Manager, Media Activation Retail Search

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 WPP Unite WPP Unite is a specialized unit within the WPP network, designed to deliver integrated, transformative marketing solutions for some of our most strategic clients. We bring together talent and capabilities across disciplines, including media, creative, strategy, commerce, and analytics, to operate as one unified team. Our focus is not only on delivering exceptional work, but on continuously evolving how we work. We build and scale modern operating models, workflows, and tools that drive efficiency, transparency, and measurable impact across the business. Role Summary & Impact As a Manager, Retail Media Activation - Search, you will lead the activation, optimization, and growth of retail search campaigns across major retail media networks. You will be responsible for translating client business objectives into performance-driven search strategies, managing campaign execution, and delivering measurable business outcomes across commerce and retail media environments. You will serve as a key partner to clients, agency teams, and retail media platforms, helping shape integrated commerce strategies while driving excellence in retail search activation. This role requires a deep understanding of marketplace dynamics, bidding strategies, optimization methodologies, and retail media technologies. You will also help develop junior talent, champion best practices, and identify innovative opportunities to drive client growth. Skills and Experience • Lead retail search activation and strategy across major retail media platforms, including sponsored products, paid search, and other biddable retail media opportunities. • Manage campaign strategy and execution across retailers and platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, Target, Kroger, Criteo/CitrusAd, and emerging retail media networks. • Develop and optimize keyword, bidding, budget allocation, targeting, and product-level strategies that maximize performance against client KPIs. • Translate client business objectives into activation plans, testing roadmaps, and optimization strategies. • Identify opportunities to improve ROAS, sales, efficiency, reach, and incremental growth through ongoing performance analysis. • Partner with planning, investment, commerce, analytics, and client teams to ensure retail search is integrated into broader media and commerce strategies. • Build testing and optimization frameworks across keywords, audiences, placements, products, bids, and budgets. • Leverage retail media management platforms including Pacvue, Skai, Epsilon, and similar technologies. • Develop performance forecasts, projections, and recommendations informed by historical trends, promotional calendars, and business goals. • Identify opportunities to capitalize on retailer promotions, seasonal events, new ad products, and emerging marketplace capabilities. • Stay current on retail media trends, search algorithms, measurement solutions, and commerce technology innovations. • Translate complex performance data into clear, actionable recommendations for clients and internal stakeholders. • Ensure campaign quality, govern