Director of Strategy & Transformation - Corporate

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

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 115,000 accomplished people in 110 countries. WPP has headquarters in New York, London and Singapore and a corporate presence in major markets worldwide.

We create transformative ideas and outcomes for our clients through an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce, and technology.

WPP and our award-winning agencies work with most of the world's biggest companies and organisations – from Ford, Unilever and P&G to Google, HSBC, and the UN. Our clients include 61 of the FTSE 100, 307 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 62 of the NASDAQ 100. WPP are the leader in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and 20th in the FTSE 100 rankings for Women on Boards.

*For internal WPP employees, we welcome applications from all regions*

Why we're hiring:

WPP is at the forefront of the marketing and advertising industry's largest transformation. Our Global CIO is leading a significant evolution of our Enterprise Technology capabilities, bringing together over 2,500 technology professionals into an integrated global team. This team will play a crucial role in enabling the ongoing transformation of our agencies and functions.

As Director of Strategy & Transformation, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the technology roadmap for WPP's Corporate functions. You will be responsible for developing and driving the execution of technology strategies that align with WPP's business goals, ensuring our Corporate teams have the tools and solutions they need to thrive. Your leadership will be instrumental in driving the adoption of new technologies, embedding innovative ways of working, and maximizing the value we deliver through technology.

What you'll be doing:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define a compelling technology vision, aims, and strategy for the Corporate functions cluster, ensuring alignment with WPP's strategic priorities.
• Provide strategic guidance to senior stakeholders on technology solutions, innovation opportunities, and transformation initiatives.
• Oversee the development of business cases for new technology demands, ensuring cost-effectiveness and maximizing value creation.
• Manage technology demand forecasting, planning, and resource allocation, adhering to portfolio governance requirements.
• Cultivate strong relationships with key Corporate and Enterprise Technology stakeholders, fostering open communication and collaborative partnerships.
• Partner closely with the Strategic Portfolio Management Office to ensure transparency and effective communication regarding portfolio initiatives.
• Collaborate with Finance to provide guidance on Corporate technology spend and manage the sub-portfolio budget.
• Build and lead a high-performing Transformation Squad, providing line management support, talent development, and guidance to deliver on strategic objectives.
• Offer individual and team management support, including task allocation, deliverable oversight, and performance management.

What you'll need:

• A proven track record of developing and implementing technology strategies and transformation initiatives within complex organizations.
• Experience in the Communications, Advertising, or Media sector, with a strong understanding of industry challenges and opportunities.
• Proven leadership skills, including experience managing global teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance.
• A strong understanding of Digital and Technology functions, with the ability to translate business needs into effective technology solutions.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to convey complex information effectively.
• Strategic thinking and development skills, with the ability to anticipate future trends and develop innovative solutions.
• Strong project and program management skills, with a proven track record of delivering complex initiatives on time and within budget.
• Expertise in demand planning and management, business case development, and benefits tracking.
• Strong financial and budget management skills, with a focus on value realization and cost optimization.
• Experience leading and managing change initiatives, effectively navigating organizational complexities and driving adoption of new technologies.

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 accepting: of 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 promote a culture of people that 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?

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wpp.com/people/wpp-privacy-policy-for-recruitment) for more information on how we process the information you provide.