Executive Director, People Partnering

Executive Director, People Partnering - WPP Media

Location: London, UK 

About WPP Media

WPP is a creative transformation company, leveraging the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities. WPP Media, our global media collective, operates at the intersection of media and innovation. In a world where media permeates everything, we unite the best platforms, talent, and partners to unlock limitless growth opportunities. Learn more at www.wppmedia.com.

The UK represents WPP Media's largest market within the EMEA region, employing over 4,500 dedicated professionals. We partner with marquee clients including Amazon, BT, Tesco, Coca-Cola, Bayer, Dell, Unilever, M&S, Ford, Nestlé, Mazda, Danone, and Colgate.

The Opportunity: Redefine the Future of Our Workforce

We hold a bold ambition: to establish WPP Media UK as the undisputed leader in our industry – the place where exceptional talent aspires to work and build thriving careers. As our People Partnering Executive Director, you will be instrumental in bringing this vision to life, ensuring we attract, retain, and develop the very best in the market.

WPP Media is undergoing a significant transformation, evolving our business operating model and placing data, technology, and AI at the heart of everything we do for our people and our clients. This pivotal role is an opportunity to lead the evolution of our UK People function, transforming it into a future-facing, data-driven, and technologically advanced capability that strategically underpins WPP Media's overarching growth strategy.

Reporting to the UK Chief People Officer, you will be a passionate advocate for an exceptional employee journey and the architect of a truly high-performing culture across our UK operations.

Key Responsibilities: What You'll Be Doing

• Strategic People Partnering: Act as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, including supporting the WPP Media UK CEO. Provide strategic guidance on organizational design, talent, performance, compensation, employee relations, and leadership development, influencing business decisions and driving organizational effectiveness.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of People Leaders, fostering a collaborative, data-driven, and results-oriented environment within a complex matrixed HR structure. Promote continuous learning and professional growth.
• Talent Management: Partner with our Centers of Value to implement comprehensive talent acquisition, development, and retention strategies, ensuring alignment with business needs and championing a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Change & Transformation Leadership: Drive significant organizational change initiatives (restructuring, culture change, leadership development), navigating complex scenarios. Design and implement strategic solutions to impact culture and drive desired behavioral changes, particularly at executive leadership levels.
• Employee Relations Oversight: Provide expert guidance on complex UK employee relations issues, ensuring compliance and promoting a positive, productive work environment. Partner closely with the Employee Relations Centre of Value.
• Compensation & Benefits: In collaboration with the Compensation team, articulate WPP Media's reward philosophy, guide managers on compensation decisions, and effectively communicate programs to employees.
• People Operations & Analytics: Partner with the Operations lead on People operations, Workday management, data analytics, and reporting. Leverage data to identify trends, measure People effectiveness, and inform strategic decisions.
• Client Focus: Cultivate a client-centric mindset, ensuring exceptional service delivery and strong relationships with both internal and external clients, supporting client teams with people-related aspects as needed.
• Collaboration: Build strong, effective relationships across all People functions and Centers of Value (Talent Acquisition, Compensation, DEI, etc.) and the broader organization.
• Compliance: Ensure adherence to local laws and regulations, staying abreast of best practices and trends.

What Success Looks Like (Your Impact):

• Within 3 Months: You'll have a comprehensive understanding of WPP Media's business and challenges, evaluating current People Partnering and Operations capabilities (SWOT). You’ll be assessing our use of data, technology, and AI to help shape a best-in-class future.
• Within 6 Months: You will have built strong relationships with your team, the Operations Team, and senior stakeholders. You’ll be established as the go-to person for both day-to-day team leadership and strategic guidance for UK Business Leaders, initiating capability development plans and contributing to a future-state technology, data, and AI roadmap for the People function.
• Within 12 Months: You will be championing WPP Media UK's vision, demonstrating measurable improvements in key people metrics and showcasing the impact of your strategy on business performance. You’ll have successfully integrated new tech-driven people processes, leading to improved HR efficiency and enhanced employee experience, all while fostering a dynamic, curious, and innovative team culture aligned with our core values.

What You'll Bring: Essential Skills & Characteristics

• Strategic People Leadership: Extensive experience leading people functions in large, complex organizations (ideally Technology, Media, or Advertising), managing significant teams, and navigating diverse organizational structures.
• Strategic People Partnering: Proven ability to act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on a wide range of people-related matters.
• Data Integrity Champion: Demonstrated commitment to ensuring people data accuracy, consistency, and reliability, including implementing processes and governance frameworks.
• People Data Analysis & Analytics: Advanced skills in leveraging people data for insights, trend identification, and strategic decision-making, with ability to use data visualization tools.
• AI Innovation & Implementation: Exposure to, or a natural curiosity in, how AI can be leveraged in HR to drive efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced employee experiences (e.g., in talent acquisition, performance, L&D).
• Technology Advocate: A strong understanding of people technologies and a passion for leveraging them to improve processes and efficiency. Experience implementing and managing HR systems (e.g., Workday).
• Team Leadership & Development: Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing people teams, elevating capabilities and fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous learning.
• Driving Organizational Change: A successful track record of leading and implementing change initiatives within HR and across the broader organization.
• Complex Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to navigate and influence diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, adaptable to various audiences.
• DEI Champion: A genuine commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• Client-Centric Mindset: A focus on delivering exceptional service internally and externally.

Why Join WPP Media?

This is more than just a role; it's an opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping the future of a global media giant. You'll lead significant transformation, drive cultural change, and build a world-class People function that directly impacts business success. You’ll work with an ambitious team, collaborate with industry leaders, and contribute to a company renowned for creativity and innovation.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Ready to Lead Our People Transformation?

If you are a strategic, data-driven People leader with a passion for innovation and a proven track record of driving change in complex organisations, we encourage you to apply.

Apply Now to help us redefine the future of our workforce at WPP Media!

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