Performance Strategy Lead

Wpp; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP is seeking a Performance Strategy Lead to drive growth through biddable and performance marketing across search, paid social, and programmatic display. You will rebuild client confidence, work closely with senior stakeholders, and translate insights into strategic recommendations for measurable outcomes.

The role focuses on conversion, revenue growth, efficiency, and ongoing optimisation through structured test-and-learn frameworks with a cross-disciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in client-facing roles with senior stakeholders.
• Experience implementing and optimizing digital performance strategies.
• Deep expertise across search, social and programmatic channels.
• Strong commercial acumen linking media to business outcomes.
• Advanced knowledge of measurement and attribution models.
• Analytical mindset with a passion for experimentation.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on levels.

Responsibilities

• Manage client relationships and rebuild trust in our digital offerings.
• Lead performance strategies across search, social and programmatic.
• Define KPIs like ROAS, CPA, LTV and revenue growth.
• Own an experimentation roadmap across channels.
• Partner with data teams to unlock deeper performance insights.
• Forecast revenue and allocate budgets for portfolio growth.

Skills

Client management

Digital performance

Cross-channel strategy

Measurement & attribution

Experimentation

Strategic & hands-on

Job description

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.

The Performance Strategy Lead is responsible for driving measurable business growth through best-in‑class biddable and performance marketing strategies. This role leads a multidisciplinary team across search, paid social, and programmatic display, ensuring all activity is accountable to clear commercial outcomes.

As a key client contact, you will play a pivotal role in rebuilding client confidence in our digital offerings and overarching strategy. You will work in close partnership with the client, acting as a trusted advisor to deeply understand their business and guide them through the hands‑on implementation and continuous optimisation of performance strategies.

The role is fundamentally results‑driven, with a focus on conversion, revenue growth, efficiency, and continuous optimisation through structured test‑and‑learn frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Relationship & Strategic Trust
• Serve as a key client contact, establishing strong, trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Act as the lead architect in rebuilding and strengthening client confidence in our agency’s digital offerings, strategic capabilities, and execution.
• Work in close collaboration with the client to co‑design, implement, and optimise robust performance strategies that align with their business realities.
• Demystify complex digital concepts, translating performance data into clear, strategic business narratives that demonstrate tangible value.
• Performance Strategy & Growth Delivery
• Develop and lead lower‑funnel performance strategies across search, social, and display channels.
• Define clear performance KPIs aligned to client business outcomes (e.g. ROAS, CPA, LTV, revenue growth).
• Build scalable portfolio strategies that balance short‑term efficiency with long‑term growth.
• Translate business objectives into channel‑level activation frameworks.
• Own a structured experimentation roadmap across all performance channels.
• Implement rigorous testing methodologies (A/B, incrementality, geo‑testing, creative testing).
• Drive a culture of continuous optimisation and learning across the team.
• Translate test results into actionable strategic recommendations.
• Biddable & Performance Channel Leadership
• Oversee executional excellence across:
• Paid Search
• Paid Social
• Programmatic Display
• Ensure adoption of platform best practices, automation, and AI‑driven optimisation tools.
• Maintain strong relationships with media partners and tech platforms.
• Data, Measurement & Attribution
• Define measurement frameworks that accurately capture performance impact.
• Champion advanced attribution models (multi‑touch, incrementality, MMM where applicable).
• Partner with data and analytics teams to unlock deeper performance insights.
• Ensure consistent reporting that links media performance to business outcomes.
• Commercial Accountability
• Own performance forecasting, budget allocation, and investment strategy.
• Identify growth opportunities and areas of inefficiency across the portfolio.
• Drive revenue growth through media effectiveness and optimisation.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven track record in client-facing roles, with a demonstrated ability to manage senior stakeholders, manage complex client dynamics, and rebuild trust/confidence.
• Experience working closely with clients on the end-to-end implementation and ongoing optimization of digital performance strategies.
• Deep expertise across performance channels (search, social, programmatic).
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to link media to business outcomes.
• Advanced knowledge of measurement frameworks and attribution model
• Strong analytical mindset with a passion for experimentation.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and hands‑on levels.

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