Senior Manager, Search and Performance

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.

Role Summary and Impact

We are currently looking for a Search & Performance Sr. Manager, APAC to join us. In this role, you will be responsible for establishing and running, with excellence, the Search & Performance Hub — with primary ownership of Search (Paid + Organic/AEO-GEO), Website Performance, Analytics & Tagging, and emerging channels (Reddit, Pinterest, and similar platforms).

This role does not own paid Social platform strategy, which sits with the Social Performance team.

The Search & Performance Sr. Manager will be responsible to:

• Own the Search strategy end-to-end — Paid Search, SEO, and the emerging discipline of AEO/GEO — ensuring the brand shows up accurately and favorably across AI-driven search surfaces (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, etc.)
• Partner with brand and UX teams to deliver website design and CRO recommendations that improve on-site conversion and search-to-site performance
• Work hands-on with Ad Ops teams to QA, recommend and implement tag and pixel changes (GTM, server-side tagging, conversion tracking), ensuring measurement accuracy across markets
• Own the Google agenda — building and presenting regular POVs, audits, and updates to clients as the landscape evolves
• Lead exploration and pilot strategy for emerging channels (Reddit, Pinterest, and similar platforms) — identifying where the brand should test, scale, or pass
• Work directly with the Strategy / Planning teams in diagnosing the execution KPIs and benchmarks (e.g. audience definitions, reach / frequency corridors, fit-for-purpose content requirements, bidding strategy, in-campaign optimization principles, etc.)
• Work directly with the Strategy / Planning teams in determining the test-&-learn frameworks for new experiments, as well as for testing alpha / betas
• Lead monitoring of in-campaign performance, and in partnership with the Strategy / Planning teams, lead implementation of in-campaign optimization
• Work directly with the biddable teams (the execution, reporting & ad-operations teams) in guiding them to execute the aligned KPIs
• Lead client conversations and bridge the gap between Media Performance & actual business reality. Simplify technical Performance conversations during client engagements
• Develop a global POV on what’s working / what’s not, and what to start new, scale further or stop
• Deliver innovative and creative solutions to media briefs when it comes to performance platforms (focused towards Search & emerging platforms)
• Guide and work with the team on the mid-year and annual strategy to achieve the desired KPIs for the business

Skills and Experience

• Hands-on experience managing Performance platforms (focus on Search) at scale, with exposure to GA4, GTM/tag management, and website optimization/CRO
• 5-7 years of proven track record running performance operations for large-scale clients
• Ability to convert execution results into actionable insights that successfully optimize strategy / planning
• Strong working knowledge of Search & Performance platforms and a point of view on AEO/GEO as a discipline
• Comfort working directly with Ad Ops / Tech teams on tagging, GTM, and measurement architecture
• Fluency in GA4 — able to both interpret data and explain it simply to senior clients
• Curiosity for emerging platforms (Reddit, Pinterest, AI search surfaces) and a bias for testing early
• An eyes-on-consumers, hands-on-keyboard disciplined approach
• Execution-back and data-powered strategic mindset
• Focus and passion for excellence in execution
• E2E perspective, with analytical expertise
• Data & technology savviness for media / business solutions
• Experience leading and coaching mid / large sized team
• Experience holding relationships with senior clients
• Understanding and aptitude to translate existing & upcoming technology trends into media / business solutions

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.

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