Data Director

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.  We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit WPP.com.   About Data & Technology Solutions  WPP’s Data & Technology Solutions is the WPP’s unified global data products and technology team. We work with our agencies and clients to build data-driven solutions and technology product to power marketing transformation.   WPP Open is our AI platform for marketing, it connects marketing professionals, data, tools and AI in a single place. WPP Open is the simplest, safest and fastest way to realize the benefits of scaled AI – delivering better-informed creative ideas faster, at scale and at lower cost.  We’re endlessly curious and our team of thinkers, builders, creators and problem solvers are over 2,000 strong, across 20 markets around the world.    WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR    We are seeking a strategic and commercially driven leader to define and execute WPP’s data partnership strategy within EMEA. This role will be critical in sourcing, integrating, and scaling data partnerships to support local market growth while aligning to global frameworks.     You are:     * A data or technology leader with strong experience in partnerships, licensing, or platform ecosystems  * Commercially minded, with experience negotiating and managing strategic partnerships  * Skilled at navigating complex, cross-functional environments and influencing senior stakeholders  * Experienced in aligning global strategy with local market needs  * A strong operator, able to drive both strategic initiatives and execution  * Collaborative, driven, and comfortable operating in ambiguity    WHAT YOU WILL DO  * Local Data Partnership Strategy and Market Leadership: Define and execute the data partnership strategy for EMEA under a “Build, Buy, Partner” framework. By aligning global priorities with local needs, you will position WPP as a leading data partner in the market.  * Data Supply Strategy and Ecosystem Development: Provide strategic oversight of all data supply partnerships, anticipating future data and technology needs. By proactively shaping the ecosystem, you will ensure WPP Open maintains a competitive advantage locally.  * Partnership Identification and Commercial Execution: Lead the identification, negotiation and implementation of strategic data and technology partnerships. By structuring effective agreements, you will enable scalable solutions and commercial impact.  * Contract Standardization and Governance: Drive contract standardization and ensure legal and operational alignment across all data partnerships. By improving consistency and efficiency, you will reduce complexity and risk.  * Product Integration and Data Adoption: Oversee integration of partner solutions into the WPP Open ecosystem and drive adoption of data products across clients and teams. By ensuring seamless delivery, you will unlock value and accelerate usage.  * Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Alignment: Build strong relationships across Legal, Product, Sales, Data Strategy, Solutions Engineering, Business Operations and Open Intelligence teams. By aligning stakeholders, you will enable coordinated execution and success.  * Client Alignment and Market Feedback: Leverage feedback loops with data solutions and client teams to ensure partnerships align with client needs and market demand. By staying closely connected to the market, you will drive relevant and impactful solutions.  * Performance Management and Operational Excellence: Own key performance indicators including cost efficiency, adoption, revenue impact and partnership pipeline quality. By driving accountability, you will ensure measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.    WHAT YOU WILL NEED  * Significant experience in data partnerships, licensing, or data-driven platform ecosystems  * Proven track record of identifying, negotiating and scaling strategic partnerships  * Strong commercial acumen and experience managing complex agreements  * Experience working across cross-functional teams in matrixed organizations  * Ability to align global strategy with local market execution  * Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills  * Driven, collaborative, and comfortable working in both structured and ambiguous environments      Who you are: You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working. You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected. You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.   What we'll give you: Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work. Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry. Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge? #LI-Hybrid  We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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. WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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. PLEASE READ OUR PRIVACY NOTICE (HTTPS://WWW.WPP.COM/EN/CAREERS/WPP-PRIVACY-POLICY-FOR-RECRUITMENT) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.  We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit WPP.com.   Senior Director of Product Innovation, WPP Innovation Why we’re hiring: We're looking for a Senior Director of Product Innovation to define and drive the next generation of innovative technology across the WPP network, combining an innovative mindset and creative excellence with deep technical fluency across AI systems, data architecture, and modern product engineering. This is a senior builder's role: someone who prototypes and ships at the frontier, sets the technical and creative bar for WPP Innovation, and uses that credibility to shape strategy, elevate other innovators across the network, and bring clients and colleagues into genuinely new territory. You'll operate with significant autonomy, own the direction of key innovation products and R&D programmes, and act as a senior voice for WPP Innovation both internally and externally. We are looking for someone who can take an idea and elevate it into territory that changes the conversation, then build it.   What you’ll do: Key Responsibilities: Product Innovation & R&D: * Own and drive the product innovation direction for WPP Innovation. Identifying frontier opportunities, setting the quality bar, and personally building the solutions that demonstrate what's possible. * Lead hands-on prototyping and exploration of emerging technologies, including agentic engineering, applied AI, and novel interaction paradigms. Translating experiments into product features, client narratives, and strategic recommendations. * Work as part of a small, autonomous team on the frontier; contribute at every level from architecture to execution. * Elevate the work of other Product & Innovation teams across the WPP network, ensuring their solutions meet the highest bar for quality, deliverability, and innovation thinking. Strategic Direction & Innovation Enablement: * Define and architect technical strategies and programmes that enable innovators across WPP. Acting as a connective force, removing organisational blockers that impede innovation. * Contribute to WPP Innovation's broader programme direction, bringing senior technical and product judgement to roadmap decisions, investment priorities, and innovation partnerships. * Build and maintain relationships with key innovators, technical leads, and product owners across the global WPP network.   External Presence & Client Engagement: * Represent WPP Innovation at key industry conferences, client engagements, and senior internal forums — with credibility rooted in work you've actually built. * Present innovation work, run live demos, and participate in client workshops to shape requirements and demonstrate WPP's frontier capabilities. * Contribute to internal L&D sessions to build innovation capability and foster understanding of WPP Innovation's products and thinking. Leadership: * Lead by example and expertise. A senior IC who sets standards others build toward and inspires others to better outputs. * Mentor and technically guide colleagues and innovators across the network.   What you’ll need: * Progressive experience in creative technology, ideally within an agency environment. * Proven track record of successfully conceiving, building, and launching innovative technology solutions for agency clients and agency teams, with a data and AI component. * Deep understanding of the advertising, marketing, creative or media industry is highly desirable. Experience working within a large, global organisation is a significant plus. * Deep hands-on technical expertise: Able to architect, build, and ship across AI/ML systems, agentic engineering, data pipelines, and modern software development across multiple platforms * Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills: Ability to break down complex problems, develop clear strategies, and drive execution. * Experience with Agentic Engineering and building AI product and innovations * Demonstrable portfolio of built work: prototypes, products, or tools that have shipped into real use and measurable traction.   What We Offer: * A senior IC role with genuine cross-functional influence across product, engineering, creative, data, and client disciplines. * Direct visibility into WPP's global strategy and the relationships that come with it. * The autonomy to pursue the ideas you believe in, backed by the scale to make them matter. * Collaboration with world-class talent across creative, technology, and data disciplines.   We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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. WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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. PLEASE READ OUR PRIVACY NOTICE (HTTPS://WWW.WPP.COM/EN/CAREERS/WPP-PRIVACY-POLICY-FOR-RECRUITMENT) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.