Director, Media Activation, GCS

wppmedia; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP Media is seeking a Director, Media Activation to lead digital strategy and implementation planning across a portfolio of premium beauty brands. You will shape cross-channel roadmaps, drive data-informed decisions, and oversee the growth agenda from strategy to execution.

You will partner with Strategy, Comms Planning, Activation, AdTech and Data teams to deliver measurable outcomes and elevate D2C performance in a fast-evolving market.

Qualifications

• Significant digital planning leadership across Search, Social and Programmatic.
• Strong D2C and strategic capability to translate brand and commercial objectives into actionable digital plans.
• Advanced analytics and data understanding including GA4, platform data and dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Strategic and commercial leadership: Lead the evolution of the Implementation Planning offer for the ELC portfolio, identifying growth opportunities and owning the commercial plan across multiple brands.
• Cross-channel performance planning: Develop integrated digital roadmaps across Search, Social and Programmatic, aligning with brand objectives.
• Data, technology and forecasting: Assess digital maturity, create growth roadmaps and use forecasting models and dashboards to connect performance with outcomes.
• Test-and-learn culture: Design and embed a rigorous testing agenda for the beauty category, sharing learnings across brands.
• Audience-centric portfolio planning: Define high-value beauty audiences using first-, second- and third-party data strategies across brand priorities.
• Collaboration and innovation: Partner with Strategy, Comms Planning, Activation, AdTech and Data teams to turn strategy into executable plans.

Skills

Digital planning leadership

Cross-channel expertise

D2C strategy

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Beauty/consumer goods knowledge

Tools

GA4

Forecasting tools

Dashboards

Job description

About WPP Media

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 our pioneering agentic 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.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com .

2283 - Director, Media Activation, GCS

Role Summary and Impact

Join a high-performing, experienced team leading digital strategy for some of the world's most iconic beauty brands. As Director, Implementation Planning for The EstÃ’¡ Lauder Companies, you will play a pivotal role in accelerating digital and data transformation across a prestigious portfolio including EstÃ’¡ Lauder, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Tom Ford, Jo Malone London and more.

This role requires a digitally fluent leader with deep cross-channel performance expertise across Search, Social and Programmatic, and a strong understanding of Direct-to-Consumer growth in the beauty sector. You will connect brand-building ambition with in-market activation, using data, technology and audience insight to deliver measurable business outcomes. Working across brands with distinct identities and objectives, you will shape the evolution of ELC's digital marketing output and help build an operating model that consistently delivers best-in-class work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic and commercial leadership: Lead the evolution of the Implementation Planning offer for the ELC portfolio, identifying growth opportunities, shaping digital transformation priorities and owning the commercial plan across multiple brands.
• Cross-channel performance planning: Develop integrated digital roadmaps across Search, Social and Programmatic, ensuring D2C performance plans work seamlessly alongside brand-building activity and reflect the commercial ambition of each brand.
• Data, technology and forecasting: Assess ELC's digital maturity, create clear growth roadmaps and use advanced tools, forecasting models and dashboards to connect platform performance, GA4 metrics and business outcomes.
• Test-and-learn culture: Design and embed a rigorous testing agenda for the beauty category, ensuring learnings are captured, shared and applied across brands, launches and future planning cycles.
• Audience-centric portfolio planning: Define and engage high-value beauty audiences using first-, second- and third-party data strategies, adapting approaches across luxury, prestige and volume-driving brand priorities.
• Collaboration and innovation: Partner upstream with Strategy and Comms Planning teams, and downstream with Activation, AdTech and Data specialists, to turn strategic ambition into credible, executable and innovative digital plans.

Skills and Experience

• Significant digital planning leadership experience across Search, Social and Programmatic, ideally within complex multi-brand, retail, FMCG or beauty environments.
• Strong D2C and strategic capability, with the ability to translate brand and commercial objectives into detailed, actionable digital plans.
• Advanced analytical and technical understanding, including experience using GA4, platform data, forecasting tools, ad technology and measurement frameworks to inform decisions.
• Excellent client and stakeholder leadership, with the confidence to present complex media strategies, build trusted relationships and influence senior audiences.
• A curious, commercial and progressive mindset, with a passion for the beauty category, innovation, AI-enabled capability and continuous improvement.

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