Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC)
- london, england, United Kingdom
- Contract
- £120 - £180 Per Day
Job Description
Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC)
London, United Kingdom
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.
1637 - Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC) - UK
Role Summary and Impact
We are seeking an exceptionally seasoned and dynamic Director, Strategic Operations, UK to lead the project management, execution, tracking, and delivery of our business-critical "One Company" project portfolio.
Reporting directly to the VP, Strategic Operations, UK and working alongside the COO, you will take the EXCO "Plan on a Page" and turn it into clear, connected actions across the business – making progress visible, setting rigorous PM frameworks, holding workstream owners to account, and keeping projects moving forward.
This role requires a heavy-hitting portfolio/programme/project management expert who thrives in a high-visibility environment. You are not just a manager of timelines – you are a strategic driver – an operational leader who knows how to align complex teams to deliver exceptional results.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive "One Company" Projects: Drive the end-to-end execution of company-wide, critical operational projects from business case / inception through delivery, ensuring alignment with executive business goals.
- Work Breakdown & Task Management: Translate high-level priorities into clear, practical deliverables – defining detailed Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), timelines, key milestones, dependencies, and precise task ownership.
- Portfolio & Resource Optimisation: Oversee the master project portfolio across business streams (e.g., people, finance, data, tech, operations). Optimise resource allocation, balance competing priorities, identify capacity constraints, and ensure high-value initiatives are delivered on time and within scope.
- Keep Things Moving: Work directly with business leads to solve problems, clear blockers, and ensure projects cross the finish line on time.
Governance, Frameworks & Strict Accountability
- Set & Embed Frameworks: Assess existing delivery methodologies and establish best-in-class PM standard operating procedures, tools, and KPIs. Embed simple, practical project toolkits (e.g., Business Case Templates, Project Charters, Portfolio Reports, RACI matrices, RAID logs, and milestone plans) across all initiatives.
- Hold Teams Accountable: Drive a culture of accountability and precision. Establish clear ownership for every workstream, leading regular portfolio/project reviews and huddles to keep business leads strictly accountable for their deliverables and commitments.
- Light-Touch Governance: Run light but highly effective tracking. Cut out unnecessary paperwork and "admin for the sake of admin," focusing purely on actions, outputs, and operational efficiency.