Manager, Commerce Programmatic

About Wavemaker: A Leading WPP Media Brand

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 nected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

The Manager, Programmatic Commerce will utilize their retail expertise to drive excellence in tactical activation and day‑to‑day management of programmatic‑based activations. You will lead audience and creative strategy development, competitive research, day‑to‑day campaign setup, management, and reporting of programmatic media buys. This role will focus on programmatic activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, Citrus Ad, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc.

The role will require an understanding of each platform’s programmatic offerings – from self‑serve to managed service buys. You will connect directly with the retail media networks at each of the key customers on behalf of, and in partnership with, the client. You will be supporting the Director, Programmatic Commerce as we seek to maximise retail media investment for our client accounts.

An entrepreneurial spirit with a bias for action and problem‑solving is necessary to be successful in this role.

• Manage a team of direct reports and their career development.
• Oversee programmatic media activations across several retailer media networks and DSPs, including but not limited to Amazon, Citrus Ad, Criteo, The Trade Desk, Walmart, etc.
• Execute campaign setup, bid recommendations and budgeting to ensure overall client goal attainment, including the use of retail bid‑management technologies such as Pacvue, Skai, and Epsilo.
• Maintain excellent relationships with key account stakeholders to maximise promotional opportunities and assist them in navigating the commerce activation landscape.
• Ensure ongoing campaign compliance to GroupM established guidelines and best practices.
• Lead the incorporation of cross‑channel testing and optimisation strategies.
• Prepare campaign performance reports on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.
• Synthesize key data points, identify trends and recommend activities to maximise business results and deliver an optimal customer experience.
• Address technical issues with media campaign serving.
• Stay up‑to‑date on changing marketplace dynamics surrounding ad products, technology and measurement across programmatic partners.
• Manage reconciliation, invoicing/billing, trafficking and mapping data to our internal media campaign management platform.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Analytics, Marketing, Communications, Advertising; or equivalent professional work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in biddable performance media execution or paid e‑commerce, with a strong preference for retail media programmatic execution.
• Experience managing a team of direct reports.
• Experience across the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Deep understanding of retail commercial elements such as profit margin, inventory levels, forecasting and demand planning to inform media decisions.
• Deep understanding of how different media channels work together and how retail media fits within the wider ecosystem.
• Strong drive to understand the retail landscape and latest trends in commerce media.
• Experience with retail bid‑management platforms, such as Pacvue or Skai.
• Experience in campaign management and optimisation across multiple retail platforms (Amazon, Instacart, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Criteo, Google, Meta, etc.).
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• A self‑starter attitude that thrives in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent project‑management skills; able to coordinate…