Associate Director, Social

The role

You will lead the paid social strategy and commercial results for key clients as an Associate Director, Social. You will also lead and develop a team of social managers and specialists, and support new business pitches and platform partner plans.

What you will do

• Formulate and execute macro-level paid social strategies aligned with client business outcomes
• Lead innovation in first-party data, privacy-first media planning, conversion APIs and AI-driven social operations
• Champion cross-channel integration with search, programmatic, strategy and creative teams
• Maintain commercial oversight across your portfolio and ensure client profitability
• Develop paid social strategies for new business pitches and RFPs
• Own joint business plans with platform partners such as Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snap, LinkedIn and Reddit
• Serve as senior escalation point and trusted partner for client and planning leads
• Present complex data as clear, boardroom-ready commercial insights
• Lead, mentor and build a high-performing team of social specialists with KPIs and development plans
• Set agency best practice, QA frameworks and compliance standards across social channels

Required qualifications

• Proven track record of leading large-scale, enterprise or multi-market client portfolios in a media agency
• Demonstrable success leading multi-tiered teams, driving retention, talent development and resource planning
• Proven record of supporting new business and growing organic client revenue
• Expert-level knowledge of Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads Manager, Pinterest Ads Manager, Snap and LinkedIn, and experience managing platform partner relationships and JBPs
• Proven capability implementing measurement frameworks including incrementality and lift testing
• Outstanding verbal, written and pitch presentation skills
• Masterful portfolio management, balancing competing priorities, client accounts and agency-wide initiatives

Nice to have

• Experience in paid social media
• Platform certifications such as Meta Blueprint or TikTok Certifications

Benefits

• Competitive medical insurance
• Vision and dental insurance
• Group retirement plans
• Significant paid time off
• Preferential partner discounts
• Employee mental health awareness days
• Access to global WPP Media and WPP networks
• Employee resource groups and in-office events

Before you apply

• The right to work in the UK is required
• If you need accommodations or flexibility, discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process

About the company

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. It works through the WPP Open platform.