Paid Social Business Director

wppmedia; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Group retirement plan

Vision & dental insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

WPP Media, a leading AI‑driven media unit, seeks a Senior Business Director to steer Paid Social strategy across multiple client portfolios. You will lead senior client relationships, shape cross‑functional strategy, and help grow services while managing budgets and performance.

You will develop and guide high‑performing teams, foster innovation, and ensure delivery excellence in a hybrid UK environment. This role requires strong commercial acumen and leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Extensive paid social experience leading large client relationships and teams.
• Significant agency experience managing complex client portfolios.
• Deep knowledge of social platforms, measurement frameworks, and audience strategies.
• Strong commercial acumen with revenue, profitability and forecasting experience.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver strategic outcomes.
• Experience developing and inspiring high‑performing teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain senior-level client relationships as a trusted advisor.
• Lead annual planning, strategic reviews, and growth discussions across portfolios.
• Identify opportunities to drive client growth and expand services.
• Oversee accounts with strategic alignment to client objectives and retention.
• Own commercial performance, revenue targets, and profitability for the portfolio.
• Lead, coach and develop Account Directors and Paid Social specialists.
• Ensure governance, processes, and delivery excellence across teams.
• Partner with activation, data, analytics, technology and planning teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Drive innovation, testing frameworks, and new opportunities for competitive advantage.

Skills

Paid social leadership

Agency experience

Social platforms knowledge

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder influence

Team leadership

Communication skills

Operational management

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.

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.

Role Overview

The Paid Social Business Director is a senior leadership role within WPP Media, responsible for driving the strategic direction, commercial success, operational excellence, and growth of a portfolio of client accounts. As a recognised leader within the agency, the Business Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, influences agency‑wide social strategy, and plays a key role in shaping the future of the Paid Social practice.

You will provide leadership across multiple accounts and teams, ensuring best‑in‑class planning, activation, performance, and innovation. The role requires strong commercial acumen, exceptional client leadership skills, and the ability to inspire and develop high‑performing teams whilst contributing to WPP Media's broader growth ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

Client & Business Leadership

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with client stakeholders, acting as a trusted strategic partner and advisor.
• Lead annual planning, strategic reviews, and growth discussions across client portfolios.
• Identify opportunities to drive client growth, improve performance outcomes, and expand agency services.
• Provide senior oversight across accounts, ensuring strategic recommendations align with client business objectives.
• Own client retention, satisfaction, and long‑term account health.

Paid Social Leadership & Innovation

• Drive best‑in‑class paid social strategy across a portfolio of clients and sectors.
• Ensure teams remain at the forefront of platform developments, industry trends, audience strategies, measurement solutions, and emerging technologies.
• Champion innovation, testing frameworks, and new opportunities that deliver competitive advantage for clients.
• Collaborate with cross‑channel and specialist teams to deliver integrated marketing solutions.
• Act as a subject matter expert and thought leader both internally and externally.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Own the commercial performance of assigned accounts, ensuring delivery against revenue, profitability, and growth targets.
• Oversee forecasting, resource planning, and client financial management across account portfolios.
• Lead contract renewals, scope of work negotiations, and commercial discussions with senior client stakeholders.
• Support agency growth through new business pitches, credentials presentations, and organic growth initiatives.
• Ensure efficient deployment of team resources while maintaining high‑quality client delivery.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Account Directors and wider Paid Social specialists.
• Create an environment that promotes collaboration, learning, innovation, and high performance.
• Support succession planning, talent development, and career progression across the Paid Social team.
• Establish clear standards for leadership, account management, client servicing, and activation excellence.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and employee engagement across the practice.

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Ensure consistent adoption of WPP Media operational frameworks, governance standards, and platform best practices.
• Act as the senior escalation point for significant client, commercial, or operational challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement across processes, tools, workflows, and quality assurance standards.
• Partner with activation, data, analytics, technology, and planning teams to ensure seamless delivery.
• Ensure teams operate efficiently, compliantly, and to the highest standard of client service.

Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in paid social media, with a proven track record of leading large‑scale client relationships and teams.
• Significant agency experience managing complex accounts and multiple stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of social media platforms, measurement frameworks, audience strategies, and digital marketing trends.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing revenue, profitability, forecasting, and contract negotiations.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver strategic business outcomes.
• Experience leading, developing, and inspiring high‑performing teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Strong organisational and operational management capabilities.

Leadership Expectations

The Business Director is expected to:

• Set the strategic direction for client portfolios and team development.
• Act as an ambassador for WPP Media both internally and externally.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Drive business growth whilst maintaining exceptional standards of client service.
• Champion the continued evolution of the Paid Social discipline and contribute to the wider success of WPP Media.

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 inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically,firmly believingin and Championing Growth and Development for 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.

We Create an Open environment built 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 that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

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

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