Head of Paid Media

Wiser; City Of London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive marketing agency in London is looking for a Head of Paid Media to lead client-facing campaigns and media functions. This role demands extensive media knowledge, leadership capabilities, and P&L management experience. The successful candidate will inspire a high-performing team and drive innovative campaigns for notable clients. Benefits include flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a vibrant workplace culture.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Health insurance

Gym membership

Learning & development opportunities

Supportive culture

Extra leave days

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in media and campaigns agency-side.
• Proven ability to manage P&L and revenue targets.
• Experience with campaign development across digital and paid channels.

Responsibilities

• Lead campaign strategy and media activation.
• Manage media partnerships and oversee team performance.
• Drive commercial success and manage P&L.

Skills

Media strategy

Leadership

Performance analysis

P&L management

Campaign management

Job description

ROLE

At Wiser, we’re redefining how employer brand recruitment marketing campaigns are run. We’re looking for a Head of Paid Media to lead our client-facing campaigns and media function, elevating how we activate strategies across digital and paid media, and ensuring our work consistently sets the benchmark for employer branding campaigns.

You’ll be responsible for campaign strategies, media activation, partner management, and performance reporting, ensuring everything we deliver is innovative, insight-led, and impactful. This role is equal parts leadership and execution. You’ll coach and guide the team while also being able to step into any media situation yourself, driving clarity, solving challenges, and ensuring best-in-class delivery.

You’ll also own commercial success, managing the P&L and growth strategy to scale the function in a way that’s ambitious, operationally sound, and commercially sustainable.

This role is for a proven leader in media and campaigns, someone who thrives in fast-paced, high-performance environments and knows how to build, scale, and inspire high-performing teams.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Leading from the front, acting as both an inspirational leader and hands-on operator. You’ll work on our most high-profile clients (e.g., Comcast, Barclays, McCain), while overseeing and signing off campaign work across the entire function, setting the bar for media and campaign excellence.

• Owning campaign strategy and activation, overseeing media planning, buying, execution, optimisation, and reporting, ensuring all campaigns are insight-driven, high-performing, and results-focused.

• Managing media partnerships, working with external partners, platforms, and vendors, while developing new models, systems, and tools to scale campaigns effectively.

• Setting and improving team standards, embedding a culture of high performance where accountability, feedback, and continuous development are the norm. You’ll mentor and inspire top talent, managing a team of six campaign strategists and media managers.

• Operating independently, leading the Campaigns function while strengthening client relationships, supporting RFPs/pitches, and providing senior-level media expertise, both internally and externally, to build credibility and trust.

• Driving commercial success, managing P&L, revenue targets, pricing structures, and new business to ensure financial growth and long-term sustainability.

• Building systems and processes, refining workflows, commissioning models, and reporting frameworks, ensuring campaigns run seamlessly and efficiently at scale.

• Pushing for recognition, ensuring campaigns not only deliver results but also achieve award-winning status, keeping Wiser at the forefront of global employer brand campaigns.

• Working with teams across the business, operating side by side with Creative, Key Accounts and Research & Strategy to make sure campaigns are seamlessly integrated, driving a one-team mindset that delivers the best results for clients and for Wiser.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• A proven expert in media and campaigns, with 10+ years’ experience agency-side across digital and paid channels, media strategy, planning, buying, optimisation, and analytics.

• A hands-on operator, who not only oversees and guides but actively works alongside the team, able to step into any media situation and elevate it.

• A high-performance leader, passionate about developing talent, mentoring individuals, and fostering a high-performance culture.

• A proven commercial operator, experienced in managing P&L, revenue targets, pricing structures, and driving growth.

• A future-thinking builder, expanding the world of campaigns within Wiser by developing new services, refining existing ones, building systems to support delivery, and expanding our media partnerships.

• A trusted, senior voice in any room, able to lead client presentations, pitches, and problem-solving sessions with gravitas.

• An operational machine, capable of refining processes, structuring teams effectively, and driving efficiency at scale.

• Someone who thrives in a global context, experienced in delivering campaigns across regions including the UK, EMEA, and beyond.

Experience in employer branding and recruitment marketing is welcome but not essential; interest and willingness to learn are key.

PURPLE PERKS: WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• A Happiness team whose role is to make Wiser the best place to work possible. Whether it’s keeping the office stocked up with snacks, sending you a care package when you’re poorly, or planning the next Wiser party, they make the office a much happier place.

• A culture calendar full of options - from black tie to sports day, book club or run club, there’s something for everyone.

• We’re pretty proud of the space we have here - from phone booths to walking pads, all the way to a rainforest for focus-time… whatever vibe you need, you can find it here.

• The W breakfast - our Happiness team makes sure everyone starts the day right with a hotel-worthy breakfast spread. Fancy coffee tap and unlimited fizzies on offer too.

• On top of your holiday allowance, the office also closes for up to 2 weeks over the festive period so we can all recharge before coming back in the new year.

• Wiser Bank Holiday - an extra day off in October each year to celebrate our first ever million-pound-month.

• Moving House Day - one of life’s most stressful events made easier by an extra day off.

• Work from Anywhere allowance - days to work from home or wherever you fancy.

• Learning & development - monthly ‘Wiser Way’ days with training modules taught by our leaders.

• Therapy - access to up to 3 subsidised therapy sessions per year.

• Vitality Health Insurance - full coverage after probation, with dentist, doctors, opticians, and rewards.

• Gymbox - exclusive membership at a reduced rate after probation.

THE ROAD TO WISER...

1. Apply (Go on... do it)
2. Intro call with the Talent team
3. Video call with the hiring manager
4. Tour of the gaff & a task
5. Final with our COO

At Wiser, we’re committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels empowered to be themselves and inspired to excel. We know that true creativity and innovation thrive when diversity is celebrated and everyone is given equal access to opportunities. That’s why we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability, or socioeconomic status.

We believe that everyone should feel comfortable and be able to back themselves in an inclusive environment where individuality is celebrated. We’re building a team as diverse as the brands we work with, and our aim is to change the way people think about work.

If you’re passionate about making meaningful moves in an environment that’s as inclusive as it is high-performing, we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to Wiser. Feel free to reach out to our Talent Team if you need any adjustments to make our hiring process more accessible.