Associate Director, Research & Insights

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.

About EssenceMediacom

EssenceMediacom is a new kind of media agency, combining the performance, data, analytics, and creative technology capabilities of Essence with MediaCom’s scaled multichannel audience planning and strategic media expertise. We help brands break through by using media to create meaningful business growth and stronger consumer connections.

Role Summary

The Associate Director, Research & Insights role is responsible for bringing together and analyzing data from multiple sources to help Google make better strategic media and communications choices rooted in human insights. The Research & Insights team sits within the Integrated Strategy discipline, providing critical data-driven insights that informs strategic direction. All our people, processes and technology are united through our focus on understanding the consumer and their behavior to derive strategic insights that better connect Google to their audiences and make our strategies more effective. 

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party data sources to derive clear and compelling insights (i.e. Competitive, Culture, Consumer, Media), bringing them to life through visualizations and storytelling that can impact strategy and planning. 
• Leverage AI tools and platforms to help automate routine research workflows, streamline complex data analysis, and drive operational efficiency in insight generation. 
• Uncover new audience opportunities for our clients and share an understanding of who they are, why they do what they do and the best ways to reach them. 
• Build insight presentations and present them to internal and external stakeholders. 
• Manage research projects to help our clients solve their business problems by leveraging multiple research methodologies. 
• Proactively design and build bespoke insights solutions/tools fueled by disparate data sources. 
• Lead strategic workshops in discussion of key findings from research studies and tools with clients, including potential business and media applications of the insights. 
• Develop and lead thought leadership around competitive, culture, consumer, and media, and shape content for client use. 
• Become a trusted insight partner to our clients by understanding both their long-term and day-to-day needs. 
• Integrate with planning and strategy teams as an internal consultant to help them improve their understanding of the resources and tools both proprietary and external available to them. 
• Support New Business pitches by providing insight analysis and guidance. 

Technical Skills: 

• AI & Automation: Experience leveraging Generative AI platforms and analytical tools to help automate processes, optimize workflows, and enhance data analysis capabilities. 
• Syndicated Data: Working knowledge of syndicated consumer and media sources (Nielsen AdIntel, Pathmatics, MediaRadar, ComScore, GWI, MRI, YouGov, etc.). 
• Data & Analytics Tools: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, capable of leveraging complex functions, data analysis tools, and pivot tables to drive efficient data management and insightful reporting. Experience in data visualization and familiarity with SQL, R, and Python is a plus, but not a requirement. 
• Statistical Methods: Knowledge and application of foundational statistical methods to effectively analyze data, identify trends, and drive data-driven decision making. 

Requirements

• Minimum 4 years of industry or relevant experience in Strategy, Planning, Research and/or Media 
• Previous work experience at an agency, consultancy, research supplier, or client research role; foundational knowledge of the media planning process and media fluency strongly preferred. 

 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 and 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.

WPP Media is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with WPP Media, please email GroupM Leave Administration at Leave.Administration@groupm.com or call (212) 2978507 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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