Associate, Direct Activation

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. Position: Associate (Buyer), Direct Activation 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. Role OVERVIEW: WPP Media is looking for a detail-oriented, analytical and collaborative media professional with 1–2 years of relevant media buying or activation experience to join our Direct Activation team. As an Associate (Buyer), Direct Activation, you will translate clients’ media strategies into effective investments and take day-to-day ownership of assigned buys. Building on your existing experience, you will contribute across the full media investment lifecycle — from marketplace analysis and negotiations through campaign activation, optimization, measurement and financial reconciliation — with guidance from senior team members on complex decisions and approvals. This is a cross-functional media investment role spanning offline and online channels, including Broadcast, Digital Display/Video, CTV/OLV, OOH/Print and other emerging media platforms. You will work directly with some of the world's largest media companies and technology platforms, manage day-to-day partner communications and apply your channel knowledge to evaluate opportunities and deliver against client objectives. We are looking for someone who brings a solid foundation in campaign execution, confidence working with budgets and performance data, and the judgement to resolve routine issues independently while escalating risks promptly. You should be ready to manage competing priorities, make informed recommendations and take accountability for the accuracy and delivery of your assigned investments while continuing to deepen your buying expertise. HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT - Develop media buying recommendations for assigned campaigns by analyzing marketplace intelligence, requesting proposals and comparing opportunities against audience, pricing and performance objectives. - Evaluate media partners’ offerings, audiences, pricing and capabilities, and negotiate rates, added value and terms for assigned buys within approved parameters, with senior support as needed. - Contribute actively to vendor meetings and industry discussions, sharing relevant marketplace updates and identifying opportunities for client campaigns. - Translate approved media strategies into accurate, effective media buys, ensuring schedules, budgets, rates and deliverables align with agreed objectives and approvals. Own campaign activation and stewardship - Own day-to-day execution of assigned media investments, including accurate buy entry, insertion orders, trafficking coordination and documentation of approved changes. - Coordinate with Planning, Ad Operations and media partners to confirm requirements, track launch readiness and resolve routine setup issues so campaigns launch accurately and on time. - Monitor campaign pacing and delivery against commitments, investigate discrepancies and coordinate corrective action with partners, escalating material performance or budget risks promptly. - Recommend campaign optimizations based on delivery and performance data and implement approved changes to keep investments aligned with client objectives. Use data to make better decisions - Validate campaign setup, budgets and measurement requirements before launch, identifying and resolving discrepancies with the appropriate teams. - Prepare post-campaign analyses for assigned buys, assessing delivery and performance against objectives and translating findings into actionable recommendations for future investments. - Maintain and reconcile client budgets and investment trackers, investigate invoice discrepancies with Finance and media partners, and follow through on outstanding items to support timely financial reconciliation. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE In this role, success means taking dependable day-to-day ownership of assigned buys, with appropriate senior oversight, and consistently delivering on the following: - Manage assigned campaigns accurately, efficiently and on time, meeting approved budgets and delivery commitments. - Follow through from buying and activation to reporting and reconciliation, resolving routine issues independently and escalating material risks with proposed solutions. - Build strong relationships with vendors and internal partners. - Apply knowledge across traditional, digital and emerging media to strengthen buying recommendations and campaign outcomes. - Demonstrate increasing independence, seek feedback and identify practical improvements to campaign workflows and reporting. WHAT YOU BRING - 1–2 years of relevant experience in media buying, investment or activation, with hands-on responsibility for campaign execution and stewardship. - Working knowledge of offline and digital direct media, including familiarity with broadcast, digital video and CTV/OLV buying principles and a desire to deepen cross-channel expertise. - Strong numerical and analytical skills, with experience managing budgets, interpreting campaign data and using Excel to maintain trackers, analyze delivery and support reconciliation. - Hands-on familiarity with media buying and reporting systems, buy-entry, insertion orders and trafficking workflows, plus experience evaluating proposals and supporting vendor negotiations. - College or University education is an asset - Exceptional organizational skills and strong attention to detail. - Excellent time-management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines. - A proactive, solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to investigate issues, interpret findings and make clear, evidence-based recommendations. - Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change. - Sound judgement to manage routine buying and campaign decisions within approved parameters, recognize when guidance is needed and escalate issues early. - Collaborative, inclusive and respectful of different perspectives. - Confident communicating with both internal stakeholders and external media partners. 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 read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.