Director, Pitch
Job description
About the role
The is responsible for owning the narrative development, deliverable oversight, and cross-functional coordination essential for winning complex media opportunities. This role leads the creation of differentiated, client-centric stories for Tier 2 and Tier 3 pitches while ensuring Tier 1 narrative requirements are deeply understood and represented. The hire will establish clear leadership conditions that allow teams to succeed by removing obstacles, providing context, and holding people accountable to high standards. They will shape how WPP Media is presented within partner agency workflows and influence the overall story told to WPP IAT growth leads. Success is measured through team outcomes, retention, on-time delivery, and the ability to balance multiple pitch opportunities under shifting priorities. The Director will mentor junior team members, reinforcing best practices and a high-performance mindset to ensure flawless output and clear priority alignment. This position requires visibility, predictability, and generosity in communication to build trust with cross-disciplinary stakeholders and sustain momentum under pressure.
Key facts
What you'll do
Provide day-to-day leadership for Tier 2 and Tier 3 pitches under Group Director oversight, with Tier 1 support focused on schedule adherence and risk mitigation.
Advance written deliverables, creative assets, and presentation content while clarifying workstream ownership for every pitch phase to eliminate ambiguity.
Inform leadership proactively about roadblocks and deliver clear communications and strategic direction to Growth support teams to maintain alignment.
Shape client narratives for Tier 2 and Tier 3 opportunities to be differentiated and client-centric while integrating deep understanding of Tier 1 narrative requirements and global market expectations.
Verify live meeting tabletop setups and printed deliverables to confirm inclusion of every attendee and compliance with all mandatories and standards.
Establish cross-disciplinary alignment across WPP Media workstreams and guide process execution alongside pitch leads and subject matter experts to ensure coherence.
Deliver primary troubleshooting and information facilitation to team members and provide end-of-day and end-of-week status recaps to maintain transparency and accountability.
Engage WPP IAT growth leads to strengthen the presentation of WPP Media within the overall story and partner agency workflows, enhancing collaboration and perceived value.
Manage junior team members through priority reinforcement, flawless output checks, and mentorship that reflects best practices and fosters a high-performance mindset.
Balance multiple pitch opportunities against shifting priorities and timelines to protect quality, momentum, and team morale under pressure.
Flag potential resourcing issues and roadblocks early to enable leadership triage and timely course correction before impacts escalate.
Weave local market nuances into pitch content to represent global opportunities led by Group Directors, ensuring relevance and cultural resonance.
Champion structured project management and cross-functional collaboration within media and growth positions to drive consistent execution.
Leverage tools such as WPP Open, Open Intelligence, and data platforms to synthesize insights and execute campaigns that are informed and measurable.
Requirements
A degree is held as required for this position in the United States.
Total experience in related roles spans the timeframe stated in the listing and must align with the responsibilities outlined for this role.
Work is performed based in the United States, and all employment must comply with local regulations and policies.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate past results that reflect strategic leadership in sales-focused environments.
Proficiency with tools such as WPP Open, Open Intelligence, and data platforms is expected to synthesize insights and support decision making.
Strong evidence of cross-functional collaboration and structured project management capabilities is required.
The ability to communicate clearly and provide context proactively is essential for leadership effectiveness in this role.
Candidates must be willing to participate in typical interview steps, including a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation.
Demonstrated experience in turning around struggling teams or planning for growth is preferred as evidence of leadership capability.
Past decisions and their consequences will be examined closely to assess judgment, accountability, and learning agility.
Candidates should prepare two or three decision stories with numbers and lessons to illustrate impact and strategic thinking.
Relocation or remote arrangements must align with company policy and legal requirements as defined for this Chicago-based role.
Practical notes
Details are confirmed Typical interview steps include a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation, with expectations to discuss how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining.
Information regarding hours, travel, visa, or deadlines is not provided in the source and should be verified Questions to ask
Useful questions for the interview include asking what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback is structured. Candidates are also encouraged to ask about the recent evolution of the role and what the team wishes it had known at the start, as well as questions about the manager's priorities and how success is defined in the first year.
Career growth
Leadership careers in this type of role move from manager to senior manager, director, and executive levels, with each step adding more scope and responsibility for outcomes. The best leaders continue learning how to delegate, communicate, and decide effectively, understanding that leadership roles reward a record of building and developing people. As leaders advance, their communication increasingly shapes the entire organization, and this position provides a platform to influence WPP Media's story, support IAT growth initiatives, and contribute to sustainable growth through disciplined execution and strategic oversight.