Associate Director, Integrated Commerce, GCS (FTC)

Role Summary and Impact

The Integrated Commerce Director is a senior leadership role within WPP Media’s Global Commerce Practice, responsible for shaping and managing Unilever’s global commerce partnerships agenda.

Working closely with global and regional stakeholders, local market teams, retailer partners and WPP specialists, you will lead strategic relationships across key commerce and retail media partners including Carrefour, Criteo, Walmart, Tesco, (+ Uber, Mercado Libre and Shopee), alongside selected social platforms where commerce and retail media intersect.

The role combines partnership leadership, strategic consulting and thought leadership. You will help define how commerce and retail media continue to evolve, whilst ensuring Unilever extracts maximum value from its global partnerships through innovation, measurement, commercial benefits and capability development.

Reporting to the Global Commerce Lead, you will act as a key bridge between Unilever, WPP and platform partners, helping drive growth, innovation and retail media excellence globally.

Please note: This is a 10-month parental leave cover role with potential for extension.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic engagement with Unilever’s key retail media and commerce partners, including Carrefour, Criteo, Walmart, Tesco, (+ Uber, Mercado Libre and Shopee)
• Own the global commerce partnerships roadmap, identifying opportunities to drive growth, innovation and competitive advantage.
• Maximise the value of global Joint Business Plans, ensuring markets fully leverage partnership benefits, investment opportunities, measurement solutions and innovation programmes.
• Lead partner governance through quarterly and half-year business reviews, tracking performance and holding partners accountable against commitments.
• Advise Unilever stakeholders on retail media strategy and its role within broader commerce and media plans.
• Develop thought leadership around the future of commerce, including retail media, connected stores, AI and emerging technologies.
• Partner with local teams to identify, unlock & test alphas, betas, learning agendas and best practices that can scale across markets.
• Build strong relationships across Unilever, WPP and partner organisations, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing globally.

Skills and Experience

You are an experienced commerce and retail media leader with a strong understanding of retailer, media and platform ecosystems.

You combine strategic thinking with operational discipline, equally comfortable discussing the future of retail media, AI and commerce innovation as you are managing partner commitments, business reviews and market adoption of partnership benefits.

You thrive in complex stakeholder environments and have a proven ability to influence clients, agency teams and platform partners to drive measurable business outcomes.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience in retail media, commerce media, eCommerce, digital partnerships or shopper marketing.
• Strong understanding of the global retail media ecosystem and leading commerce platforms.
• Experience managing senior client, retailer or media partner relationships.
• Proven ability to develop strategic recommendations that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Experience managing commercial partnerships, annual plans and business reviews.
• Strong understanding of retail media measurement, attribution and performance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and presentation skills.
• Experience working within complex, matrixed organisations.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working on global FMCG businesses, ideally within a multinational organisation.
• Experience operating across global, regional and local market structures.
• Established relationships with retail media networks or commerce platforms.
• Understanding of commerce-enabled media platforms, including Meta, YouTube and Reddit.
• Experience developing thought leadership around commerce, retail media and emerging technologies.
• Knowledge of AI applications and measurement innovation within commerce and media.

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 

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

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

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