Summary of the Global Social Lead job at WPP Media

2584 - Global Social Lead

Role Summary and Impact

Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision-making and experiences through media, content, and technology. Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together.

Client Context:

Audible is Wavemaker Worldwide’s largest client and one of the world’s favourite platforms for audio content, from podcasts to audio books to Audible Originals. Audible have ambitious growth targets that we will help them achieve through both branding and performance campaigns across four major markets and has globalised it’s performance media into two hubs in NYC and London.

Role Context:

We are looking for a paid social expert to continue their career as Global Social Lead. This person will assume day-to-day responsibility for the paid social planning, activation and general output of a busy client account across all social performance media across 12 international markets – with more to come in 2026-7. They will oversee a team responsible for the everyday running of the account and ensure our strategic audience first approach to performance is made reality. This person will also be required to develop strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and our counterparts in other performance channels, as well as having a direct relationship with global branding social campaigns. As such the ideal candidate is someone with extensive knowledge of paid advertising across all of the key social platforms (Meta, Snap, TikTok, Reddit etc) who has a deep understanding of best approaches and practices to drive performance across both direct to site and app downloads (MAI – app installs) campaigns.

Key Responsibilities:

Global Social Lead has complete control of and responsibility for our social performance efforts globally within the Audible team These include:

Campaign Management

• Driving the production of comprehensive paid social media 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 to senior client stakeholders.
• Own the performance campaign targets (web sign ups and Monthly app installs) and ensure we deliver to them, with the ability to manage a set of highly knowledgeable Social clients.
• Lead a hybrid team (made up of both local and Global Hub employees across several locations) responsible for the end-to-end setup of paid social campaigns across all the relevant social platforms with direct line management of Social Directors.
• Comfortable troubleshooting and helping train junior team members to use advanced features and niche platforms.
• Responsible for maintaining the standard of regular quality assurance (QA) checks undertaken by those working on the account to ensure campaigns are set up to defined best practice standards (and helping to evolve these best-practices as necessary).
• Ensuring the team delivery a high standard and accuracy of weekly/monthly campaign performance reports. Leading weekly client calls and supporting the wider team to present results as necessary.
• Ensuring all performance commentary delivers valuable insight and recommendations to clients. Working with the team to identify trends and recommend actions on-platform to capitalise/mitigate these trends as necessary.
• Leading standalone research projects as required by the client.
• Being the go-to person for social perspectives both internally and from the client.
• Driving innovation in campaigns and processes across the team.

Client & Partner Management

• Responsible for delivering on the over-arching paid social strategy across the account and ensuring this ties in with the wider digital and comms strategy.
• Acting as a key social point-of-contact for your clients 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 paid social space, presenting these opportunities to stakeholders and securing client backing.
• Managing internal and external stakeholders to ensure multiple projects can be delivered simultaneously and to the required standard – including across tech and measurement teams.
• Building and maintaining relationships with the key media partners including Meta, Twitter, Snap, TikTok, Pinterest and others.

People Management

• Ensuring the effective management of both the local London and NYC teams and Global Hub employees, ensuring workloads are sufficiently monitored & prioritised to ensure deadlines are met.
• Working your Account Directors and the team leadership to help upskill team members as required. Leading by example to motivate and encourage all those with less experience on the team.
• 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 and lead regular internal meetings and training sessions in order to actively contribute to a collaborative and friendly paid social community.
• Leading the recruitment process for your immediate team and working with the head of department to assist with wider team recruitment as needed. This will involve leading interviews, making staffing decisions and acting as an ambassador for the team to potential candidates.

Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to test and innovate in the paid social space. Presenting these opportunities to stakeholders and securing client backing. Developing these into initiatives that can be used to further evolve the standard & efficiency of paid social buying across the wider team.
• Developing tailored testing/learning agendas for clients that drive clear and actionable insight on each social platform.
• Collaborating on thought-leadership pieces and POVs for the agency and GMS social community.
• Responsible for the accurate and effective management of agency finance processes. Ensuring the immediate team fulfil the mandatory finance process in a timely and accurate manner to ensure prompt payment/invoicing and minimise finance queries.
• Leading performance effectively alongside other global channel leads.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in performance media with a good level of expertise across paid social
• Strong understanding of how paid social works within the performance and digital ecosystem.
• Working knowledge of best practices within social.
• Understand of mobile app download campaigns within social platforms.
• Experience in performance social campaigns.
• Experience setting Social brand and performance KPIs for clients.
• Working knowledge of key tracking solutions.
• Proven people management and leadership qualities.
• Ability to manage upwards as well as downwards.
• Possesses initiative and demonstrates resourcefulness.
• All academic backgrounds will be considered – qualifications in maths, data, media of interest.
• Professional digital media/advertising qualifications will be of an advantage.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Hands-on experience in planning, buying and optimising across all channels is useful.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. 

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. 

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.  Please note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

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While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

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