Insights & Business Strategy Manager

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

2880 - Insights & Business Strategy Manager - GCS

Role Summary and Impact

We are looking for a Manager to join our team within Strategy & Capabilities at WPP Media. The Insights & Business Strategy team is a data agnostic team passionate about understanding people to deliver actionable insights to our clients. The team takes a holistic view of the client consumer from brand planning through to activation. The team work with a variety of datasets including traditional research, behavioural data, CRM, and other digital data.

This role would focus on supporting two global client accounts. For the first, the role focuses in assisting on the delivery of a global research programme for one of our biggest FMCG clients working with both our research team and suppliers and strategy client team to roll out the outputs of the programme. The second, will involve supporting on a new global car client working both with the strategy team to build audience understanding and our technology team (Data Technology Solutions) to integrate audiences into our WPP Open platform.

Key responsibilities for this position include:

 Supporting senior team members in the development and delivery of audience insights both for strategy, analytics and client teams.

• Take responsibility of the delivery of bespoke research and insight projects from beginning to end for multiple clients. 
• Take ownership of a variety of research processes and outputs (with support from a Director or Lead) spanning: 
  • Research proposal writing and the implementation of projects. 
  • Production of research materials such as questionnaires and discussion guides for clients and working with all stakeholders to ensure these are relevant and useful.
  • Liaising with key stakeholders throughout the research (such as suppliers and internal teams at GCS Global Client Solutions).
  • Analysis of data sets, drawing out the story and useful conclusions from the insight, then presenting these conclusions in the most appropriate manner.
  • Presenting insights back to clients and agency teams in a clear manner.

• Provide research and insight support on new business pitches to discover and create impactful insights that contribute to agency success. 
• Be an agency champion of audience, planning and insight tools (internal and external), including WPP Proprietary Panel data sources (such as Audience Origin, Brand Asset Valuator (BAV)) and industry syndicated tools and data sources (such as TGI, GWI, Euromonitor)
• Work closely with Data Technology Solutions team to understand and create data best practice in data and generate data specs and process documents.
• Builds strong relationships with both the client insights and data technology teams.

 Skills and Experience

• Curiosity, flexibility, problem solving skills, a scientific mindset and an enthusiasm for learning new things are key attributes.
• Fundamentally interested in people - Interested in the world around you and what makes people behave the way they do and how data and research can get you closer to understanding it.
• Able to work well as part of a team – you understand that one person can’t do or know everything and so you are willing to explore alternative routes, even if they are outside your comfort zone.

Fast learner, with the ability to work across multiple workstreams at once

Excited by telling stories from information by weaving different sources together into a convincing whole.

Able to think critically and with curiosity about information sources

Able to manage multiple stakeholders

Comfortable manipulating and reshaping data to suit a particular task or tale

Able to communicate ideas well, both verbally and written

 Skills we need:

• Ability to utilise understanding of research and insight tools and methodologies (both quantitative and qualitative) to suggest approaches and draw conclusions. 
• Understanding of manipulating panel / survey data using statistical software (e.g. SPSS, DisplayR, Python, R) and/or cross tabbing tools (e.g. Telmar, Choices, GWI)
• Experience working in a global research or media planning and buying agency (or have an interest in how data and insights can drive media strategies)
• Comfortable with reading and understanding data sets through excel
• A creative and flexible approach to finding, identifying, and generating insights on cultural shifts and forces shaping people’s behaviour - beyond the ‘what’ to uncover the ‘why’.
• Creating project plans that assess the relative importance of tasks and following best practice principles to deliver on time across the briefing and proposal stage, project set-up, reporting etc.).
• Ability to work across several projects, prioritising tasks across these and within these, and delivering on time.
• Understanding of the wider advertising industry

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 

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

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