
Design Bridge and Partners · London
ABOUT US At Design Bridge and Partners, part of WPP, we design brands with the power to move. Pulling people towards them with an irresistible force that compe...
At Design Bridge and Partners, part of WPP, we design brands with the power to move. Pulling people towards them with an
irresistible force that compels and connects. With 900 creative minds across 17 studios worldwide, diverse in expertise,
experience, backgrounds and beliefs, we are united in our ambition to achieve real impact for our clients’ brands benefiting their
business, people and the planet.
With expertise across brand strategy, brand design, brand engagement and brand effectiveness our clients across the world include
NASA Artemis, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Mastercard, Intel, HSBC, Tencent, Twitch, Heineken, Reckitt and the BBC.
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. For more information, visit WPP.com.
enterprise and B2B accounts.
shape brand direction.
authentic way.
distinct creative expressions.
foster a sense of belonging.
touchpoints, on time and within budget.
similar creative environment.
situations.
methods.
simplified, clear, and encouraging direction.
environment.
communications.
We’re passionate about our people and their careers. We’ll help you develop your skills and provide you with outstanding benefits.
So you’ll have a chance to make your mark on our future, as we make a mark on yours. We’re proud to be the world’s most awarded
brand design agency, with 28 Cannes Lions to our name and Creative Review Annual’s Most Creative Design Agency of the Year 2024.
You’ll get to take new projects to award-winning potential, as part of a connected team of brilliant, tenacious people right by
your side and across the world.
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.
Design Bridge and Partners, a WPP company, 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.
Due to the volume of applications, we unfortunately can only respond to successful candidates.
We will not accept unsolicited CVs or approaches via recruitment agencies.
ABOUT BARINGA Baringa is a global consulting firm that partners with leaders to drive change and create value. With deep industry expertise, and enabled by advanced technology, the firm helps clients to deliver with greater confidence and certainty. With over 2,000 people across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, the firm combines global insight with local understanding. The firm works across energy and resources, financial services, government and public sector, consumer products and retail, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, manufacturing, and technology, media and telecoms, with capabilities spanning strategy, transformation and operational excellence – all powered by advanced technology, data, AI and digital innovation. Clients value Baringa’s collaborative approach and the way its teams integrate seamlessly – all working with a shared understanding of what matters most. The firm is known for its kind, curious experts who listen closely and care deeply about client success as they help clients transform energy markets, modernise financial platforms, expand telecoms and digital networks through advanced data analytics, enable digital services in government, and unlock growth in consumer sectors. Certified as a Great Place to Work around the world, Baringa has been recognised by the Financial Times in 22 categories of its UK Leading Management Consultants rankings, and by Forbes for four consecutive years as one of the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms. OUR GOVERNMENT PRACTICE ARE LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED SENIOR MANAGERS/DIRECTORS TO JOIN THE TEAM. Our Government practice is looking for experienced Senior Managers and Directors to join our growing AI team, working across government departments and public sector organisations – with Health as one of our core areas of focus. We are looking for a high-agency leader who champions practical, real-world AI adoption and can translate emerging AI capabilities into impactful client outcomes and sustainable business growth. You won't just talk about AI transformation in the abstract; you will help senior leaders develop and embed enterprise-scale AI strategies, shape new operating models, reimagine public services, and build lasting organisational capability. You will be a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, a leader within our Government practice, and a key contributor to the growth of Baringa's AI proposition. Acting as the bridge between what is technically possible and what delivers measurable value in complex public sector environments, you will combine strategic insight, commercial acumen and hands-on experience to make AI transformation tangible, responsible and impactful. WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING * AI Transformation Leadership: Lead complex AI transformation programmes across government departments and public sector organisations, helping clients move from isolated experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption and sustainable transformation. * Strategic Client Advisory: Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a strategic advisor on AI adoption, operating model transformation, governance and organisational change. * Proposition & Capability Leadership: Lead the evolution of Baringa's AI adoption proposition across Government, developing market-leading frameworks, playbooks, methodologies and reusable assets that support both client outcomes and business growth. * AI-Enabled Service Transformation: Work with senior leaders to reimagine services, processes and operating models in an AI-enabled world, helping organisations unlock new opportunities for effectiveness, productivity and citizen outcomes. * Executive-Level Engagement: Use compelling demonstrations, workshops