Director - Project Management

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.

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com. 

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com 

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. 

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director – Project Management & Operations to lead large-scale operational programs, drive cross-functional collaboration, and ensure seamless delivery across multiple business verticals. The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in project management, operations governance, stakeholder management, resource planning, process optimization, and team leadership within a fast-paced global environment.This role requires a dynamic leader who can balance strategic planning with execution excellence, while fostering a high-performance and people-first culture.

Key Responsibilities

· Lead and oversee multiple high-impact projects and operational initiatives across global teams.

· Drive end-to-end project execution including planning, governance, risk management, stakeholder communication, and delivery tracking.

· Establish and standardize project management frameworks, operating models, and best practices.

· Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned to business objectives.

· Identify operational risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks, while proactively driving mitigation plans.

· Lead transformation initiatives focused on scalability, automation, and operational efficiency.

· Drive operational excellence initiatives to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and resource utilization.

· Develop and implement SOPs, governance frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and operational dashboards.

· Monitor key business metrics and operational KPIs to ensure performance targets are consistently achieved.

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and improve delivery models.

· Partner with Finance, HR, Resource Management, and Business Leadership teams to support organizational priorities.

· Act as a strategic partner to senior leadership, clients, and cross-functional stakeholders.

· Manage stakeholder communication across all levels with clarity, professionalism, and business acumen.

· Drive alignment between business expectations and operational execution.

· Present business reviews, operational insights, and strategic recommendations to leadership teams.

· Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing project management and operations teams.

· Build a collaborative and accountable team culture focused on continuous improvement.

· Support career development, coaching, succession planning, and capability building within the team.

· Drive employee engagement initiatives and foster a positive work environment.

· Create executive-level reports, dashboards, and operational reviews.

· Ensure governance compliance, documentation accuracy, and process adherence.

· Drive regular cadence reviews with leadership teams and stakeholders.

· Leverage data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Operations, or a related field.

· 12+ years of experience in Project Management, Operations, Program Management, or Business Operations.

· Proven experience managing large cross-functional teams and global stakeholders.

· Strong expertise in operational governance, project execution, and process optimization.

· Experience working in fast-paced, matrixed, and client-facing environments.

· Strong understanding of workforce planning, resource management, and delivery operations.

· Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities while driving strategic outcomes.

Preferred Skills

· Experience in digital operations, marketing operations, or shared services environments.

· Familiarity with PMO frameworks, Agile methodologies, and operational reporting tools.

· Exposure to capacity planning, vendor management, and organizational transformation initiatives.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

· Proficiency in tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, project management platforms, and reporting dashboards.

Leadership Competencies

· Strategic Thinking

· Execution Excellence

· People Leadership

· Decision Making

· Stakeholder Influence

· Operational Agility

· Collaboration & Communication

· Change Management

Success Metrics

· Delivery excellence across strategic projects and operational initiatives.

· Improvement in operational efficiency and process adherence.

· Stakeholder satisfaction and cross-functional collaboration effectiveness.

· Team engagement, retention, and capability development.

· Achievement of business KPIs, governance standards, and organizational goals.

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 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.