VP Data Science

WPP; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP is looking for a VP, Strategic Data Science to lead the strategic data-science capability within our Open Intelligence Solutions domain.

This role blends deep data-science expertise with strong media, marketing and commercial understanding, sitting at the intersection of data science, product, clients and commercial strategy to turn complex data into actionable insights and scalable analytical solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading data-science or analytics teams.
• Strong expertise in audience modelling, segmentation and forecasting.
• Deep understanding of media, marketing or advertising domains.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into analytical solutions.
• Proven track record of scalable analytical products.

Responsibilities

• Own the vision, strategy and operating model for data science across domain intelligence solutions.
• Set best practices and standards for how advanced analytics supports client, product and commercial priorities.
• Lead the development of audience definition, segmentation and behavioural modelling approaches.
• Translate complex data into actionable audience and consumer intelligence.
• Turn client needs and commercial opportunities into clear modelling roadmaps, analytical frameworks and reusable solutions.
• Establish best practices across measurement, forecasting and insight generation.
• Lead forecasting and predictive analytics across audience, consumer and media intelligence use cases.
• Develop and scale consumer-research automation approaches that increase speed, consistency and depth of insight.
• Lead the development of synthetic populations and synthetic panels, ensuring credible and commercially useful methodologies.
• Ensure analytical approaches are rigorous, explainable and applicable across client challenges.
• Act as a senior client and stakeholder partner, shaping solutions with clear commercial relevance.
• Work with Product, Commercial, Consumer Research, Measurement, Forecasting, Audience Strategy and Applied Data Science teams.
• Provide strategic direction across flagship data-science initiatives.
• Lead and develop senior applied data scientists working across modelling, forecasting, synthetic populations and media effectiveness.
• Set quality standards that ensure work is rigorous, scalable, reusable and commercially valuable.

Skills

Data science leadership

Audience modelling

Segmentation

Forecasting

Predictive analytics

Media intelligence

Commercial delivery

Job description

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands.

We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company - powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.

Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.

We're looking for a VP, Strategic Data Science to lead the strategic data-science capability within our Open Intelligence Solutions (OIS) domain.

This is a newly defined senior leadership role for someone who can combine deep data-science expertise with strong media, marketing and commercial understanding. You'll sit at the intersection of data science, product, clients and commercial strategy, turning complex data and business challenges into advanced modelling approaches, actionable insights and scalable analytical solutions.

You'll shape how we use data science to understand audiences and consumer behaviour, improve measurement and forecasting, automate consumer research, generate insight and develop synthetic populations and panels.

This is not a role focused solely on technical delivery. You'll be a senior strategic partner to clients and internal stakeholders, helping define what we should build, why it matters and how data science can create measurable business value.

What you'll do:

Lead our strategic data-science capability

• Own the vision, strategy and operating model for data science across domain intelligence solutions.
• Set best practices and standards for how advanced analytics supports client, product and commercial priorities.
• Lead the development of audience definition, segmentation and behavioural modelling approaches.
• Translate complex data into actionable audience and consumer intelligence.
• Turn client needs and commercial opportunities into clear modelling roadmaps, analytical frameworks and reusable solutions.

Drive measurement, forecasting and insight

• Establish best practices across measurement, media effectiveness and insight generation.
• Lead forecasting and predictive analytics across audience, consumer and media intelligence use cases.
• Develop and scale consumer-research automation approaches that increase the speed, consistency and depth of insight.
• Lead the development of synthetic populations and synthetic panels, ensuring methodologies are credible, interpretable and commercially useful.
• Ensure analytical approaches are rigorous, explainable and capable of being applied across real client challenges.

Partner with clients and lead teams

• Act as a senior client and stakeholder partner, shaping solutions that have clear commercial relevance.
• Work closely with Product, Commercial, Consumer Research, Measurement, Forecasting, Audience Strategy and Applied Data Science teams.
• Provide strategic direction across flagship data-science initiatives.
• Lead and develop senior applied data scientists working across audience and segmentation modelling, consumer and media intelligence, forecasting, predictive analytics, synthetic populations and panels, and media effectiveness.
• Set quality standards that ensure our work is rigorous, scalable, reusable and commercially valuable.

What we're looking for:

We're looking for an experienced data-science leader who can operate comfortably between strategy, technology and commercial delivery.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience leading data science, advanced analytics or applied data-science teams.
• Strong expertise in areas such as audience modelling, segmentation, behavioural modelling, forecasting, predictive analytics, measurement or consumer intelligence.
• Deep understanding of media, marketing and/or advertising, with the ability to apply data science to real-world commercial challenges.
• Experience translating complex client or business problems into practical analytical solutions.
• A track record of developing methodologies, frameworks or analytical products that can be scaled and reused.
• Strong understanding of measurement and media effectiveness.
• Experience working with senior clients and stakeholders and communicating complex technical concepts in a clear, commercially relevant way.
• The ability to provide strategic direction while remaining close enough to the technical detail to challenge assumptions and maintain high standards.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience developing senior data-science talent.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people - We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity - We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work - Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

#LI-Hybrid

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.

WPP 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.