VP, Innovation

VP, Innovation

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

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.

About WPP 650

Join an award-winning team at the heart of UK government, where your work will genuinely shape lives. As part of WPP 650 you'll be part of a supportive, collaborative environment that values curiosity, kindness, and growth. Together, we use behaviour change principles to design smarter services, influence better decisions, and help millions of people across the country.

Named WPP 650, after the 650 UK constituencies, the name is a reminder that our work must reflect the full breadth of the country, every community, every audience. No two days are the same. The challenges are complex, the problems worth solving, and the learning constant. You'll tackle issues that matter, alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about what they do. It's demanding - but always rewarding.

This is meaningful work with real-world impact - the kind you can point to with pride.

Role Summary and Impact

The advertising industry is in the midst of the biggest multi-generational communications shift in history. CMOs and public sector leaders are mastering two critical transformations: delivering a data, technology & AI-powered future, and moving beyond paid advertising. Organizations must shift from interrupting people with ads to engaging people with highly relevant, trust-building experiences.

WPP Media has establed The Experience Capability, a transformational offering that sits at the heart of integrated ESOP (Earned, Shared, Owned, Paid) strategies. This capability creates and integrates experiences across Platforms, Applied Innovation, Addressable strategy, Creators, and Creative Excellence to unlock growth for our clients' most pressing business challenges.

We are seeking a Vice President (VP) to lead Innovation on the UK Government account (WPP 650). The core mandate of this role is to drive, systematise, and scale applied innovation to solve the UK Government’s most complex operational and citizen-facing challenges. We define government innovation as leveraging new ideas, technologies, and methods to deliver a step-change in the effectiveness and efficiency of public sector campaigns in service of national priorities—powered by creative uses of media, data, and tech.

This is a senior role, reporting to an SVP within The Experience Capability. A critical component of this role is leading, managing, and inspiring a direct team of 5 Innovation Strategists and Planners, whilst working in tight coordination with a Business Director (BD), Creative Tech Lead, and 2x Creative Technologists. The VP will ensure that innovative ideas are systematically embedded into core campaign briefs to solve critical Department, Mission, and Government Media Unit (GMU) needs.

Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate is highly accomplished and comfortable on industry stages, in senior client boardrooms, and capable of simplifying complex technology, data, and innovation concepts, translating them into tangible citizen and campaign value. A proven track record of designing and scaling operational systems to embed innovation within a complex, highly regulated environment is essential.

Strategic Leadership & Vision (~40%)

• Define, Evolve, and Champion the UK Government Innovation System: Map applied innovation strategies directly to Department and Mission strategic ambitions, ensuring solutions address specific citizen behaviors and operational challenges.
• Lead the Media Futures Programme: Direct the agency's authoritative foresight and thought leadership (including trend reports, "Future of" learning sessions, and bespoke Gov/partner education days) to keep government clients future-ready.
• Establish Strategic Innovation Territories: Drive the development of solutions across
• Champion ESOP Integration: Demonstrate how applied innovation, emerging technologies, and new media ecosystems significantly enable and enhance integrated Earned, Shared, Owned, and Paid strategies.
• Enable Broader Strategy & Capability Growth: Collaborate closely with the wider Strategy & Capability division, converting government-specific innovation work and IP into scalable practices and methodologies that benefit the wider Experience Capability network.
  

Client Leadership & Consultative Impact (~50%)

• Act as Trusted Strategic Advisor: Build deep, advisor-level relationships with CMOs, Directors of Communication, and Government Communication Services leads, guiding their holistic innovation roadmap and campaign strategies.
• Deliver Bespoke Consultancy for Missions & Campaigns: Lead high-stakes client planning sessions, annual strategy reviews, and department-specific workshops to address pressing public sector challenges with bespoke, breakthrough media concepts.
• Systematise and Scale Innovation: Drive the transition of successful innovation pilots into recurring, foundational components of core media plans. Ensure the implementation of standardized "Test & Learn" measurement frameworks to validate Brand Lift and behavioral outcomes.
• Direct Senior Stakeholder Councils: Establish and run collaborative client-agency bodies, such as dedicated Innovation Steering Groups and stakeholder councils, to scale learnings and align priorities across government departments.
• Forge Partnership & JBP Agreements: Identify, evaluate, and scale strategic collaborations with platform partners and tech providers (utilising custom Partner Roster databases and Partner ID cards) to unlock first-to-market opportunities.
  

Network Collaboration & Internal Enablement (~10%)

• Lead and Mentor the Team: Provide direct line management and day-to-day guidance to a dedicated team of 5 Innovation Strategists and Planners, ensuring high standards of strategic delivery and supporting their career development.
• Orchestrate Delivery with Tech & Creative Specialists: Foster close, agile collaboration with the Business Director, Creative Tech Lead, and 2x Creative Technologists to quickly transition ideas from strategy to active, high-fidelity prototypes and live pilots.
• Bridge the Network: Connect the UK Government account to wider WPP networks, coordinating seamlessly with WPP Production (HEX), WPP Innovation teams, and other regional capabilities to bring the collective's best ideas to life.
• Democratise Case Studies and Knowledge Sharing: Actively capture and document learnings from activated pilots, building a robust case study repository and scaling successful methodologies across different geographic teams and accounts.

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 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.

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

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