Shopper Lead / Account Director - Studio X

The Opportunity 

In what has been called the “the biggest advertising pitch in history,” WPP was chosen to redefine the marketing and advertising model as we’ve known it. In partnership with The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC), we are building a new open approach that will connect our talent, skills and client partners in a truly borderless way aimed at multiplying the power of creativity for one of the world’s largest and most beloved brands.

We call our partnership approach “Open X” – it is the transformation-based marriage of WPP, the #1 global network and largest communications holding company in the world, with the iconic Fortune 100 company, Coca Cola, valued at 71 billion dollars, operating in more countries than the UN and comprised of a diverse portfolio of iconic brands such as Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani, Smartwater, Minute Maid and Powerade among others.

Within Open X sits “Studio X”. Studio X unites a suite of marketing capabilities into one fully integrated team of experts.​ Studio X uses data and technology to make our work more insightful, effective and efficient. Creativity is a proven engine of business growth but creativity must keep pace with the new marketing landscape – which demands it is more intelligent, agile and adaptable.​ StudioX is our answer to this marketing challenge.​ StudioX is fueled by intelligent, actionable data-signals and real-time insights.​

Our teams are populated by a blend of brand, content and social experts: strategists & analysts, creatives & designers, producers & distributors, all committed to making the most of every media moment.​ We specialise in matching the right content to the right audience at the right moment; supported by ​best-in-class automation tools to deploy tailored assets at scale.​ Everything we do is purpose-built for the new marketing landscape: it’s addressable and flexible, designed to reach data-informed target audiences and to evolve based on their response.

The Role

The Shopper Lead manages and leads all Shopper creative and production for Studio X in Japan for The Coca Cola Company (TCCC). They are responsible for the successful execution of Shopper touchpoints within Studio X including – planning, delivery, overall satisfaction, quality of service, on-time, and on-budget completion of deliverables. They partner to analyze, solve and present viable strategic production roadmaps and solutions to our clients and internally across the WPP network. They champion new and better workflows and work with our global network to test and implement new technologies to uplift our offering. They will partner closely with the Japan Leadership of the broader WPP team supporting the TCCC account.

The successful candidate will use their superior problem-solving skills, judgment, and excellent relationship building skills to be a leader and mentor for the team overall. They can identify and champion great creative work and understand the importance of flawless delivery. They are also strong leaders of teams who inspire others to act courageously.  Additionally, they have a passion for operational efficiency within the production space and are creative in their solutions, as well as a collaborative solutions-oriented approach. 

Strategy and Management

• Project, plan, and manage annual budget for Shopper team. Drive revenue and profitability, against annual targets
• Partners with WPP team leadership and agencies to engage with our most senior clients/partners to develop, sustain, and grow the scope of Studio X production across both organic and new business
• Develop the relationship of strategic, trusted production partners
• Engages with teams and partners to gain full understanding of their objectives and requirements, and partners with them to define the scope and production strategy for programs and requests
• Curates and casts the most appropriate team through thoughtful resource and capacity
• Leverage WPP’s global production network to ensure the most efficient, effective and profitable production services are delivered which meet the client’s needs
• Partners with agencies and clients to be sensitive to the client's needs and concerns, while managing expectations and pushing back appropriately

Financial Management

• Demonstrates strong commercial acumen and financial management, understanding the economics of our business and contributes in a way that supports the financial model.
• Consistently creates solid revenue forecasts, with accurate representation of committed vs. upside/downside revenue
• Cross collaborates with WPP agencies on TCCC client needs through OpenX and identifies opportunities for growth within the existing client work
• Owns/collaborates on contract negotiations
• Reviews and approves final SOWs, Ratecards, and Change Orders

Operations

• Leads and drives Studio X production team to flawlessly deliver work that meets client’s business, operations, and strategic goals, assigning clear responsibility for tasks, decisions and clear objectives.
• Ensures they have the right people, process, partners, and deliverables to get to the best production solutions
• Continually assesses and simplifies complex processes to make them more efficient
• Ensure that all work is carefully monitored and quality-assured, despite day-to-day pressures and that work produced is of the required quality expected both by the client and our organization
• Proactively identifies, tracks, and mitigates account risks and issues, escalating appropriately.

Collaboration

• Builds strong partnership and collaboration across team, capabilities and functions within internal agency team, as well as with clients and key external partners
• Motivates and drives the integrated team towards forward progress, action and results
• Develops and maintains high levels of team effectiveness (trust, communication, collaboration, productivity, diversity, engagement).
• Effectively and impartially navigates teams with conflicting priorities
• Builds strong, trusting relationships with key stakeholders and clients across the business

Team Development

• Manages teams to successfully execute in a quick paced environment across varied project types.
• Takes active responsibility for morale of the team. Works with leads to identify issues impacting team satisfaction and proactively recommends solutions to address them.
• Coaches, trains, and mentors team members in Studio X
• Reviews team structure and resources on an ongoing basis to ensure high quality delivery, quality and service for our clients, while appropriately maintaining agreed profitability
• Supervises and offers support even to those you do not directly manage

Requirements:

• Successful experience in a strategic, complex, multi agency /client environment
• Demonstrated experience working with Senior and Executive management at the agency and with clients
• Experience leading production from an operational standpoint
• An appreciation for how great work gets done and a commitment to ensuring flawless execution
• Confidence and experience working with a major global brand with multiple subsidiaries
• Strong cross-capability and cross-function collaboration and communication skills
• Commercially focused with a passion for delivering and exceeding results
• Inspiring leadership, ability to rally teams and experience in driving change and governance through cross-functional teams with internal and external constituencies
• Demonstrated experience of successfully working within a virtual team environment
• The ability to thrive in an ever changing and dynamic work environment
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and relationships cross functionally
• Experience with complex decision and planning processes
• Ability to conduct presentations comfortably to large group
• Quality and delivery focused. Self-initiating, adaptable, team orientation, conflict resolver, change agent.
• Understanding of the print graphic production process - from brief, proposal, photoshoots, colorproofing to delivery
• Business level English and Japanese language

What you will bring 

You will have a proven ability to work with senior client and agency leaders and a track record in managing (and growing) client business and projects. Your leadership style will embrace the attractions and challenges of an agency environment: You will bring the gravitas to stand up to senior clients, the energy to pitch in and help with whatever needs doing and the flexibility and accessibility to work with and bring out the best in a diverse group of WPP people and agencies. Given the degree of change we are experiencing and encouraging across our business, you will already have demonstrated a history of managing ongoing and ambitious change at a senior level. And, you will make it a priority to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in your team.

You will be an open, optimistic, and extraordinary leader with the highest standards of personal ethics, the emotional intelligence to work collaboratively both within and outside of WPP and its agencies, and the guts to discern and do what is right, making the tough decisions and owning them.

Not sure if you have what it takes? We encourage you to apply if you think you’d be a great candidate for this position—even if you may not have all the desired qualifications.