Commerce Account Director

WPP Media; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Medical, vision & dental insurance

Pension plans

Paid time off & holidays

Employee discounts

Mental health days

Job summary

WPP Media in the United Kingdom is seeking a senior retail media leader to drive end-to-end client delivery. You will lead planning and activation across Amazon, CitrusAd and Criteo, with Tesco retail media SME responsibilities and a focus on data-driven, insight-led strategies.

You will manage client relationships, coach a high-performing team, and collaborate with cross-functional partners to embed retail media in broader marketing plans.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading retail media programs for major brands.
• Strong stakeholder management across clients, agencies and partners.
• Deep knowledge of Tesco retail media and related platforms.
• Experience planning, activating and reporting across search and DSP channels.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end client work and delivery with high standards.
• Develop client objectives and KPIs; shape insight-led retail strategies.
• Guide planning across Amazon, CitrusAd and Criteo for best-in-class execution.
• Act as Tesco retail media SME; provide strategic guidance to teams and clients.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through processes and tools.
• Manage relationships with clients and media partners; provide insights.
• Coach and develop a high-performing team; progress careers.
• Lead client workshops and strategic planning sessions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including GOC on integrations.
• Embed retail media in broader marketing mix including audience planning.

Skills

Account Leadership

Strategic Planning

Retail Media Expertise

Tesco Retail Media SME

Innovation & Proactivity

Client Relationship Mgmt

Team Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Data Literacy

Communication & Storytelling

Project Management

Cross-team Collaboration

Retail Media Integration

Partner & Product Development

Tools

Skai

Pacvue

AMC

Sphere

Nectar 360

Amazon Advertising

CitrusAd

Criteo

Job description

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 ourpioneeringagentic 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.

About Wavemaker: A leading WPP Media brand

Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built toevolve.

Role Summary and impact

Key Responsibilities

• Account Leadership & Delivery
  Lead the end-to-end output of the team across client-facing work and operational delivery. Ensure consistently high standards, with strong adherence to processes, controls, and best practices.
• Strategic Planning & Business Understanding
  Develop a deep understanding of the client’s business, objectives, and KPIs. Apply this to shape effective, insight-led retail media strategies that drive measurable outcomes.
• Retail Media Platform Expertise (Amazon, Citrus, Criteo)
  Demonstrate strong experience working across key retail media platforms including Amazon, CitrusAd, and Criteo. Apply platform expertise to guide planning, optimisation, and performance, ensuring best-in-class execution across search and display channels.
• Tesco Retail Media SME Leadership
  Act as the subject matter expert for Tesco retail media, overseeing full‑funnel activity and ensuring a cohesive approach from awareness through to conversion. Provide strategic guidance to both internal teams and clients on Tesco capabilities, opportunities, and best practices.
• Innovation & Proactive Thinking
  Stay informed on industry trends, platform developments, and new product releases. Proactively identify and introduce opportunities to enhance client performance and maintain a competitive edge.
• Client & Partner Relationship Management
  Build and maintain strong relationships with key client stakeholders and media partners. Act as a trusted point of contact, confidently contributing insights and recommendations beyond immediate scope.
• Team Leadership & Development
  Support and develop a high‑performing team, fostering a collaborative and accountable working environment. Take an active role in coaching, performance management, and career progression.
• Communication Leadership
  Lead day‑to‑day communications across clients, partners, and internal stakeholders, ensuring clear alignment and effective delivery. Engage senior leadership when required.
• Operational Excellence & Process Improvement
  Continuously identify opportunities to improve efficiency through better processes, automation, and adoption of tools and technology.
• Financial & Process Ownership
  Oversee activation‑related financial processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery across all campaigns.
• Measurement & Performance
  Maintain a strong understanding of measurement frameworks and partner capabilities. Use this knowledge to guide optimisation strategies and performance discussions with clients.
• Workshops & Strategic Contribution
  Lead and contribute to client workshops and planning sessions, bringing structured thinking, insight, and strategic direction.
• Cross‑Team Collaboration
  Work closely with cross‑functional teams (including GOC) to ensure seamless integration and consistent, high‑quality execution across all workstreams.
• Retail Media Integration
  Play a key role in embedding retail media within broader client strategies, identifying opportunities to connect activity across the wider marketing mix, including audience planning in systems such as Sphere and Nectar 360.
• Partner & Product Development
  Support the development and testing of commerce products and solutions in collaboration with partners such as Skai, ensuring continued innovation and relevance.
• Personal Development
  Set clear objectives with your line manager and demonstrate ongoing growth in leadership, strategic thinking, and client impact.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, our culture and people are at the heart of everything we do. In this role, it is essential to embody WPP and WPP Media’s core values:

• Be Extraordinary by leading collectively to inspire transformational creativity.
• Create an Open Environment by balancing people and client needs, cultivating trust and collaboration.
• Lead Optimistically by championing growth and development to drive progress across the business.
• Strong experience in eCommerce and retail media, including campaign set‑up, management, optimisation, and reporting across both media owner and technology vendor platforms.
• Excellent understanding of the strategic and tactical application of retail media and digital marketing, with the ability to translate this into effective client solutions.
• Proven hands‑on experience across key platforms, including Amazon, Criteo, and CitrusAd, with a solid understanding of the wider UK retail landscape (e.g. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Morrisons, Ocado) and quick commerce partners (e.g. Deliveroo, Uber Eats).
• Experience working with bid management platforms such as Skai and/or Pacvue.
• Experience with planning and activation across search/sponsored product and DSP.
• Experience with AMC for audience and insight a bonus.
• Demonstrated project management and team leadership experience, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deliver against deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience coordinating across clients, internal teams, and external partners.
• High level of data literacy, with the ability to interpret performance data and translate insights into clear strategic recommendations.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and quality across all outputs.
• Confident communication and storytelling skills, able to present ideas and strategies clearly and persuasively to a range of stakeholders.
• Effective team management capabilities, including workload prioritisation, clear communication, and supporting team development.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with the ability to remain calm under pressure and navigate complex or fast‑paced environments.
• A genuine drive to elevate work beyond the expected, bringing energy, curiosity, and continuous improvement to the role.

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment toBe Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We alsoLead Optimistically,firmly believingin andChampioning Growth and Developmentfor every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees toleveragethe extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at thecutting edgeof marketing and advertising.

WeCreate an Open environmentbuilt 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 eventsshowcasingteam 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 whenwe'retogether, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment.That'swhywe’veadopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If yourequireaccommodations 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

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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