Director, People Partner Clients – WPP Media EMEA

WPP MEDIA UK | Director, People Partner Clients 

PURPOSE The purpose of this document is to help prospective team members better understand the role and responsibilities within the position of UK Client People Partner at WPP, supporting its bespoke global operating model for key clients. 

ABOUT WPP MEDIA & THE CLIENT PARTNER MODEL At WPP Media, we're constantly reinventing the future of creativity on an ever-broader canvas, bringing together unrivalled talent, resources and skills to provide an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce and technology. 

Over the last decade, we have developed a dedicated global client practice with the mission of accelerating WPP Media's impact for our largest clients by bringing them the best of WPP. Each team is custom-built around a client's specific needs and challenges, providing easy access to the right capabilities. 

This unique partnership model is built to deliver next-level Productivity, fuelled by our industry-leading approach to People, Platforms, and Process. It spans across all WPP agencies and disciplines such as media, business consultancy, communications and brand strategy, tech and commerce, public relations, and production. 

WPP's core values of Open, Optimistic and Extraordinary guide our approach. Our people come together to challenge and impact what's done today and build a better future. 

By joining WPP Media, you are joining a cross-functional team partnering with one of WPP's top global clients, and you are also taking a step to challenge yourself and the world around you every day, working in the most unusual way on some of Earth's most ambitious opportunities in marketing, tech, media, business, and creativity. 

ABOUT THE ROLE A talented and enthusiastic individual to join our team as an EMEA Client People Partner in the UK. This role plays a crucial part in supporting WPP Media's mission to deliver consistency, delivery excellence and best in class service for our key clients in every country across its diverse businesses. 

The Client People Partner role is a strategic, client-centered business partner with a reporting relationship to the Executive Director, People EMEA. This role anticipates and addresses talent needs for our regional client teams – ensuring the attraction and retention of the talent each client team needs to be successful. Responsible for the development of a positive culture of engagement for the client teams. 

The individual will have strong commercial sensibility, and a proven ability to link business goals to talent and HR strategy. This role will proactively identify, lead and implement recommendations on HR process, capability development continuous improvement and change initiatives. This will involve utilising appropriate benchmarking, evaluation and analysis of internal and external data, as well as employee feedback to influence decisions and areas for increased focus and investment. 

Working with the Centers of Values, the role will focus on talent acquisition, talent management, resource management, team development and growth. The role will drive consistency and engagement across all disciplines - and ensure the client teams have the talent they need. To accomplish this, the individual will need to have experience applying measurement analytics and insights to an aligned talent strategy and drive internal capabilities toward success. 

1. RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive performance of team through diverse casting, culture, leadership development, & employee engagement resulting in direct impact on client growth and satisfaction. 

• Serve as a major contributor on the client leadership team in support of client strategy to enable overall client team strategy, and by contributing to key business decisions as appropriate. 

• Responsible for designing and executing on a strategic talent plan that drives market growth for the client teams. 

• In partnership with the markets and Global Client Lead(s) and Leadership Team, responsible for retention and development of current and next generation of top leaders and succession for business-critical roles. 

• Develop and lead processes to improve employee commitment; ensure all employees are both listened to and heard. 

• Determine critical people metrics for the health of the business and talent pipeline. Calibrate talent and prepare plans for succession planning and recruiting forecast. 

• Encourage a culture that promotes collaboration across disciplines and allows employees to feel they are part of something special. 

• Ensure client team has a strong talent acquisition capability that provides an exceptional external and internal face to the talent market consistent with the client team's brand, mission and culture. 

• Champion diversity and inclusion tied to business results to promote a stronger, better organization. Ensure each region has a Inclusion & Impact strategy relevant to the local culture and gaps. 

• Mitigate potential people risks as they arise, such as grievances and disciplinary actions, so that as little as possible stands between the employees and our clients. 

• Advisor to client on learning & development, Inclusion & Impact, ways of working, team development. 

1. QUALIFICATIONS

• Senior level experienced People Partner, with a market focus, with experience of managing multiple geographies and uniting operations and culture. 

• Experience of supporting Client teams and Senior Leadership to ensure that we are delivering to our needs. 

• Experience in developing solutions to support client needs. 

• Significant experience working within the Media Investment and/or Advertising industry desirable. 

• Skill in providing feedback and coaching to executives and senior Group leaders. 

• Ability to use a data-driven approach to evaluate talent to drive performance and delivery. 

• Collaborative and astute - able to build trust and respect within the network and operate within a matrix structure; diplomatic, highly engaged, goal oriented, with a strong sense of ownership. 

• Emotionally intelligent, empathetic and with an ability to rapidly establish rapport with both internal stakeholders and clients. 

• Passionate, purposeful, and persistent; a roll-up-their-sleeves leader with the ambition to build a best in class talent and HR team that adds value to the business both operationally and culturally. 

• Ability to fluctuate leadership style based on outcomes and client/Global Client Leadership needs. 

• Progressive and intellectually curious expert who possesses both the emotional intelligence and operational rigor to drive our client teams forward. 

• Highly developed business acumen with solid commercial and analytical skills. Demonstrated strong judgment and decision-making skills. 

• Embraces new ideas and experimentation; naturally curious, this person is energized - rather than intimidated by - ambiguity and not afraid to fail. 

• A trusted peer – network with your peers and leaders regularly to build credibility and deep connection to the business. 

1. BONUS POINTS

• Ability to use data to determine best course of action. 

• Strength to challenge ideas - and the will to do what's necessary to get the job done. 

• Skilled in attracting top new talent and retaining them once on-board. 

• Flourishes in a fast-paced environment, has a high tolerance for change. 

• Ability to build a transparent, open and collaborative culture. 

1. BENEFITS OF THE CLIENT PARTNER MODEL

• Unparalleled Access: Gain direct experience working with some of the world's most innovative and influential companies. 

• Mentorship & Training: Receive guidance from experienced professionals at WPP. 

• Cutting-Edge Technology: Utilize industry-leading tools and platforms, including WPP's proprietary systems. 

• Data-Driven Environment: Develop your analytical skills and contribute to data-driven decision making. 

• Global Impact: Be part of a team that is shaping the future of marketing on a global scale. 

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