Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC)

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.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com .

1637 - Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC) - UK

Role Summary and Impact

We are seeking an exceptionally seasoned and dynamic  Director, Strategic Operations, UK to lead the project management, execution, tracking, and delivery of our business-critical "One Company" project portfolio.

Reporting directly to the VP, Strategic Operations, UK and working alongside the COO, you will take the EXCO "Plan on a Page" and turn it into clear, connected actions across the business - making progress visible, setting rigorous PM frameworks, holding workstream owners to account, and keeping projects moving forward.

This role requires a heavy-hitting portfolio/programme/project management expert who thrives in a high-visibility environment. You are not just a manager of timelines - you are a strategic driver - an operational leader who knows how to align complex teams to deliver exceptional results.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Delivery & Portfolio Execution

• Drive "One Company" Projects: Drive the end-to-end execution of company-wide, critical operational projects from business case / inception through delivery, ensuring alignment with executive business goals.

• Work Breakdown & Task Management: Translate high-level priorities into clear, practical deliverables - defining detailed Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), timelines, key milestones, dependencies, and precise task ownership.

• Portfolio & Resource Optimisation: Oversee the master project portfolio across business streams (e.g., people, finance, data, tech, operations). Optimise resource allocation, balance competing priorities, identify capacity constraints, and ensure high-value initiatives are delivered on time and within scope.

• Keep Things Moving: Work directly with business leads to solve problems, clear blockers, and ensure projects cross the finish line on time.

Governance, Frameworks & Strict Accountability

• Set & Embed Frameworks: Assess existing delivery methodologies and establish best-in-class PM standard operating procedures, tools, and KPIs. Embed simple, practical project toolkits (e.g., Business Case Templates, Project Charters, Portfolio Reports, RACI matrices, RAID logs, and milestone plans) across all initiatives.

• Hold Teams Accountable: Drive a culture of accountability and precision. Establish clear ownership for every workstream, leading regular portfolio/project reviews and huddles to keep business leads strictly accountable for their deliverables and commitments.

• Light-Touch Governance: Run light but highly effective tracking. Cut out unnecessary paperwork and "admin for the sake of admin," focusing purely on actions, outputs, and operational efficiency.

Transparent Reporting & Executive Visibility

• Single Source of Truth: Maintain and own the central executive plan, providing senior leadership with absolute transparency on progress, RAG status, RAID logs, percent-completes, and capacity.

• Stakeholder Alignment & Escalation: Serve as the key connective tissue between senior leadership, department heads, and execution teams. Communicate project health, risks, and strategic trade-offs effectively, maintaining a direct line of communication with the VP, Strategic Operations and COO to escalate risks early.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Capability

• Break Down Silos: Act as the connective tissue between central functions, capability teams, and agencies, ensuring teams are aligned and working toward shared outcomes rather than in isolation.

Skills & Experience

• Experience: Progressive portfolio/programme/project management experience, including significant experience leading and orchestrating large-scale, complex initiatives at a senior level (agency/media network experience preferred).

• Execution & Framework Mastery: Deep, expert-level mastery of project management frameworks (PMP / APM / PMI certifications required or heavily preferred; Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid). Deep knowledge of practical execution mechanics (Business Case Development, Benefits Realisation, WBS, RACI, RAID management, milestone planning, and critical path tracking).

• Leadership & Accountability: Proven track record of operating successfully at the Director level, directly influencing executive decision-making, holding cross-functional teams accountable without direct line authority, and turning troubled projects around.

• Executive Presence & Communication: Exceptional communication skills - able to synthesise complex project statuses across multiple workstreams into clear, transparent, visual updates for the C-suite, SLT, and VP.

• Pragmatic Problem Solving: A relentless focus on execution and practical problem-solving. Comfortable diving into project details to help workstream leads unravel issues, navigate dependencies, and unblock progress.

Bottom Line Objectives

• Turn EXCO priorities and "One Company" projects into tracked, delivered outputs using structured PM methodologies.

• Enforce clear frameworks and strict accountability across all workstreams.

• Maintain visual status reports for Executive Leadership.

• Drive clear ownership, transparent reporting, and zero superfluous admin.

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 vital 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. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of 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, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and 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 believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this 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. Please note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

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