Performance Manager

Your role in a nutshell

As a Performance Manager, you will oversee the efficient functioning of programmatic and paid social operations, ensuring seamless integration of cutting-edge technology, data-driven insights, and streamlined commercial processes.

Your role will encompass supply-side management, sales pipeline oversight, financial operations, and the facilitation of programmatic strategies tailored to the New Zealand market. You will work closely with digital teams, agency partners, and clients to deliver scalable and impactful outcomes. This position offers significant opportunities to engage with a rapidly evolving digital landscape and foster growth within a dynamic team.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Industry leadership: Work at the forefront of digital innovation within one of the most dynamic and fast-growing markets.
• Professional growth: Leverage cutting-edge tools and platforms, including META, TikTok, The Trade Desk, DV360, and others.
• Impactful collaborations: Collaborate with top-tier publishers, SSPs, and agencies, contributing to data-driven and brand-safe campaigns.

 

Core Skills Required:

• At least 3-5 years of experience in digital advertising, with a strong focus on programmatic and paid social
• Advanced understanding of the social and programmatic ecosystem, including Ad Server, DSPs, SSPs, DMPs, and ad verification tools (IAS, DV)
• Expertise in planning, activating, and optimising paid social campaigns across key platforms (e.g. Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat), including audience segmentation, creative strategy, and performance analysis
• Experience with campaign management tools, audience segmentation, and data visualisation platforms
• Proven ability to work with SaaS platforms and automation tools, such as Trade Desk Commerce Connector or similar technologies
• Proficiency in financial reporting, data analysis, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to present complex ideas effectively
• Forming strong relationships is key to the role, the ideal candidate should feel comfortable presenting to clients and leading calls as required
• Teamwork is key to this role and we are looking for someone who is collaborative, friendly, and with a can-do attitude
• Some experience line managing individuals and/or helping to train others across paid social and programmatic would be preferable ▪ Strategic mindset with an eye for innovation and operational efficiency
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Team-oriented with a collaborative approach to problem-solving
• Adept at working under pressure while maintaining high-quality outputs
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Attributes for Success:

In Depth, this role will focus on

Product

• Execute supply-side strategies using PubMatic, Index Exchange, and Magnite.
• Identify and act on opportunities to improve supply path efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Developing comprehensive paid social, programmatic plans (+ supporting material) that align with client’s objectives and KPIs. Able to clearly articulate the rationale for proposed campaign tactics (channels, budget, audience, formats etc.) and present these back, both to internal and external stakeholders
• Responsible for end-to-end set up of paid social and programmatic campaigns across all the relevant platforms (and working with junior team members to assist them with this task as necessary). Comfortable using advanced features such as bid rules and 3rd party optimisation/ creative/ measurement tools to achieve results for clients.
• Responsible for ensuring regular quality assurance (QA) checks are undertaken by everyone working on the account (both locally and in the offshore team) to ensure campaigns are set up to defined best practice standards
• Responsible for monitoring campaign performance and pacing to ensure all activity delivers as expected. Troubleshooting and optimising campaigns to improve performance as necessary
• Working with Executives, Snr. Executives and the Global Hub team to produce detailed & accurate weekly/monthly campaign performance reports, often in Microsoft Excel. Leading client calls to present results as necessary
• Writing performance commentary that delivers valuable insight and recommendations to clients. Should be able to identify trends and recommend actions on-platform to capitalise/mitigate these trends as necessary. Working with junior team members to ensure standards for commentary remain consistent
• Producing more detailed analysis including end-of-campaign reporting, quarterly/annual reviews, and for standalone projects
• Identify opportunities to test and innovate in the paid social space. Presenting these opportunities to stakeholders and securing client backing
• Working with line-manager to develop and implement testing/learning agendas for clients that drive clear and actionable insight on each social platform.
• Working closely with brand client service teams + other channel specialists to ensure performance activity compliments and enhances the wider marketing mix
• Partner with product and technology teams to advance automation, integration, and scalability in programmatic workflows.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies, regulations, and trends in the New Zealand and Australian programmatic marketplaces.

 

Partners

• Manage supply-side relationships, including SSPs, ad networks, and publishers, ensuring alignment with campaign and client objectives
• Educate and onboard publishers about software and best practices to ensure optimal use and integration
• Collaborate with trading desks & agency partners to present SPO strategies that drive business value
• Building and maintaining relationships with the key media partners including Meta, Twitter, Snap, TikTok, Pinterest and others.
• Acting as a social point-of-contact for your client(s) ensuring their continuing confidence in the quality of the team and agency’s social output
• Demonstrating a deep understanding of the media and technology developments that influence your client’s business. Able to identify opportunities to test and innovate in the social space, presenting these opportunities to stakeholders and securing client backing

 

Profitability

• Oversee and optimise the programmatic sales pipeline using tools like Salesforce and Wrike
• Manage monthly financial processes, including DSP reporting (TTD, DV360), billing queries, and actualisation
• Analyse margin performance across campaigns and identify areas for improvement.
• Responsible for accurate and timely fulfilment of mandatory agency finance processes. Working with junior team members and the offshore team to ensure processes are followed, allowing for prompt payment/invoicing and to minimise finance queries
• Provide financial and operational insights to inform investment strategies and innovation roadmaps

 

People

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of programmatic traders and specialists. This includes setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, conducting performance reviews and identifying training needs
• Facilitate effective communication between the programmatic team and other internal departments including brand client service teams. Including proactive sharing insights, addressing challenges, and fostering strong working relationships to achieve shared business objectives
• Working with your line-manager to ensure the effective management of more junior team members ensuring workloads are sufficiently monitored & prioritised to ensure deadlines are met
• Able to communicate clearly and in a timely manner with internal and external stakeholders as required across email, chat, video and in-person. Leading presentations where necessary
• Attend regular internal meetings and training sessions to actively contribute to a collaborative and friendly paid social community. Leading by example to motivate and encourage those with less experience
• Assisting with the recruitment process for the immediate and wider team. Attending interviews and acting as an ambassador for the team to potential candidates.

 

Growth & Marketing

• Be a positive face of WPP Media at industry events
• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to identify, collate, and showcase examples of great work from within the agency, both internally and externally
• Share relevant and insightful commentary internally, for the broader agency

We are looking for two roles, one permanent and one FTC which you could be considered for. 

#LI-Promoted

 

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