Director, Strategic Partnerships - Joint Business Planning

Director, Strategic Partnerships, Joint Business Planning

The Director is a key role within WPP Media, responsible for leading a defined area of the business and ensuring operational excellence through effective planning, execution and team leadership. The role translates broader functional priorities into practical action, delivering results through others and driving improvements across processes, client service and commercial performance.

Role Summary and Impact

As the Director, Strategic Partnerships, Joint Business Planning, you will support the development and delivery of key strategic partner relationships. You will align partner investment, capabilities and joint plans with WPP’s growth priorities, strengthen governance, improve coordination and ensure that strategic partnerships deliver practical value for clients and the business.

This role focuses on the day‑to‑day management and operational delivery of partnership activity, including supporting Joint Business Plans, coordinating partner‑facing initiatives, tracking delivery against commitments and identifying opportunities to improve value extraction.

You will also help support the development of WPP Media’s data and technology partner ecosystem, ensuring effective coordination of partner plans, commercial activity and internal adoption of partner solutions. Strong relationship management, attention to detail and the ability to bring together multiple stakeholders are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of Joint Business Plans with strategically important, multi‑touch partners that are integral to the WPP Media ecosystem.
  • Translate partner plans into clear workstreams, owners, timelines and measurable deliverables.
  • Monitor progress against agreed actions, resolving blockers and escalating risks where required.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of your partner portfolio, managing the relationship and communication with partners and internal stakeholders.
• Support coordination of governance and tracking for partner plans to ensure commitments are being met and opportunities for value creation are identified.
  • Lead the governance process for assigned partner plans, including business reviews, action tracking, stakeholder updates and performance reporting.
  • Maintain clear visibility of commitments, risks, dependencies and opportunities across partner activity.
  • Ensure senior stakeholders have timely, accurate information to support decision‑making.
  • Monitor progress against agreed actions, resolving blockers and risks where required.
• Commercial Value and Growth
  • Track value delivery across assigned partners.
  • Identify opportunities to unlock client growth, improve adoption of partner capabilities and support new business or innovation initiatives.
  • Work with commercial and client teams to ensure partnership activity connects to measurable business outcomes.

Skills and Experience

• Experience in strategic partnerships, commercial roles, business development or client‑facing roles within the media, advertising or technology sectors.
• Strong understanding of the media and digital advertising landscape.
• Experience supporting joint plans, partnership activity or cross‑functional commercial programmes.
• Good relationship management skills with the ability to work effectively across internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate activity across teams.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of how partnerships create value for clients and the business.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate without direct authority.
• Experience working with data, technology or platform partners would be beneficial.
• Ability to lead or manage a team and support day‑to‑day delivery.
• Comfortable operating within defined frameworks while identifying opportunities to improve processes and outcomes.

Measures of Success

Within 6 Months: Gain a comprehensive understanding of WPP Media and our broader business strategy, and begin incorporating Vision '30 into your operational roadmap and key initiatives. You will understand our business challenges and be able to articulate those beyond your immediate remit, with proactive engagement and initial stakeholder feedback. A key measurable is initiating discussions and actions to improve processes within your business area, leveraging data/AI thinking where relevant.

Within 12 Months: Demonstrate consistent delivery across strategic partnership activity, showing the impact of your leadership on operational performance and stakeholder engagement. You will receive positive feedback from internal and external stakeholders on coordination, delivery and commercial support, and positive 360‑degree feedback on your leadership and contribution to WPP Media and Vision '30. You will have improved team ways of working, supported stronger partnership outcomes and contributed to client growth, partner activation or new business activity aligned to Vision '30 capabilities, maintaining strong stakeholder confidence and demonstrating effective team development.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

WPP Media employees have access to the global WPP and WPP Media networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. Benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, 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 have 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.

#J-18808-Ljbffr