Social Commerce Director - MSGCS - (Maternity Cover)

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

About Mindshare: A Leading WPP Media Brand

Mindshare delivers Good Growth for its clients. As “Growth Architects," we drive growth that benefits all stakeholders — better for people, planet, and business — by using media with intention. This approach creates more meaningful connections with consumers, increases consumer trust in the brand, and delivers better outcomes for all stakeholders.

Role Summary and Impact

The Social Commerce Strategy Director is part of our commerce practice within Mindshare’s Global Digital Solutions team for Unilever, based in London. Our team is dedicated to support Unilever’s digital commerce growth ambition through media and works closely with our network of local market specialists around the world to accelerate strategy & best practice in retail media & performance marketing.

This is a pivotal role in the team dedicated to shaping Unilever’s global strategic approach & best practices in evolving commerce spaces, with a focus on three key areas: Social Commerce, Future Facing Commerce (innovations around shopper behaviours & commerce platforms) and shoppable media.

Reporting to the Unilever Global Commerce Lead, the Social Commerce Strategy Director will work with global Unilever stakeholders to set the roadmap and vision, and consult teams globally & locally on how to approach & best practice for shoppable media and emerging commerce behaviours – including TikTok Shop, Livestream, Affiliate & Influencer – always with a focus on driving outcomes for brands

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on commerce and commerce media innovation opportunities – specifically around emerging territories such as TikTok, livestream, affiliate, gaming and more
• Lead the commerce innovation roadmap, identifying & unlocking opportunities for UL categories & brands across territories, working closely with local UL and agency teams
• Shape now and next best practice with emerging commerce opportunities, working with key local teams to fuse insights and learnings into globally applicable advice,
• Embed Next gen commerce strategy in Global strategy teams, supporting development of key campaigns
• Stay at the cutting edge of the landscape, and scope out opportunities with existing and emerging partners – across media, retailer & technology platforms
• Stay close to emerging trends in how people shop online, articulate how these trends relate to Unilever’s categories and brands, and shape strategic advice
• Provide thought leadership to clients around commerce & shoppable media innovation
• Lead the shoppable media workstream with Unilever global stakeholders, collaborating with key categories and brands on optimal approaches, best practices, technology adoption, gaps and opportunities

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

The Ideal Candidate

You have a background in digital, performance or retail media, and are passionate about the commerce space. You have a keen interest in evolving consumer behaviours, touchpoints and technologies, and how they will shape the future of how people shop. You are a strategic thinker, who can translate data & insights into strategic advice for brands. You enjoy advising clients, with an ability to identify and articulate quick wins & long-term opportunities. You are a team player, who enjoys working with others in a fast-changing space. This role will have the ability to infuse the best of our network capability into global client’s day-to-day deliverables. An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action is key.

Essential Criteria

• Experience in commerce across paid media and/or digital strategy
• Strong understanding of Social commerce (including TikTok) through in-role experience
• Able to articulate the evolving social commerce landscape and the latest trends and innovations in shopper behaviour (discovery through to purchase) as well as an understanding of broader commerce media
• Experience of utilising affiliates within Social Commerce Campaigns.
• Demonstrable understanding of how culture & community come together to drive sales through social media
• Strategic thinker with the ability to craft strategic media advice that achieves business objectives
• Excellent client communication, management, and collaboration skills
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify and communicate complex ideas
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• A self-starter attitude that thrives in a fast-paced environment, with a bias for action

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working with matrix organisation, navigating diverse sets of stakeholders
• Experience working with multiple markets within a global team
• FMCG experience a strong plus

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include 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 particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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 this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

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