Talent Lead, Freelance

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 our pioneering agentic 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. com . 2542 - Talent Lead – Freelance (WPP Media UK) Role Summary and Impact WPP Media’s Talent Team was set up in 2008 to drive employer brand excellence and proactively attract and engage the best people for our group of companies, whilst keeping external recruitment spend to a minimum.

The team manages the recruitment lifecycle effectively and efficiently across all WPP Media brands. As Talent Lead for Freelance hiring, you will take ownership of WPP Media UK’s freelance hiring strategy and delivery. This role plays a critical part in ensuring the business has access to high-quality, flexible talent at pace, while maintaining strong governance, compliance, and cost control.

You will act as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders, lead on contingent workforce solutions, and drive best-in-class processes that support business growth and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Own and lead freelance (contingent) recruitment strategy across WPP Media UK, ensuring the business has access to high-quality, flexible talent at pace. Act as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders, advising on workforce planning, freelancer engagement models, and resourcing solutions. g.

digital, media, data analytics, client services). Oversee the end-to-end freelance hiring process, ensuring speed, quality, compliance, and a seamless experience for both stakeholders and talent.

Requirements

Manage the creation and oversight of purchase orders (POs) for freelance placements, ensuring accurate tracking, governance, and budget alignment. Develop and optimise processes specific to freelance hiring, including talent pooling, vendor management, and onboarding workflows. Manage relationships with external suppliers, agencies, and freelancer platforms to ensure effective delivery and value.

Use data and market insight to inform decision-making, optimise hiring performance, and identify trends in freelance demand. Champion best-in-class candidate experience, ensuring WPP Media is positioned as a client of choice within the freelance community. Drive consistency and compliance with relevant reg ulations and internal policies, partnering with legal, finance, and HR teams.

Lead initiatives to improve how WPP Media engages, retains, and re-deploys freelance talent. Coach and support members of the Talent team, acting as a subject matter expert in freelance hiring. Skills and Experience At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people.

It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP WPP Media’s shared core values: Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity. Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust .

Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise . Core Experience Significant experience in Talent Acquisition / recruitment, with strong exposure to freelance, contract, or contingent hiring models.