Associate Director, Social

About the role

This role owns the paid social outcomes for client accounts and develops junior specialists who execute the work. You will translate ambiguous business goals into precise social activation plans that drive measurable outcomes. You establish trusted dialogue with clients and partners to define paid social strategy that aligns with broader media investments. Performance on social channels is evaluated alongside other media to guide integrated decisions and optimize the full funnel. You synthesize complex data into clear narratives that justify strategic choices and secure stakeholder buy-in. You create a repeatable framework where junior specialists can scale execution without sacrificing quality or brand safety. Your leadership sets the tone for experimentation, rigor, and accountability across the social practice.

Key facts

What you'll do

Client accounts receive paid social execution that meets performance goals while junior team members receive structured guidance and clear ownership. You design and deliver end-of-cycle reports that translate campaign results into actionable insights for stakeholders, highlighting both wins and learning. Integrated planning is maintained by coordinating social activities with other media channels to ensure coherent messaging and efficient budget use. The team relies on data-driven decisions and experimentation common in media operations, using test results to refine targeting and creative. You lead client calls and present to stakeholders, articulating the rationale behind recommendations and trade-offs. Balanced daily workloads for the team are overseen to maintain efficiency, prevent burnout, and align capacity with client demands. Junior planners and executors are mentored on paid social topics on an ongoing basis, with structured feedback to accelerate their development. Collaboration across diverse cultures, countries, and backgrounds defines team expectations, requiring cultural sensitivity and inclusive decision-making. You own the documentation of playbooks, templates, and learnings to institutionalize best practices within WPP Media. You identify capability gaps and work with HR and senior leadership to shape hiring and training priorities for the social team.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree is required for this position. You must have hands-on experience managing paid social campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snap, TikTok, and similar platforms. Certifications such as Meta Blueprint validate platform knowledge for these channels and are viewed favorably. You have led large-scale campaigns that blend both brand and direct-response objectives while maintaining clear measurement frameworks. You can compile detailed reports and lead team presentations such as QBRs and annual reviews with confidence and clarity. Strong experience working with clients and external stakeholders is necessary to form strong, trust-based relationships. You have led client calls and presented to stakeholders, demonstrating comfort with executive-level communication. You oversee balanced daily workloads for the team to maintain efficiency and healthy working rhythms. You mentor junior planners and executors on paid social topics on an ongoing basis, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. You thrive in collaborative environments that span diverse cultures, countries, and backgrounds, and you actively promote inclusive practices. You are eligible to work in the UK and can provide the right to work documentation at the start of employment.

Practical notes

The role is based in London, United Kingdom, with a hybrid schedule of around four days in the office. UK work eligibility is required for this position. Typical interview steps

Leadership hiring usually includes a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation. Candidates may be asked to turn around a struggling team or plan for growth. Past results are examined closely, especially how decisions were made. Interviewers dig into specific decisions you made and their consequences. Preparing two or three decision stories with numbers and lessons is the best use of time.

Good to know

Work in media operations often relies on data-driven decisions and experimentation. Professionals use paid social platforms and intelligence tools to guide audience targeting and performance analysis. Success depends on creative leadership, structured team development, and clear communication across channels.

Questions to ask

Worth asking in any interview: how the team measures success, who the role works with daily, what the onboarding looks like, and what the company is trying to achieve this year. Asking what past hires did well is a strong final question. Keep the list short and pick the questions that matter most to you.

Career growth

Leadership careers move from manager to senior manager, director, and executive roles. Each step adds more scope and more responsibility for outcomes. The best leaders keep learning how to delegate, communicate, and decide. Leadership careers reward a record of building and developing people. The higher you go, the more your communication shapes the whole organization.

About the company

WPP Media is hiring for Associate Director, Social. London, United Kingdom.