Data Science Lead

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.

SVP, Data Science Lead, CoE - Global Clients

About WPP Media
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, AI, Data, People and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit www.wppmedia.com

The UK is the largest market within the WPP Media EMEA region, with over 4,500 people employed within the WPP Media ecosystem. Marquee UK key clients include the likes of Amazon, UK Government, BT, Tesco, Coca Cola, Bayer, Dell, Unilever, M&S, Ford, Nestle, Mazda, Danone and Colgate. We have a bold ambition: to make WPP Media UK the undisputed leader in our industry. We are evolving our business operating model, our ways of working and placing data, technology and AI at the heart of everything we do for our people and our clients.

ONE WPP – Vision '30
Join us in shaping the future of our industry with Vision '30 – our ambitious strategy to lead in the AI era. We are revolutionizing our business to unlock limitless growth opportunities for our clients and ourselves, built on four core priorities:

1. Collaboration: Foster unprecedented levels of data collaboration across WPP and partners through WPP Open, turning every channel into a smarter opportunity.
2. Data & Technology: Leverage our AI-powered Open Intelligence solution, connecting vast data to uncover unique insights, deliver predictive performance and superior brand experiences through our globally consistent DPAM process.
3. Innovation: Drive true innovation by generating intelligence from trillions of privacy-by-default data points, focusing on the 'why' behind customer behaviour to create unparalleled competitive advantages.
4. People: Developing future-ready talent involves evolving our focus from traditional media planning to strategic business outcomes, advanced technology and real-time measurable results, as AI increasingly automates media investment by 2030

We empower ambitious experts to deliver extraordinary work by challenging ordinary thinking. If you are passionate about an AI-driven future, thrive in a collaborative and data-centric environment, and are driven to deliver unparalleled growth, we invite you to be part of our transformative journey.

WPP Media is a single client centric company with a portfolio of go to market brands. Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, Mindshare and T&P are our agency teams, these house multiple local and global clients. In addition, we have a number of client specific brands built to service specific clients. These include OpenDoor (Amazon), MFG (Google), OpenMind (Nestle), OpenConnect (BT/EE) and Media Futures Group (Google). All of these teams are supported by consistent capabilities, enterprise level tools and systems and our market leading OPEN platform.

Role Summary and Impact
The Senior Vice President (SVP) is a critical, impactful leader within WPP Media, demanding deep expertise and strong leadership. They will relentlessly optimise and innovate, translating high-level strategy into actionable plans, ensuring operational excellence and robust performance. This role involves leading a large department, executing strategic initiatives whilst tackling complex problems within defined strategic boundaries. Ultimately, their strong performance and impactful decisions directly contribute to critical functional goals, supporting our objectives and competitive advantage.

Role Summary and Impact

• This role is for Data Science across Global Clients. Provide expert oversight across statistical modelling, econometrics, machine learning, AI, forecasting, optimisation, attribution, propensity modelling and experimentation, ensuring methodologies are robust, explainable, reproducible and appropriate to the business problem.
• Team Leadership, Technical Mentoring & Capability Building: Lead, mentor and develop the Data Science team, with particular emphasis on technical coaching and craft excellence. Create an environment in which data scientists can challenge methods, learn from each other, deepen their technical expertise and progress their careers. Establish and champion best practices for code, model validation, documentation, QA, version control and model governance.
• Data Science Product & Service Portfolio Leadership: Own the technical stewardship and ongoing evolution of the Data Science CoE/Hub portfolio within the Analytics & Data Science Menu of Services. This includes Propensity Modelling, ML driven econometrics, MTA approaches, and other advanced measurement, attribution, forecasting & simulation solutions. Ensure solutions remain differentiated, scalable, operationally sound and connected to client needs.
• Innovation & Solution Development: Partner with the Head of CoE, DTA leaders and adjacent product, data, technology and consulting teams to identify high-value opportunities for new Data Science solutions. Translate emerging techniques in AI, machine learning, econometrics and optimisation into practical, repeatable offerings that can be piloted, proven and scaled across clients.
• Technical Assurance & Delivery Excellence: Provide senior technical review and challenge on complex projects, from problem framing and data requirements through modelling, validation, deployment and interpretation. Establish consistent development and QA standards so that solutions are accurate, transparent, maintainable and fit for scaled client delivery.
• Cross-Functional DTA Partnership: Act as the senior Data Science partner across the wider DTA organisation, helping Data Strategy, Client Analytics, DTA Leads, Client Enablement and technology partners understand where Data Science can create differentiated value. Bring technical expertise into complex client opportunities and connect specialist teams around the right solution.
• Client & Commercial Leadership: Serve as a senior technical advisor on priority client engagements and pitches, translating complex modelling and AI approaches into clear business value. Support solution scoping, resourcing and commercialisation of Data Science projects and managed services, balancing technical ambition with delivery feasibility and client impact.
• Thought Leadership & Community: Build a strong Data Science craft community across the CoE, Global Client Teams & partner global hubs, sharing reusable methods, code, learning and case studies. Stay current with developments in statistical science, machine learning, AI, marketing effectiveness and media technology, and turn relevant advances into practical improvements to our people, products and client solutions.

Skills and Experience

• Senior Data Science Leadership: Significant experience leading Data Science teams, with a track record of building strong technical capability, developing senior talent and setting a clear technical vision in a complex, matrixed organisation. Experience in the media advanced analytics space desirable.
• Deep Technical Expertise: Expert-level understanding of statistical modelling, machine learning, AI and predictive analytics, with the depth to review, challenge and mentor technical work rather than operating solely as a people or commercial leader.
• Modelling & Measurement Breadth: Strong experience across a range of methods relevant to marketing and media, such as econometrics/MMM, attribution, propensity and classification models, forecasting, optimisation, experimentation, model validation and scenario planning.
• Programming & Data Fluency: Strong proficiency in Python, R and/or SQL, with a practical understanding of reproducible analytical workflows, data pipelines, APIs, cloud data environments, version control, model QA and deployment.
• Product & Solution Leadership: Demonstrated ability to turn technical methodologies into repeatable products or services, manage an existing solution portfolio, establish technical standards and prioritise a roadmap of enhancements and new capabilities.
• Innovation Mindset: Evidence of identifying and applying new techniques to real business problems, moving from experimentation to robust, scalable solutions while maintaining appropriate governance, transparency and responsible AI practices.
• Media & Marketing Acumen: Strong understanding of how data science supports media planning, buying, measurement and optimisation, and how technical outputs translate into client business outcomes and investment decisions.
• Stakeholder & Communication Skills: Ability to act as a trusted technical partner to senior business, client and DTA stakeholders, translating complex concepts into clear choices, implications and commercial value.
• Delivery & Commercial Acumen: Experience overseeing a portfolio of complex analytical projects, including scoping, resourcing, quality, risk and stakeholder expectations, with the judgement to balance innovation, scalability and commercial viability.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. 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 note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

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