Retail Search Lead: Strategy, Optimization & Growth

Wpp; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Paid time off

Partner discounts

Mental health days

Job summary

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. Search is at the heart of how consumers discover and purchase products.

As a Manager, Retail Search, you’ll help leading brands win across the digital shelf by developing and activating retail search strategies that drive measurable business results. We’re looking for a retail media and search expert who understands the nuances of marketplaces, bidding, keyword strategy, optimization, and performance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in retail media, paid search, biddable media, or commerce, with a strong preference for hands-on retail search experience.
• Deep understanding of retail search, including keyword strategy, bidding, product targeting, placements, budget allocation, and optimization.
• Experience managing campaigns across retail media platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, Target, Kroger, Criteo/CitrusAd, or similar.
• Experience with Pacvue, Skai, Epsilon, or other retail media/bid-management platforms.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn performance data into actionable recommendations.
• Understanding of how retail search fits into the broader commerce and media ecosystem.
• Experience managing and developing direct reports.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and project-management skills.
• A bias for action, problem-solving mindset, and genuine curiosity about the rapidly evolving retail media landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead retail search strategy and activation across multiple retail media networks.
• Develop and optimize keyword, bidding, budget, targeting, and product strategies to maximize performance.
• Manage day-to-day campaign setup, pacing, optimization, reporting, and troubleshooting.
• Analyze search performance and competitive activity to identify growth and optimization opportunities.
• Partner with the Director, Commerce Search to develop testing strategies, best practices, and new approaches to retail search.
• Build strong relationships with Amazon, Walmart, Criteo, CitrusAd, and other retail media partners.
• Stay ahead of changes in retail search, marketplace ad products, algorithms, measurement, and technology.
• Use platforms such as Pacvue, Skai, and Epsilon to optimize campaigns and improve activation efficiency.
• Connect search performance to broader commerce objectives, including sales, margin, inventory, promotions, and demand.
• Collaborate with planning, investment, analytics, and client teams to integrate search into the broader commerce strategy.
• Manage and mentor direct reports while helping establish best practices for the broader Commerce Search team.

Skills

retail media

paid search

biddable media

commerce

analytical skills

reporting

communication

Tools

Pacvue

Skai

Epsilon

Job description

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. Search is at the heart of how consumers discover and purchase products.

As a Manager, Retail Search, you’ll help leading brands win across the digital shelf by developing and activating retail search strategies that drive measurable business results. We’re looking for a retail media and search expert who understands the nuances of marketplaces, bidding, keyword strategy, optimization, and performance.