspiring a test and learn culture
- Responsible for upholding gold standard practices as it relates to brand safety and fraud detection and mitigation
- Creating, maintaining and executing of inclusion listing and blocklisting site list to increase performance and decrease/eliminate low quality inventory
- Work directly with strategic partners as well as internal Global stakeholders to ensure WPP Media is ahead of the curve when it relates to brand safety trends
Product Evolution:
- Collaborate with product management and development teams to identify and implement enhancements to existing products and services as they become available within our dedicated partnerships
- Drive initiatives that promote innovation in product offerings, ensuring they meet market demands and client needs
Margin and Performance Management:
- Oversee margin management initiatives to maximize profitability across DSP partnerships while maintaining our performance goals
- Analyze pricing structures, operational costs, and performance metrics to optimize margins and drive financial performance.
Certification Management:
- Oversee the certification processes for DSP partners, ensuring compliance with industry standards and company policies.
- Stay updated on certification requirements and best practices to maintain high operational standards.
Bidding Strategies:
- Develop and refine bidding strategies that maximize return on ad spend (ROAS) and align with client objectives.
- Monitor market trends and competitor strategies to inform bidding practices and decision-making.
Team Leadership and Development:
- Lead and mentor a team of operational excellence professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
- Provide training and support to ensure team members are knowledgeable about industry trends and operational best practices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with Investment and solutions teams to align operational initiatives, deal partner pacing and client business objectives.
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment across the organization.
- Serve as the primary point of contact in Canada for global programmatic investment initiatives, representing Canadian market needs and ensuring alignment with global WPP Media strategies.
- Adapt and implement global WPP Media programmatic requirements, strategies, and tools within the Canadian market to drive consistency, operational efficiency, and best practices across regions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct reports and staff (if any), via established management, hr and operational policies and procedures
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Accountable to performance and impacts of all Nexus Media solutions Billings
COMMUNICATION
Corporation/Department
External
- Business and Media representatives
- Professional Agencies representatives
Department/Position
Internal
- WPP Media Employees
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education Level
University Degree or proven equivalent experience in related field
Computer Skills
- Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
Key Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated track record of client relationship development and service
- Strong knowledge or proven experience account management/coordination, buying, client/campaign strategy, and media planning
- Highly developed communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills
- Advanced ability to plan, implement and manage strategic and operational initiatives
- Keen attention to details, robust critical thinking and proactive problem-solving
- Foster a team culture that creates highly effective teams who delight clients with great service and media results
- Deep understanding of the programmatic landscape
Professional Experience
- Minimum 5 years of related industry experience, and demonstrated strong internal stakeholder relationship responsibility, preferably agency:
- Programmatic, eCommerce, Advanced TV, Adtech, Supply side inventory
- Experience overseeing and managing organizational performance with strategic objectives and financial targets
Working Conditions
- Office environment with potential travel requirements within North America
COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies
Accepts Responsibility
Demonstrates commitment to grow, coach and mentor team members. Consistently addresses and takes corrective action when targets are not met. Manages and accepts responsibility for team performance and results.
Continuous Learning & Development
Identifies future competencies and required expertise in learning and development. Stays up to date with emerging trends in the industry. Encourages the team to network with professionals to maintain up to date knowledge.
Integrity
Promotes ethics and best behaviors always keeping a respectful demeanor. Inspires and mentor others to demonstrate principle-driven courage. Ensures decisions are made consciously, minimizing bias.
Teamwork & Collaboration
Is active in creating synergy across functions. Acts as a role model and provides coaching and mentoring. Builds trust and teamwork.
Leadership Competencies
Impact & Influence
Identifies linkages, relationships and reporting structures of decision makers. Initiates and builds key relationships to generate support for ideas. Uses personal influence to motivate others to action.
Leverage Expertise
Encourages a data driven approach. Acts as a technical or subject matter resource in non-routine situations. Introduces new technologies to increase the functionality of teams.
Relationship Building
Establishes effective communication approaches to achieve trust and respect. Coach teams to grow professional networks and develop relationship-building skills. Strengthens work relationships by contributing to team meetings and group activities.
Team Leadership
Ensures the team has the appropriate resources and autonomy to succeed. Looks for new and better ways to generate team ideas. Quickly recognizes conflicting priorities, initiating collaborative approaches to resolution.
Role Competencies
Listening, Understanding & Responding
Demonstrates a willingness to share and encourage innovative ideas. Develops and delivers against well-defined communication plans. Inspires people to create an environment that is conducive to productive communication.
Self Awareness & Feedback
Views challenges as opportunities for growth and development. Demonstrates self-control and manages the emotions of teammates during adverse times. Self-reflects, reviews setbacks, and draws learning points into new behaviors.
Taking Initiatives
Coaches team members to recognize and appropriately act on new situations. Builds an environment that encourages contribution to implement new ideas. Empowers others to increase their involvement, support, efforts, and initiatives.
Organizational Planning
Accounts for long-term implications in dealing with current problems and issues. Develops strategies, programs, processes, and initiatives that support hyper-growth. Accurately combine people, process, and technology to achieve strategic goals.
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.
WPP Media is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with WPP Media, please send an e-mail to WPP Media Leave Administration at Leave.Administration@groupm.com or call (212) 297-8507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.
While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.