Account Director, Digital & Biddable Media (Parental Cover)

2464 - Account Director, Digital & Biddable Media (Parental Cover)

Role Summary and Impact

Mindshare, part of WPP, delivers Good Growth for its clients. As "Growth Architects," we drive growth that benefits all stakeholders — better for people, planet, and business — by using media with intention. This approach creates more meaningful connections with consumers, increases consumer trust in the brand, and delivers better outcomes for all stakeholders.

A 12-month fixed term contract exists within Mindshare's Channels & Solutions team, covering a period of maternity leave. The role sits across an active portfolio of clients spanning three industry verticals:

• A global technology brand running sophisticated multi-market biddable campaigns across consumer and commercial workstreams in EMEA — spanning paid social, paid search and programmatic — with a focus on driving active preference for an ingredient technology platform
• A global financial services and asset management organisation running a full-funnel, always-on digital programme across EMEA markets, managing both B2B professional investor audiences and B2C end investor segments through paid social, paid search and programmatic — operating within a regulated environment that demands rigour, audience precision and compliance-aware campaign management
• A global consumer goods and corporate organisation requiring senior oversight of biddable paid media activity across paid social platforms including Meta, LinkedIn, YouTube and X, delivered across global multi-market campaigns at a supporting capacity

We are looking for an experienced digital and biddable Account Director whose primary specialism is Paid Social, and who brings strong complementary experience across Paid Search and/or Programmatic. This is a delivery-focused role — the successful candidate will be expected to take hands-on ownership of campaign quality, execution standards and day-to-day client engagement, while maintaining the strategic oversight and offshore coordination that these accounts require. Cross-channel experience is essential.

The role requires a candidate who can operate confidently across different client contexts — from performance-oriented multi-stakeholder technology campaigns to the full-funnel complexity of a regulated financial services environment, alongside supporting oversight of a global consumer goods account. The candidate will also be expected to flex capacity to support other accounts and projects within the wider Channels & Solutions team on an occasional basis.

Skills and Experience

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on, delivery-oriented digital media professional with a strong Paid Social foundation and meaningful cross-channel experience. They will be comfortable taking direct ownership of campaign execution, quality assurance and performance management across a multi-client portfolio, while engaging confidently with senior client stakeholders and maintaining clear oversight of offshore delivery teams.

They will be organised, dependable and commercially aware — able to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously without compromising output quality. They will bring the communication skills and client management experience to represent Mindshare credibly at senior level, and the operational rigour to keep complex delivery processes running smoothly across varied account types.

Experience in technology, financial services or FMCG/consumer goods is welcome but not essential — what matters most is a track record of delivering high-quality biddable campaigns across complex, multi-workstream environments.

Essential Criteria

Channel Expertise

• A strong, demonstrable primary specialism in Paid Social — including hands-on experience managing campaigns across Meta (Facebook/Instagram), LinkedIn, YouTube and X/Twitter, across both brand awareness and performance/conversion objectives
• Proven ability to develop and implement audience strategies within Paid Social, including B2C consumer segmentation, B2B professional targeting and the governance considerations relevant to regulated industries
• Strong complementary experience in at least one additional biddable discipline — Paid Search (Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising, SA360) or Programmatic (DV360, The Trade Desk or equivalent) — at a level sufficient to advise on strategy, review delivery quality and integrate activity coherently across channels
• Cross-channel experience is a firm requirement: candidates who have operated exclusively within a single channel will not have the breadth this role demands
• Familiarity with always-on campaign structures alongside burst/campaign-led activity, and the operational requirements of managing both simultaneously

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Demonstrated experience managing senior client relationships, including the ability to present confidently at Director level and above
• Proven ability to manage multiple client workstreams simultaneously, adapting approach and output to different client cultures and governance requirements
• Comfort operating in regulated or compliance-sensitive environments, where audience rules, content approval processes and media buying governance are part of everyday delivery
• Experience managing stakeholders across integrated agency team structures and client-side organisations