and leadership discussions to translate AI opportunities into practical actions, creating confidence and momentum among executive stakeholders. * Business Development & Growth: Identify, shape and lead business development opportunities across Government, developing strong client relationships, creating compelling proposals and growing a sustainable pipeline of AI transformation work. * Market Leadership: Maintain a deep understanding of Government AI adoption trends, policy developments and emerging technologies, translating these insights into differentiated client offerings and commercial opportunities. * Cross-Government Perspective: Bring insight across health, local government, transport, environment and wider public sector organisations, identifying common adoption challenges and opportunities while sharing lessons across sectors. * Practice Leadership: Play an active role in growing Baringa's Government AI capability through recruitment, capability building, knowledge sharing, proposition development and internal AI transformation initiatives. * Coaching & People Development: Develop and mentor consultants, managers and senior managers, creating opportunities for growth while building practical expertise in AI adoption, delivery and responsible AI practices. YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE * Significant experience leading large-scale transformation, digital, data or AI-enabled change programmes within government, healthcare or wider public sector organisations. * Strong track record of developing trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including Directors, Deputy Directors, Executives, Boards and Programme Leaders. * Deep understanding of government operating environments, including policy considerations, governance models, procurement, information governance, security and organisational constraints. * Demonstrable experience helping organisations move from AI experimentation to scaled, organisation-wide adoption, embedding sustainable governance, capability and operating models. * Experience identifying, shaping and winning consulting opportunities, including proposition development, sales, account growth and commercial leadership. * Strong understanding of leading AI ecosystems, including Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude and related technologies, with the ability to communicate both opportunities and limitations credibly to senior audiences. * Experience translating emerging technology and AI trends into practical client offerings, thought leadership and commercial opportunities. * Proven capability in building and leading high-performing teams, coaching others and creating an environment where people can maximise their impact and potential. * A recognised leader who combines commercial awareness, client intimacy and delivery excellence to create lasting impact for clients and drive growth for the practice. WHAT A CAREER AT BARINGA WILL GIVE YOU PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST. BARINGA IS A PEOPLE FIRST COMPANY AND WELLBEING IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR CULTURE. WE RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND FLEXIBLE WORKING AND PROVIDE OUR STAFF AMAZING BENEFITS. SOME OF THESE BENEFITS INCLUDE: * Generous Annual Leave Policy: We recognise everyone needs a well-deserved break. We provide our employees with 5 weeks of annual leave, fully available at the start of each year. In addition to this, we have introduced our 5-Year Recharge benefit which allows all employees an additional 2 weeks of paid leave after 5 years continuous service. * Flexible Working: We know that the ‘ideal’ work-life balance will vary from person to person and change at different stages of our working lives. To accommodate this, we have implemented a hybrid working policy and introduced more flexibility around taking unpaid leave. * Corporate Responsibility Days: Our world is important to us, so all our employees get 3 every year to help social and environmental causes and increase our impact on the communities that mean the most to us. * Wellbeing Fund: We want to encourage all employees to take charge and prioritise their own wellbeing. We’ve introduced our annual People Fund to support this by offering every individual a fund to support and manage their wellbeing through an activity of their choice. * Profit Share Scheme: All employees participate in the Baringa Group Profit Share Scheme so everyone has a stake in the company’s success. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging is central to our culture and that diversity is paramount to driving creativity, innovation, and value for our clients and for our people. AN AWARD-WINNING WORKPLACE You can be a part of our ‘Great Place to Work’ – with our commitment to women and well-being in the workplace for all. Click here [https://www.baringa.com/en/impact/awards/] to see some of our recent awards and how we’ve achieved this. USING BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD. We maintain high standards of environmental performance and transparency, which can be seen through our commitment to Net Zero with our SBTI-verified Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets and our support of the Better Business Act. We report our progress publicly and ensure that we are also externally assessed and scored through organisations like CDP and EcoVadis - helping us to continually identify where we can improve. We have a long legacy of supporting the communities in which we work, and offer a variety of ways to contribute, by putting people first and creating impact that lasts. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda is about giving back to the communities in which we live and work by sharing our skills, talent and time. In essence, we aim to empower and encourage everyone in the firm to contribute to the things we care about, and support registered charities and organisations with a clear social or environmental purpose to increase the positive impact they can have. JOIN US All applications received will be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team. We never rely solely on automated screening or AI tools to make hiring decisions. Your application will be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, faith or social background. We do not filter applications by university background and encourage those who have taken alternative educational and career paths to apply. We would like to actively encourage applications from those who identify with less represented and minority groups. We operate an inclusive recruitment process, ensuring reasonable adjustments where needed. Please contact a member of our Recruitment Team to discuss further. BARINGA PRIVACY NOTICES For UK & EU Your personal data will be retained by Baringa for up to two years, in accordance with our UK Recruitment Privacy Notice / [https://www.baringa.com/globalassets/careers/dp-004-ukrpn---uk-recruitment-privacy-notice-pdf.pdf]EU Recruitment Privacy Notice [https://www.baringa.com/globalassets/careers/dp-005-eurpn---eu-recruitment-privacy-notice-pdf.pdf], to evaluate your application and meet our legal and reporting obligations. In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to request access to, rectification, or erasure (subject to legal limitations) of your personal data. For more information, please contact us at privacy@baringa.com [privacy@baringa.com] For the USA Your personal data may be retained by Baringa for up to two years, as outlined in our Recruitment Privacy Notice (AMER & APAC) [https://www.baringa.com/globalassets/careers/dp-007-nerpn-amer--apac-recruitment-privacy-notice-word.pdf], to support the recruitment process and internal reporting requirements. Where applicable, and in accordance with relevant federal and state laws, you may have the right to request access to or correction of your personal information. For further details, please contact privacy@baringa.com [privacy@baringa.com] For Australia & Singapore Your personal data will be retained by Baringa for up to two years, in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice (AMER & APAC) [https://www.baringa.com/globalassets/careers/dp-007-nerpn-amer--apac-recruitment-privacy-notice-word.pdf], to assess your application and meet applicable reporting and legal obligations. In line with the Australian Privacy Act and Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), you may have rights to access, correct, or request limited deletion of your personal data. For more information, please contact us at privacy@baringa.com [privacy@baringa.com]
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 [wppmedia.com]. 3132 - Associate Director, Commerce UK About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve. Summary and Impact The Role: We are seeking an experienced Commerce Associate Director to join the growing community in WPP Media's Commerce Practice. This is a senior leadership role within the practice, responsible for shaping commerce strategy, not just retail media execution, for a portfolio of leading global and regional brands across sectors including technology, FMCG, retail, and beauty. You will act as a trusted commerce advisor to clients, connecting media investment to the broader path-to-purchase and helping shape multi-year commerce roadmaps. The 3 Best Things About the Job: 1. The opportunity to shape genuine commerce strategy, not just retail media execution, across a diverse portfolio of well-known brands with a shared desire for innovation and growth. 1. Working within a truly collaborative agency model with great opportunities for continued cross-media and performance marketing learning. 1. A talented team supporting each other in implementing best-in-class, award-winning campaigns, and having fun along the way. Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Client Growth * Act as the senior strategic lead for key client accounts, translating complex business objectives into high-impact commerce media strategies across Amazon Sponsored Ads, Amazon DSP, CitrusAd, Criteo, Kevel, and other relevant retail media platforms. * Lead senior client business reviews, providing a clear narrative on the holistic impact of media investment. * Act as a trusted advisor to clients, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and expanded scope across the commerce ecosystem. Campaign Excellence & Innovation * Oversee the development and execution of performance-driven media plans, ensuring the highest standards of QA, pacing, and optimisation across your portfolio of accounts. * Develop and champion test-and-learn roadmaps to drive innovation in targeting, bidding strategies, and emerging retail media formats. * Collaborate closely with wider internal teams to ensure a joined-up, full-funnel approach to media across all client accounts. Team Leadership & Practice Evolution * Line manage, mentor, and develop a team of and activation specialists, setting the standard for quality, delivery, and professional growth. * Take ultimate responsibility for the quality of work delivered by your team, ensuring consistency and excellence across all accounts. * Proactively contribute to the evolution of best practice within the wider eCommerce Practice, sharing successes and learnings across the team. * Manage scope, forecasting, budgets, and profitability across your portfolio of accounts, and drive process automation through the adoption of new technology and efficient ways of working. 