Manager - Business Operations

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 the role

As an Business Operations Manager, you will report into an Operations Director and be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day operations within a client team. You will be working closely with Client Services, and facilitating the efforts of a cross-functional team.

Reporting of the role

This role reports directly to the Operations Director and works closely with the Client Services Lead.

Best things about the job:

• You will experience working in a truly dynamic and rapidly changing media industry along with business thinking and broader client / account management
• You will get the opportunity to work with and influence leaders from various verticals to be able to make an impact and enhance ways of working and managing a high profile APAC client.
• Be part of a fun and challenging environment where individual aspirations can be fulfilled.

Some of the things we'd like you to do:

Leading the Delivery of Work

• Translate scopes of work into effective project plans, that will ensure we meet client expectations on time and on budget.
• Ensure project plans are kept up-to-date within our project management tool and shared and understood by the cross-functional team
• Partner with Resource Management, and attend regular resource allocation meetings, to ensure the right resource is identified and enabled to deliver work effort, and to resolve any resource challenges along the way
• Coordinate efforts across the cross-functional team, including supporting/ leading daily huddles to maintain context and coordinating conversations and actions to overcome challenges and meet deadlines
• Share regular status updates with the Operations Director and Client Services, always escalating challenges where appropriate
• Support Client Services with client and partner management when requested by:
• Sharing status updates and gathering information/context
• Holding them to account for their deliverables/inputs
• Setting up and/or facilitating meetings
• Documenting and sharing meeting minutes and actions
• Look to identify potential issues before they happen, and with the support of the Operations Director and Client Services put plans in place to mitigate them
• Help the team understand the client agreed upon service level agreements, and support them in finding ways to better manage their work to them
• Be a role model and advocate for effective collaboration and communication across the cross-functional team

Driving Operational Effectiveness

• Support the Operations Director run team wash-ups, and help the team implement agreed upon changes to improve the way they work together
• Help educate team members on the end-to-end Essence Campaign Delivery Process and direct them towards any supporting Quality Standards]
• Track adherence to Process and Quality Standards, encouraging their use, and helping resolve barriers to their adoption
• Regularly share operational recommendations to improve the way we work, and help implement any necessary improvements within the team

Key Role Requirements

• 4 - 6 years of relevant professional experience, ideally including experience within a media agency and/or a management consulting firm.
• Proven experience managing client relationships and working with multiple stakeholders across various functions and levels.
• Candidates applying from a different industry, function, or background are encouraged to provide a cover letter outlining their interest in and suitability for the role.
• Experience working within Agile project environments, including leading sprint planning sessions, stand-ups, retrospectives, and other Scrum ceremonies.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, with a demonstrated ability to deliver complex projects involving cross-functional teams.
• Natural curiosity about business operations, with the ability to identify opportunities and recommend improvements to enhance business effectiveness.
• Strong analytical and data-driven problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to make sound decisions and resolve issues efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to bring structure and clarity to ambiguous situations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organization.
• Proactive and adaptable mindset, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while remaining composed under pressure.
• Positive attitude, high energy, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Strong team player with a collaborative approach and a commitment to fostering teamwork and partnership.

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.