Manager, Retail Media Search

WPP Media Limited; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plans

Vision & dental insurance

Significant paid time off

Partner discounts

Mental health awareness days

Job summary

WPP Unite is seeking a Manager, Retail Media Search to lead strategy, activation, and optimization of sponsored search campaigns across Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect and other networks in the US. You will drive keyword strategy, bidding, and product targeting to maximize ROAS and growth for multiple client portfolios.

You will collaborate with Directors and cross-functional teams, mentor junior staff, and help evolve our retail search capabilities in a rapidly changing landscape.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Analytics, Advertising, or related field.
• Experience in retail media advertising and sponsored search.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate data into actions.
• Experience with Pacvue, Skai, Epsilon or similar tools.
• Ability to manage multiple campaigns and client demands in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day strategy, activation, and optimization of sponsored search campaigns across key retail media networks.
• Develop and execute keyword strategies, bidding methodologies, budget allocation, and product targeting.
• Manage campaign structures across Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display where applicable.
• Identify opportunities to improve product discoverability, search visibility, and ROAS while reducing wasted spend.
• Mentor team members and establish best practices across retail search programs.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Campaign optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Pacvue

Skai

Epsilon

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 ourpioneeringagentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

About WPP Unite

WPP Unite is a specialized unit within the WPP network, designed to deliver integrated, transformative marketing solutions for some of our most strategic clients. We bring together talent and capabilities across disciplines, including media, creative, strategy, commerce, and analytics, to operate as one unified team.

Our focus is not only on delivering exceptional work, but on continuously evolving how we work. We build and scale modern operating models, workflows, and tools that drive efficiency, transparency, and measurable impact across the business.

Role Summary & Impact

We are seeking a Manager, Retail Media Search with deep, hands‑on experience building, managing, and optimizing sponsored search campaigns across leading retail media networks.

This role is ideal for a retail search expert who understands how consumers discover and purchase products across digital marketplaces and can translate search data into measurable sales growth. You will lead retail search strategy and activation across key retail media platforms, with a strong emphasis on campaign performance, keyword strategy, bidding optimization, product‑level targeting, and return on advertising investment.

Working closely with the Director, Commerce Search, you will manage complex retail search programs, develop scalable optimization frameworks, and identify opportunities to improve performance across clients, retailers, and product portfolios. You will also help advance the team's retail search capabilities, mentor team members, and establish best practices across a rapidly evolving retail media landscape.

Key Responsibilities

Retail Search Strategy & Activation

• Lead the day‑to‑day strategy, activation, and optimization of sponsored search campaigns across Amazon, Walmart, and other retail media networks.
• Develop and execute keyword strategies, bidding methodologies, budget allocation, product targeting, and search placement strategies aligned with client business objectives.
• Manage campaign structures across Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Display where applicable, and equivalent retail search ad products across other marketplaces.
• Identify opportunities to improve product discoverability, search visibility, conversion rates, sales growth, and advertising efficiency.
• Own campaign execution, including setup, pacing, budget management, optimization, troubleshooting, and quality assurance.

Performance Analysis & Optimization

• Analyze campaign performance using metrics such as ROAS, ACOS, TACOS, CPC, conversion rate, impressions, click‑through rate, and incremental sales where measurable.
• Translate campaign data, search term reports, keyword performance, and competitive insights into actionable recommendations.
• Identify opportunities to improve keyword coverage, reduce wasted spend, capture additional demand, and increase share of relevant search placements.
• Develop and execute structured testing strategies across bidding, targeting, campaign structures, and optimization approaches.
• Connect advertising performance with broader retail outcomes, including organic sales, product availability, pricing, promotional activity, profitability, and inventory considerations.

Retail Media Platforms & Technology

• Manage campaigns across platforms such as Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, and other relevant retail media networks, including Instacart, Target, and Kroger where applicable.
• Use retail media management and optimization tools such as Pacvue, Skai, Epsilon, or comparable platforms to improve campaign efficiency and performance.
• Leverage retailer reporting, search term insights, and marketplace analytics to inform optimization decisions.
• Stay current on retail media advertising products, search algorithms, marketplace developments, and emerging optimization technologies.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the Director, Commerce Search, to develop retail search best practices, operating frameworks, and scalable activation methodologies.
• Collaborate with commerce, investment, analytics, planning, and client teams to integrate retail search into broader commerce and media strategies.
• Present performance insights and optimization recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Mentor and develop team members, promote analytical rigor, and support consistent execution across retail search programs.
• Build strong relationships with retail media partners and identify opportunities to improve campaign performance and unlock incremental growth.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in retail media advertising, with substantial hands‑on responsibility for sponsored search campaign management and optimization.
• Demonstrated experience managing retail search campaigns on Amazon Ads and/or Walmart Connect.
• Deep understanding of keyword research, search term analysis, bidding strategies, budget allocation, product targeting, search placements, and campaign structure.
• Proven ability to analyze campaign performance and optimize toward business outcomes, including ROAS, ACOS, sales growth, and advertising efficiency.
• Hands‑on experience with retail media platforms such as Pacvue, Skai, Epsilon, or comparable tools.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn performance data into actionable campaign optimizations and client recommendations.
• Experience managing multiple campaigns, products, brands, or client accounts in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong communication, organization, problem‑solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Analytics, Advertising, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience across multiple retail media networks beyond Amazon, including Walmart, Instacart, Target, Kroger, or comparable platforms.
• Experience managing Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands at scale across large product catalogs.
• Understanding of the relationship between paid search, organic ranking, retail readiness, product detail page quality, and total sales performance.
• Experience with retail media incrementality, profitability analysis, and measurement beyond last‑click ROAS.
• Experience mentoring junior team members or leading search activation workstreams.
• Familiarity with broader commerce media, offsite retail media, and cross‑channel measurement.

Life At WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment toBe Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We alsoLead Optimistically, firmly believing in andChampioning Growth and Developmentfor every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of 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 employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team 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 when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in an open and supportive environment. 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 that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

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The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job‑related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, go to https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome for more details.

US Pay Range

$60,000 - $140,000 USD

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