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 . 1782 - Associate Director, Paid Search About Wavemaker Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision-making and experiences through media, content, and technology.

Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together.

About The Role

As a Paid Search Senior Associate Director, you will be responsible for delivering category-defining capabilities and services across your portfolio of clients at Wavemaker. Success in this role means providing strategic insight, developing your team of specialists, with your ultimate responsibility for the quality of work within this team. As a senior leader within the department, you will be a point of escalation for the team and will deputise at key meetings & events for the Paid Search Business Directors and Head of Paid Search where needed.

You will be vital to making sure we deliver on our vision for Paid Search consistently across your client portfolio and continue to evolve best practices and operations across the wider department.

Responsibilities

). Support the Head of/Business Director and broader team in capacity planning and resource management. Lead the recruitment process for your immediate team and assist with the wider team’s recruitment as needed.

Act as an ambassador for the team to potential candidates. Take responsibility for your UK and Global Hub team’s development and career progression within the agency. Leading by example to motivate and encourage.

Motivational people manager leading by example and coaching your team. Provide constructive feedback at every appropriate opportunity. Lead through vision, values, and model leadership behaviours whilst championing and facilitating change in a positive manner.

Oversee development and implementation of paid search best practices (set centrally through the Wavemaker Way), with ultimate accountability for adherence to controls, and responsible for effective oversight of designated paid search campaigns and weaving these into the overall cross-channel campaign strategy. Help manage the relationship with key suppliers/partners such as Apple, Google, Microsoft Ads and more across GroupM Nexus. Work with the senior leadership team to make sure that joint business plans and targets are achieved.

Responsibility for the output of your team (UK-based and Global Hub), both clients facing and operational. You are accountable for your team’s adherence to Wavemaker Governance best practices across your clients. Drive forward department projects.

Lead on application and adherence to all areas of paid search activation finance processes. Making full use of the technology available, implementing processes and practices that maximize operational efficiencies whilst identifying opportunities for process improvement, and providing recommendations. Takes ownership of operations in your team, proactively suggesting ways to resolve and eliminate issues from happening.