Associate Director - Activation

WPP Media; Gurugram District; Hybrid; INR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive medical insurance

Group retirement plans

Paid time off

Preferential partner discounts

Mental health awareness days

Job summary

A leading global media firm is seeking an Operations Manager responsible for project delivery and client servicing for large-scale urban activations. This role necessitates strong operational skills in managing vendors and overseeing budgets, making it essential for effective execution of high-quality projects. The candidate should possess 7–10 years of experience in experiential marketing or event management, alongside excellent communication and team leadership abilities. Opportunities for employee growth and hybrid work are included.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in Experiential Marketing, Events, or Brand Activations.
• Prior experience in experiential agencies or brand marketing operations.
• Strong multi-tasking abilities with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive project planning, including timelines and resource allocation.
• Manage vendor performance and quality control across execution stages.
• Act as the primary operational point of contact for clients.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Budgeting

Event production

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Post-graduate in Marketing, Event Management, or related fields

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Role

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical 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 by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Role Overview

The Operations Manager will be accountable for end-to-end planning, execution, and client servicing for large-scale urban activations and events. The role requires a strong command over on-ground operations, cross-functional coordination, vendor management, and financial stewardship to ensure seamless delivery of high-quality projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Execution: Lead comprehensive project planning, including scoping, timelines, resource allocation, and operational workflows.
• Drive implementation of all on-ground activation elements, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and safety compliance.
• Conduct site recces, feasibility assessments, and risk evaluations to build robust execution plans.
• Vendor & Partner Management: Identify, onboard, and manage vendors across fabrication, manpower, logistics, technology, and production verticals.
• Oversee vendor performance and quality control across all execution stages.
• Maintain strong industry relationships and vendor contacts to optimize cost, efficiency, and service standards.
• Costing, Budgeting & Negotiation: Prepare detailed project costings and budgets with accuracy and transparency.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure competitive rates while maintaining quality benchmarks.
• Track project spends, manage invoicing documentation, and ensure financial discipline.
• Client Servicing & Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary operational point of contact for clients and Business teams, ensuring proactive communication and expectation management.
• Present plans, MIS updates, weekly progress reports, and post-event documentation with clarity and precision.
• Resolve operational challenges swiftly, ensuring high client satisfaction and repeat business.
• Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Coordination: Guide internal teams (creative, operations, finance, procurement) to deliver cohesive project outcomes.
• Mentor junior team members on operational processes, vendor engagement, and execution best practices.
• Collaborate with account and strategy teams to translate client briefs into executable activation formats.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong project management and multi-tasking abilities.
• Expertise in vendor management, negotiations, budgeting, and cost optimization.
• Excellent grasp of on-ground activation logistics, fabrication techniques, and event production workflows.
• High attention to detail, problem-solving aptitude, and ability to work under demanding timelines.
• Strong communication, documentation, and client-relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and operational reporting formats.

Qualifications

• 7–10 Years experience (preferably in Experiential Marketing / Events / Brand Activations)
• Post-graduate in Marketing, Event Management, Mass Communication, or related fields.
• Prior experience in experiential agencies, events, BTL activations, or brand marketing operations preferred.

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 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.

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