Senior Associate, Search

WPP Media Limited; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Pension plan

Vision and dental insurance

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Mental health days

Job summary

WPP Media Limited in the United Kingdom is seeking a Search Executive to manage delivery and optimisation of paid search campaigns. You will build strong technical foundations across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads, and understand how paid search contributes to broader client outcomes.

Working with Senior Executives and Directors, you will own defined areas of campaign execution, reporting, and analysis, developing skills to progress into more autonomous roles while benefiting from a collaborative,

Qualifications

• Interest in paid search and digital marketing.
• Exposure to Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, or paid media platforms.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn analytical skills.
• Comfort with numbers and data interpretation.
• Good communication and collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Support setup, optimisation, and maintenance of paid search campaigns across Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
• Assist with keyword research, creative, bid adjustments, and budget pacing under guidance.
• Perform QA checks to ensure campaigns are accurate and compliant.
• Help implement testing plans and measure impact.
• Support and QA work from Global Operations Centre and escalate issues as needed.

Skills

Paid search

Google Ads

Microsoft Ads

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Tools

Google Ads

Microsoft Advertising

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.

Role Summary and Impact

As a Search Executive, you will manage the delivery and optimisation of paid search activity across your clients. You will build strong technical foundations, develop confidence across platforms, and understand how paid search contributes to broader client and business outcomes.

Working closely with Senior Executives, Managers, and Directors, you will own defined areas of campaign execution, reporting, and analysis, developing the skills and confidence required to progress into more autonomous roles over time.

As part of the WPP Media you’ll be encouraged to continuously learn, ask questions, and build craft excellence in a supportive team environment.

Key Responsibilities

Campaign Support & Execution

• Support the setup, optimisation, and maintenance of paid search campaigns across platforms such as Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.
• Assist with keyword research, creative, bid adjustments, and budget pacing and optimisation under guidance from senior team members.
• Carry out quality assurance (QA) checks to ensure campaigns are accurate, compliant, and aligned to best practice.
• Help implement testing plans, learning how to measure impact and report results clearly.
• Support and quality check work delivered by Global Operations Centre (GOC) teams, escalating issues where required to maintain delivery standards.

Reporting & Analysis

• Support the preparation of client performance reports and dashboards, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
• Assist with performance analysis, identifying trends, anomalies, and opportunities to flag to clients and the wider team.
• Maintain internal trackers and documentation to support smooth delivery and transparency.
• Work collaboratively with Search and wider channel teams to support client deliverables.
• Attend internal and client meetings where appropriate, building confidence in how search performance is discussed.

Operational Excellence

• Follow established processes and ways of working to minimise risk and ensure high standards of delivery.
• Support financial and operational hygiene by ensuring activity is accurately reflected in internal systems where required.

Learning & Development

• Actively engage in training, certifications, and coaching to build paid search knowledge and capability.
• Seek feedback regularly and demonstrate progress against development goals.
• Contribute to team knowledge sharing by capturing learnings from tests, campaigns, or training.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. In this role, it will be important to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by leading collectively to inspire transformational creativity.
• Create an Open environment by balancing people and client experiences through trust.
• Lead Optimistically by championing growth and development.

You will bring:

• A strong interest in paid search and digital marketing, with a desire to build a career in Search.
• Some hands-on experience or exposure to Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, or paid media platforms (through research, work, placements, or training).
• Strong attention to detail and a willingness to learn technical and analytical skills.
• High degree of confidence working with numbers and data, with curiosity about what performance trends mean.
• Good communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• A proactive, organised approach to managing tasks and deadlines.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include 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 particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations 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

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