Senior Associate, Resource Management

Wppmedia; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Retirement plans

Vision and dental insurance

Generous paid time off

Employee mental health awareness days

Discounts through partner programs

Job summary

WPP Media in Chicago area is seeking a Staffing Strategist who connects internal talent to client demand and ensures timely, sustainable staffing outcomes. You will partner with Capacity Planning, Talent Acquisition, HR, and client teams.

This role requires a data-driven mindset, strong communication, and the ability to balance people, client, and commercial priorities, enabling an internal-first deployment model across MMD, Data, Technology, Analytics, Operations, Finance, and People.

Qualifications

• Experience in resource management, workforce planning, or HR-related roles.
• Strong understanding of people management and talent lifecycle processes.
• Proven ability to build relationships with HR, Talent Acquisition, and client teams.
• Strong data capabilities to analyze and interpret workforce data.
• Ability to balance people, client, and commercial priorities.
• Experience with internal mobility, external hiring, and contracting models.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• High attention to data accuracy, tracking, and reporting.
• Ability to work autonomously and identify staffing risks and opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Connect internal talent to client demand and ensure effective staffing outcomes.
• Maintain accurate people and skills data and anticipate capacity needs.
• Collaborate with Capacity Planning, Talent Acquisition, HR, and Client teams.
• Support a transparent, scalable internal-first resourcing model.
• Balance stakeholder needs and provide guidance on staffing deployment.

Skills

Resource management

Workforce planning

Talent management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Staffing channels

Communications

Attention to detail

Autonomy

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.

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.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Role Summary and Impact

About Resource Management at WPP Media The Resource Management function connects talent to client demand across WPP Media, ensuring the right people are deployed to the right opportunities at the right time. It plays a critical role in enabling internal mobility, improving utilisation, and supporting sustainable business growth.

The Staffing Strategist plays a critical role within WPP Media, responsible for connecting internal talent to client demand and ensuring effective, timely, and sustainable staffing outcomes. Acting as a key partner within the Resource Management function, this role balances the needs of our people, clients, and the business to optimise workforce deployment while supporting employee development and long‑term organisational performance.

Working closely with Capacity Planning Partners, Talent Acquisition, HR, and Client teams, the Staffing Strategist translates workforce demand into actionable staffing solutions. They are accountable for maintaining accurate people and skills data, understanding workforce capability, and proactively identifying opportunities to optimise utilisation, enable internal mobility, and reduce reliance on external hiring.

This role requires a strong understanding of people, skills, and career aspirations, combined with a strategic, data‑driven mindset. The Staffing Strategist plays a vital role in improving workforce visibility, enabling an internal‑first fulfilment model, and contributing to a more connected, agile, and efficient organisation.

Staffing Strategists operate across key capabilities including Client Leadership, Media Management & Delivery (MMD), Data, Technology & Analytics, Growth & Marketing, Operations, Finance, and People. They partner closely with Capacity Planning to align available talent with validated demand, supporting a transparent, scalable, and future‑ready resourcing model across WPP Media.

Skills and Experience

• Experience in resource management, workforce planning, talent management, or HR‑related roles, ideally within a complex or matrixed organisation
• Strong understanding of people management principles, employee development, and end‑to‑end talent lifecycle processes
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships across multiple stakeholder groups, including HR, Talent Acquisition, Client teams, and Resource Management
• Strong data capability, with experience maintaining, analysing, and interpreting workforce and staffing data to inform decisions
• Ability to balance people, client, and commercial priorities when making staffing and deployment recommendations
• Experience working across multiple staffing channels, including internal mobility, external hiring, and contracting models
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to manage expectations and provide clear, confident guidance
• High attention to detail, particularly in relation to data accuracy, tracking, and reporting
• Ability to operate with autonomy, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and solutions to staffing challenges

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual.

This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build meaningful 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. Our 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 and includes competitive medical coverage, group retirement plans, vision and dental insurance, generous 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 protected 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.

US Pay Range

$45,000 – $90,000 USD

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