Agency Development Director

Hearst UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to Work

Health Cash Plan

Gym discounts

Salary Finance tools

Office in London

Job summary

Hearst UK is seeking an Agency Development Director to lead the WPP agency strategy and commercial campaigns across a major sales patch. You will cultivate senior agency relationships, identify new business opportunities and position Hearst across digital, print, partnerships and events.

Collaborating with Account Management, Creative Strategy and editorial teams, you will drive campaign responses from brief to delivery with commercially strong outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within commercial media, agency sales or partnerships.
• Proven ability to own and grow an agency patch and develop clear commercial strategies.
• Strong commercial awareness with budgets, pipeline activity and revenue performance.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for senior stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of digital, print, partnerships and events landscape.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving with briefing analysis.
• Experience mentoring or developing others; collaborative and results-driven.

Responsibilities

• Own the agency strategy for the WPP patch and identify growth opportunities.
• Maintain senior relationships with agency planners, buyers, and directors as primary campaign contact.
• Identify and drive commercial opportunities across existing and new accounts; upsell growth.
• Lead agency presentations, reviews and immersion sessions; communicate Hearst’s proposition.
• Manage budgets, pipeline activity and booked revenue with forecasting and tracking.
• Collaborate with internal teams to shape strong responses and translate ideas into strategy.
• Stay aligned with Hearst product portfolio and market trends; support commercial targets.

Skills

Agency relationships

Patch ownership

Budget management

Forecasting

Presentations

Cross-functional

Team leadership

Job description

Job Description

We are the UK's leading premium publisher, home to iconic and influential media brands including Esquire, Men’s & Women’s Health, ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Digital Spy, Cosmopolitan, Red and more. At Hearst UK, we don't just create content – we shape culture.

Our workplace is driven by passion, shaped by authenticity and powered by creativity. We back bold ideas, act with an entrepreneurial mindset and continually evolve to meet the moment - while respecting the legacy that’s brought us here. We believe in each other’s potential and push boundaries together to create meaningful impact, both across the media landscape and in people’s lives.

We’re proud of our heritage - but even more excited about making history.

Hearst UK operates an in office policy with flexible Friday’s. Our office is based at House of Hearst, 30 Panton Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 4AJ, where teams collaborate in person and connect across brands and functions.

Salary – £53,000 - £57,000 – Salary is dependent on experience and will be assessed in line with the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and relevant expertise.

The Role…

As Agency Development Director, you will lead the WPP agency strategy and commercial campaigns for your sales patch, focusing on some of Hearst’s biggest opportunities outside of our top 100 accounts. You will build senior agency relationships, identify new business opportunities and position Hearst as a leading publisher across digital, print, partnerships and events.

Working closely with Account Management, Creative Strategy and key internal stakeholders, you will lead campaign responses from brief to delivery, ensuring commercially strong, strategically aligned proposals that translate into successful execution. You will represent Hearst confidently across agency partners while leading, developing and supporting your team to drive commercial growth and deliver outstanding results. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced agency sales leader with strong senior relationships, commercial ambition and the ability to influence clients, stakeholders and direct reports.

Main Duties…

• Own the agency strategy for the WPP patch, identifying priority agencies, relationship opportunities, growth areas and commercial focus points to support revenue delivery and Hearst’s wider objectives.
• Build and maintain strong senior relationships with agency planners, buyers, Directors, Heads of and key decision-makers, acting as the primary contact for campaign responses and execution.
• Identify and drive proactive commercial opportunities across both existing and new business accounts, with a focus on upselling campaigns and growing revenue.
• Lead agency presentations, business reviews, immersion sessions and meetings, clearly communicating Hearst’s proposition, campaign performance, market insight and growth opportunities.
• Manage budgets, pipeline activity and booked revenue across your agency patch, providing accurate forecasting, commercial tracking and strategic recommendations to senior commercial leaders.
• Work collaboratively with Account Management, Creative Strategy, editorial teams and wider stakeholders to interrogate briefs, shape commercially strong responses and ensure campaign ideas are effectively translated into strategy.
• Maintain a strong understanding of Hearst’s full product portfolio, market positioning and agency spend trends, attending relevant sales hub meetings to remain close to commercial targets and opportunities.
• Line manage and support direct reports through coaching, feedback and development, while acting as an ambassador for Hearst UK and undertaking any additional duties appropriate to your skills, qualifications and experience.

What We Are Looking For…

• Significant experience within a commercial media, agency sales or partnerships environment, with strong senior agency relationships at Director and Head of level.
• Proven ability to own and grow an agency patch, developing clear commercial strategies focused on relationship management, revenue growth and long-term opportunity development. Strong relationships across WPP.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, pipeline activity, forecasting and revenue performance.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to influence and engage senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• A deep understanding of the digital, print, partnerships and events landscape, alongside strong market awareness and curiosity around industry developments.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interrogate briefs, shape commercially effective responses and influence outcomes through collaboration.
• Highly organised with excellent prioritisation, multitasking and attention to detail, alongside the ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing others, with a collaborative, resilient and personable approach and a passion for delivering exceptional results and customer service.

Benefits…

Your benefits at Hearst UK are more than just extras–they are tools to help you thrive in every part of life.

Hearst Exclusives – Only for You!

• Get adventurous with Good Housekeeping Taste and Beauty Testing Panels - yes, you could be trying the next big thing in beauty, food & drink.
• Snag luxe beauty steals at our legendary office sample sales - score big on top brands without breaking the bank!

Inclusion, Health & Wellbeing: Feel Your Best

• Stay healthy with Specsavers eye care, a company-funded Health Cash Plan, and access to mental health support.
• Get active and stress‐free with discounted gym memberships and the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Embrace flexibility with a Location Flex and Holiday Exchange to take time when you need it.
• Take time to give back with a Charity Day and access wellbeing resources whenever you need them.
• Join one of our Hearst ERG Groups.

Financial Wellness – Boost Your Budget

• Plan ahead with a generous Workplace Pension, Income Protection, Life Assurance and Season Ticket Loan for easier commuting.
• Make smarter money moves using Salary Finance tools, Financial Wellbeing sessions, and Home Tech benefits to spread costs.
• Treat yourself with major discounts across London plus everyday savings via the HAPI at Hearst app.

Hearst UK is deeply committed to using our influential brands to reflect the world we want to live in – one that respects, protects, represents and uplifts the voices and opinions of all people. As a business, we recognise the significant benefits of creativity, collaboration and innovation that comes with diverse teams. Not only is diversifying the voices in our organization the right thing to do, but it also helps us to make powerful and exciting content that can be enjoyed by many more people. This is why we’re working to build a sense of true belonging within our business and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard.