Commerce Account Director

<div class="content-intro"><p><strong>About WPP Media</strong></p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>For more information, visit <a href="wppmedia.com">wppmedia.com</a>.</p></div><p><strong>3071 - Commerce Account Director</strong></p> <p><strong>About Wavemaker: A leading WPP Media brand</strong></p> <p>Grounded in analytics &amp; insights and powered by data &amp; 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 &amp; technology, built for people &amp; algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test &amp; learn at scale, and, crucially, built to&nbsp;evolve.</p> <p><strong>Role Summary and impact</strong></p> <p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Account Leadership &amp; Delivery<br></strong>Lead the end-to-end output of the team across client-facing work and operational delivery. Ensure consistently high standards, with strong adherence to processes, controls, and best practices.</li> <li><strong>Strategic Planning &amp; Business Understanding<br></strong>Develop a deep understanding of the client’s business, objectives, and KPIs. Apply this to shape effective, insight-led retail media strategies that drive measurable outcomes.</li> <li><strong>Retail Media Platform Expertise (Amazon, Citrus, Criteo)<br></strong>Demonstrate strong experience working across key retail media platforms including Amazon, CitrusAd, and Criteo. Apply platform expertise to guide planning, optimisation, and performance, ensuring best-in-class execution across search and display channels.</li> <li><strong>Tesco Retail Media SME Leadership<br></strong>Act as the subject matter expert for Tesco retail media, overseeing full-funnel activity and ensuring a cohesive approach from awareness through to conversion. Provide strategic guidance to both internal teams and clients on Tesco capabilities, opportunities, and best practices.</li> <li><strong>Innovation &amp; Proactive Thinking<br></strong>Stay informed on industry trends, platform developments, and new product releases. Proactively identify and introduce opportunities to enhance client performance and maintain a competitive edge.</li> <li><strong>Client &amp; Partner Relationship Management<br></strong>Build and maintain strong relationships with key client stakeholders and media partners. Act as a trusted point of contact, confidently contributing insights and recommendations beyond immediate scope.</li> <li><strong>Team Leadership &amp; Development<br></strong>Support and develop a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative and accountable working environment. Take an active role in coaching, performance management, and career progression.</li> <li><strong>Communication Leadership<br></strong>Lead day-to-day communications across clients, partners, and internal stakeholders, ensuring clear alignment and effective delivery. Engage senior leadership when required.</li> <li><strong>Operational Excellence &amp; Process Improvement<br></strong>Continuously identify opportunities to improve efficiency through better processes, automation, and adoption of tools and technology.</li> <li><strong>Financial &amp; Process Ownership<br></strong>Oversee activation-related financial processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery across all campaigns.</li> <li><strong>Measurement &amp; Performance<br></strong>Maintain a strong understanding of measurement frameworks and partner capabilities. Use this knowledge to guide optimisation strategies and performance discussions with clients.</li> <li><strong>Workshops &amp; Strategic Contribution<br></strong>Lead and contribute to client workshops and planning sessions, bringing structured thinking, insight, and strategic direction.</li> <li><strong>Cross-Team Collaboration<br></strong>Work closely with cross-functional teams (including GOC) to ensure seamless integration and consistent, high-quality execution across all workstreams.</li> <li><strong>Retail Media Integration<br></strong>Play a key role in embedding retail media within broader client strategies, identifying opportunities to connect activity across the wider marketing mix, including audience planning in systems such as Sphere and Nectar 360.</li> <li><strong>Partner &amp; Product Development<br></strong>Support the development and testing of commerce products and solutions in collaboration with partners such as Skai, ensuring continued innovation and relevance.</li> <li><strong>Personal Development<br></strong>Set clear objectives with your line manager and demonstrate ongoing growth in leadership, strategic thinking, and client impact.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Skills and Experience</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p>At WPP Media, our culture and people are at the heart of everything we do. In this role, it is essential to embody WPP and WPP Media’s core values:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Be Extraordinary</strong> by leading collectively to inspire transformational creativity.</li> <li><strong>Create an Open Environment</strong> by balancing people and client needs, cultivating trust and collaboration.</li> <li><strong>Lead Optimistically</strong> by championing growth and development to drive progress across the business.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Strong experience in <strong>eCommerce and retail media</strong>, including campaign set-up, management, optimisation, and reporting across both media owner and technology vendor platforms.</li> <li>Excellent understanding of the <strong>strategic and tactical application of retail media and digital marketing</strong>, with the ability to translate this into effective client solutions.</li> <li>Proven hands-on experience across key platforms, including <strong>Amazon, Criteo, and CitrusAd</strong>, with a solid understanding of the wider UK retail landscape (e.g. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Morrisons, Ocado) and quick commerce partners (e.g. Deliveroo, Uber Eats).</li> <li>Experience working with <strong>bid management platforms</strong> such as Skai and/or Pacvue.</li> <li>Experience with planning and activation across search/sponsored product and DSP.</li> <li>Experience with A