business director

WPP Company; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP Production in Dubai is seeking a Business Director to lead multiple cross-functional teams across channels, language and production. You will drive strategic planning, client partnership, and end-to-end delivery while maintaining profitability and operational excellence in a hybrid work setting.

The role requires extensive experience managing large, globally distributed teams, strong leadership, and proven ability to influence senior clients.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading large-scale projects for global clients across multiple locations.
• Demonstrable experience of managing large teams and developing and nurturing talent, preferably in an agency environment.
• Experience of delivering strategic project plans and strong project methodologies.
• Proven senior level client management experience with the ability to confidently present, negotiate and influence.
• Ability to write clear, cohesive, and focused client presentations including strategic presentations with strong storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team across multiple locations, delivering production and language excellence.
• Set strategic goals and effectively lead a group of Directors – Operations, Production, Project Management, Language and Interactive.
• Manage the team’s performance reviews and development.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with CEMEA clients and ensure effective collaboration across teams.
• Oversee financial aspects including budgets, SOWs, KPIs, and profitability analysis.
• Drive growth and accountability through data-driven decision making.

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Strategic planning

P&L management

Team leadership

Job description

Job Description:

About WPP Production

We are WPP Production - the unified global production company that brings together all of WPP's content producers, studios and craft experts into one connected organisation. We combine world-class human craft with next generation technology to originate, design, and deliver multi-channel content systems at scale. Built for borderless collaboration and powered by deep craft expertise, we are the production engine designed for today's always on, AI driven marketing world.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

A Hybrid working model

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.

What does a Business Director do at WPP Production?

Our client is one of the world’s most recognised brands, a global technology company who consistently delivers innovation combined with beautiful design. The Business Director is responsible for leading all teams (Channel, Content, Interactive, Language and Management), whilst ensuring continuous delivery throughout. The result will be a high skilled and collaborative team who are delivering client service excellence and measurable efficiencies year on year. The Business Director will, along with the functional leads and senior leadership, work to deliver world-class marketing communications through knowledge, strategy, and exceptional planning. This role requires strategic thinking - the willingness to drive improvements, initiatives, and innovation as well as set and deliver best practice.

Key measures of success

• Continuous delivery of all projects, striving for excellence at every step
• Develop and own a strong strategic partnership with senior clients and global network.
• Full commercial accountability (KPI driven).
• Effective team leadership across multiple locations.
• Ability to change and influence, ensuring the team is leading the way on the global stage.

Leadership and strategy

• Lead and inspire a team across multiple locations, to deliver production and language excellence. Never compromising on quality and delivery.
• Leading by example, build an inclusive team culture, where collaboration, fresh thinking, a can-do attitude, and WPP Production values are embedded within the team DNA.
• Inspire and empower, ensuring work is effectively delegated and individuals take full ownership and responsibility for their function.
• Set strategic goals and effectively lead a group of Directors – Operations, Production, Project Management, Language and Interactive. Includes driving efficiencies, managing KPIs in line with the business needs
• Manage the team’s performance reviews and development.

Setout and implement a robust succession plan across the team.

Lead regular Town Halls and Team meetings to ensure there is a clear communication flow and that every member of the team is informed and updated on the company’s performance, initiatives and aligned on the vision and objectives.

Collaboration

• Build strong relationship with all levels of CEMEA clients to better understand their current and future needs and strategic approach.
• Responsible for day-to-day management of overall client communication and relationship health.
• Ensure all teams collaborate and function effectively as one-team, regularly coming together to review data, findings and align on strategy.
• Remove barriers and find solutions to meet client needs. Communicate clearly with clients on recommendations and solutions as part of planning, briefing and review sessions.
• Partner with Global Delivery Leads (SMEs, Global Optimization Director) to set and deliver productivity and utilization targets to ensure business success.
• Work closely with the Global Delivery Leads and Geo Operations Director to share best practices and represent CEMEA as part of any global initiatives.
• Build internal relationships across WPP Production and ensure CEMEA are equipped to deliver best in class.

Process and Operations

• Responsible for setting the strategic direction for delivery management, defining and implementing standards and processes.
• Understand client’s priorities and define viable approaches to deliver against these, in line with industry standards and best practice.
• Overall responsibility for CEMEA teams, across all locations, ensuring they are trained, supported and equipped to deliver best practice.
• Internal and external escalation point responsible for effective conflict resolution and problem solving.
• Drive continuous improvement; partnering with Production, Language and Interactive Leads to review delivery data and workflows, presenting recommendations to drive efficiencies that show the business benefit, risk analysis and steps required to implement.
• Identify and mitigate risk. Directly intervene and manage the recovery plan whenever business critical risks are identified.

Financials

• Commercial responsibility to ensure we deliver on forecasted budgets and profit margins.
• Commercial responsibility to ensure client’s budgets are aligned with the scope of work, and manage expectations accordingly.
• Seek to maximise revenue and margin across all workstreams.
• Use data and insight to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead key financial aspects of the account including overseeing estimating and actualization of budgets, management of SOW, delivery of KPIs, reporting, QBRs, profitability analysis and utilization.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the WPP Production business model, services, and technology.
• Drive innovation in partnership with Global Delivery Leads

Growth and account planning

• Support Global Leads in driving agency revenue growth across new business.
• Drive business growth through strong relationships, a solid knowledge of the clients’ business, strategic direction and future needs.
• Focus on cross selling our capabilities and services to extend our offering.
• Partner with the Commercial Team to develop robust commercial plans and rate cards.
• Lead new business pitches (when required).

Requirements

• Extensive experience leading large-scale projects for global clients across multiple locations.
• Demonstrable experience of managing large teams and developing and nurturing talent, preferably in an agency environment.
• Experience of delivering strategic project plans and strong project methodologies.
• Proven senior level client management experience with the ability to confidently present, negotiate and influence.
• Ability to write clear, cohesive, and focused client presentations including strategic presentations with strong storytelling skills.
• Experience of driving change and governance through cross-functional, multi-location teams.
• People orientated with a focus on mentoring and empowering teams.
• Extensive experience in financial management and P&L management.
• Excellent spreadsheet and presentation skills.
• Recruitment expertise: able to partner and strategize with recruitment and operational leads across multiple locations.
• Organised, self-starter, flexible, creative, solution-oriented individual with a ‘strive for better’ attitude.
• Attention to detail, analytical thinking and a passion for the work are essential.
• Must be able to prioritize and work quickly and efficiently within very tight time frames.
• Aligned to our values.
• Must be able to travel as required

Why work here

At WPP Production, you’ll help shape the future of content production at a truly global scale. We bring together world-class talent, cutting-edge studios, and advanced technology to solve some of the most complex creative and production challenges in the industry. You’ll work in a collaborative, borderless environment where craft excellence is valued, innovation is encouraged, and AI and next-generation tools are used to amplify not replace human creativity. With access to diverse projects, global career opportunities, and the backing of WPP’s unmatched network, this is a place where you can grow your skills, make real impact, and create work that performs for every audience, across every channel, at every moment.

Inclusion and Impact

WPP 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.

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