Campaign Delivery & Execution

• Strong hands-on experience overseeing campaign setup, QA, trafficking and ongoing optimisation across paid social and biddable platforms
• Demonstrable ability to maintain delivery quality and performance standards across multiple active accounts simultaneously
• Experience managing PO tracking, invoicing, budget reconciliation and finance processes within a client SOW framework
• Familiarity with scope management — able to identify and escalate out-of-scope requests clearly and commercially

Team & Offshore Management

• Experience managing and coordinating onshore and offshore delivery teams, with an understanding of how to structure briefing, QA and communication rhythms for consistent output
• Experience supporting and developing junior team members, including Account Managers and Account Executives
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with a logical approach to workload prioritisation across competing deadlines

Measurement & Analytics

• Comfortable interrogating campaign data across channels and translating findings into clear, actionable insights and client-ready recommendations
• Working knowledge of digital attribution, brand lift measurement and cross-channel reporting — including familiarity with platforms such as GA4, Adobe Analytics and media partner research tools
• Ability to oversee regular reporting cycles — weekly, monthly and annual — ensuring accuracy and stakeholder relevance

Commercial Awareness

• Awareness of scopes of work, resource allocation and revenue implications across a multi-client portfolio
• Able to manage budgets accurately, flag variances and maintain finance process compliance across all active accounts

Desirable Criteria

• Experience across both Paid Search and Programmatic in addition to Paid Social
• Familiarity with financial services, asset management or other regulated advertising environments — including professional vs. retail/individual audience segmentation
• Familiarity with technology or B2B marketing environments, particularly campaigns designed to build preference for platform or ingredient brands
• Familiarity with corporate or FMCG brand environments and the stakeholder dynamics these involve
• Multi-market EMEA campaign experience
• Experience with offshore delivery models and workflow management tools (e.g. Wrike)
• Language skills advantageous

Responsibilities

Delivering Client Performance

• Take ownership of campaign delivery quality across the portfolio — ensuring all activity is set up, trafficked and optimised to the highest standard and in line with Mindshare best practice
• Act as the senior day-to-day client contact across assigned accounts, engaging at Director level with stakeholders across client and partner agency organisations
• Oversee QA of campaign activation, performance optimisation and regular reporting cycles across all active accounts
• Maintain awareness of the distinct requirements of each client vertical — including compliance considerations, audience governance frameworks and measurement standards relevant to financial services and regulated environments
• Attend all key internal and external client meetings; deliver outstanding levels of proactive client service
• Provide senior oversight of the global consumer goods account — managing campaign planning, budgeting, audience strategy and client liaison within the defined scope

Finance & Scope Management

• Maintain accurate PO tracking, invoicing and quarterly reconciliations across all accounts
• Ensure finance processes are adhered to by the team in line with Mindshare and client requirements
• Monitor scope utilisation across SOWs and escalate out-of-scope requests promptly and commercially

Team & Offshore Coordination

• Coordinate onshore and offshore delivery teams, establishing clear briefing processes, QA standards and communication rhythms that ensure consistent and timely output
• Support the development of junior team members, reviewing output quality and providing actionable guidance
• Ensure workloads are monitored and prioritised across the team to meet SLAs and client deadlines

Driving Process & Efficiency

• Develop and maintain efficient ways of working across direct and offshore resource
• Ensure briefing, planning and finance processes are strictly adhered to by the team
• Continuously review optimisation, budget management and workflow processes to identify opportunities for improvement

Raising Our Profile

• Keep up to date with industry developments across the biddable and digital landscape in order to offer considered points of view
• Surface strong work within the team and contribute to case study and award entry submissions where appropriate
• Support cross-agency initiatives and contribute to the wider Channels & Solutions team as required

Ensuring Profitability

• Maintain awareness of all scopes of work across the portfolio and flag resource or budget variances to the Business Director
• Ensure client resource allocations are adhered to and reported accurately

A Note on Contract and Portfolio

This is a 12-month fixed term contract covering a period of maternity leave. The role is structured around an active portfolio of accounts across the technology, financial services and consumer goods verticals. On an occasional basis, the candidate may be asked to flex capacity to support other accounts or projects within the broader Channels & Solutions team as business needs require.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. 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.

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