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. About you * A proven media agency background, with significant senior experience in Commerce and retail media strategy or a transferable media channel. * Strong hands-on experience running campaigns in Amazon Sponsored Ads and DSP. * Solid working knowledge of CitrusAd and Criteo (onsite and offsite retail media). * Confidence managing senior client stakeholders, simplifying complex performance results into clear, actionable recommendations. * A genuine passion for coaching and building capability within your team. * Experience of Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) or retailer clean room analytics would be a nice to have but is not required. * Exposure to wider commerce channels (e.g. Tesco Media or similar) is advantageous. Life at WPP Media & Benefits Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include 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 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. 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. Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy] for more information on how we process the information you provide. #LI-Promoted Please read our Privacy Notice [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy#:~:text=WPP%20Media%20Privacy%20Notice%20for%20Recruitment] 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. [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwpp.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CErica.Durr%40wpp.com%7C9bf4566a65bc46a48ac008de749116ea%7C150b5e663d884dee83f6ed149b727a00%7C0%7C0%7C639076363668176216%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Q9juosud56XGLThSFZ1NpPZd6FXpJPxV74OeRZWoh%2B4%3D&reserved=0] Why we're hiring: WPP is accelerating the adoption of AI across the enterprise, investing in a portfolio of strategic initiatives designed to transform how work gets done across our global business. We're looking for a Senior Project Manager based in London, to lead the delivery of some of WPP's most complex and high-impact AI initiatives. These enterprise-scale projects are sponsored by senior business leaders and the CIO organisation, focused on embedding AI agents into critical business processes, operational workflows and governance frameworks. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of enterprise AI transformation, partnering with business stakeholders, technology teams and external delivery partners to turn innovative ideas into scalable solutions that deliver measurable business value. WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING: * Lead the end-to-end delivery of multiple strategic AI projects simultaneously, managing all phases from initiation and planning through to deployment and benefits realisation. * Partner with executive sponsors, senior business stakeholders and the AI Centre of Excellence to define project scope, requirements, success measures and delivery plans. * Deliver complex, enterprise-scale AI initiatives across multiple business functions, ensuring projects achieve agreed objectives, timelines, budgets and outcomes. * Coordinate internal teams and external delivery partners to ensure successful execution and deployment of AI solutions. * Drive effective stakeholder engagement across Technology, Finance, HR, Operations and Governance functions, building alignment and managing competing priorities. * Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, RAID logs, status reporting and executive communications. * Establish testing, validation and adoption approaches that ensure AI solutions are reliable, compliant and deliver intended business outcomes. * Monitor delivery performance, business adoption and value realisation, ensuring projects move successfully from concept into production. * Contribute to the development of delivery standards, tools, templates and best practices that support the successful scaling of AI across WPP. * Support and mentor project managers across the wider delivery community, sharing expertise and promoting delivery excellence. WHAT YOU'LL BRING: * Significant experience delivering complex technology, data or transformation projects within large enterprise environments. * Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, stakeholders and delivery partners across large-scale programmes of work. * Deep familiarity with the Microsoft Copilot product family end-to-end, including in-app Copilot, pre-built and shared agents, Copilot Chat, Agent Builder, Copilot Studio and advanced agent frameworks. * Experience beyond the Microsoft ecosystem, including AI development and orchestration platforms such as Python multi-agent frameworks, Databricks, Google Vertex AI and open agent tooling. * Strong understanding of project delivery methodologies, governance frameworks and change management principles. * Ability to work effectively with technical teams, architects, engineers and data specialists, translating complex concepts into business-focused outcomes. * Strong technical fluency across AI technologies and solution architecture, with the ability to challenge design decisions and discuss trade-offs with architects, engineers and data scientists. * Experience managing senior stakeholders and communicating effectively with executive audiences. * Strong commercial awareness, including budget management, vendor oversight and business case delivery. * Experience working within Agile, Scrum, Kanban or scaled delivery environments. * Excellent organisational, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills. SUCCESS MEASURES: * Successful delivery of enterprise AI projects into production environments. * Achievement of agreed business outcomes, including productivity improvements, cost efficiencies and revenue opportunities. * Strong stakeholder satisfaction and executive confidence in project delivery. * High levels of user adoption and engagement following deployment. * Effective management of project risks, dependencies and governance requirements. * Timely delivery against agreed project milestones and budgets. * Demonstrable contribution to the growth and maturity of WPP's enterprise AI capability. 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 [https://www.wpp.com/en/careers/wpp-privacy-policy-for-recruitment]) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.