Agency Development Director

Overview

As Agency Development Director, you will lead the WPP agency strategy and commercial campaigns for a key sales patch, strengthening Hearst’s position with major agency partners. You’ll work with cross-functional teams to craft commercially strong, strategically aligned proposals from brief to delivery, driving growth beyond the top accounts. You’ll cultivate senior agency relationships and coach your team to deliver outstanding results. This role offers impact across digital, print, partnerships and events within a mission-driven media house.

Pay / Benefits

• Hybrid working
• Flex Fridays
• Health and wellbeing programs
• Pension and Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee discounts

Responsibilities

• Own the agency strategy for the WPP patch, identifying priority agencies, relationship opportunities and growth points to support revenue delivery
• Build and maintain senior relationships with agency planners, buyers, Directors, Heads of and key decision-makers, as the primary contact for campaign responses and execution
• Identify and drive commercial opportunities across existing and new business accounts, focusing on upselling campaigns and revenue growth
• Lead agency presentations, reviews, immersion sessions and meetings, communicating Hearst’s proposition, performance, insights and opportunities
• Manage budgets, pipeline activity and booked revenue for the patch, with forecasting and strategic recommendations to senior leaders
• Collaborate with Account Management, Creative Strategy, editorial teams and other stakeholders to shape briefs into commercially strong responses and translate ideas into strategy
• Maintain understanding of Hearst’s product portfolio, market positioning and agency spend trends, and stay aligned with commercial targets
• Line manage and support direct reports, coaching and development, while acting as Hearst ambassador

Key requirements

• Significant experience in commercial media, agency sales or partnerships at Director/Head of level
• Proven ability to own and grow an agency patch with revenue growth and long-term opportunities
• Strong relationships across WPP
• Strong commercial awareness with budgeting, forecasting and revenue performance
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to influence senior stakeholders
• Deep understanding of digital, print, partnerships and events landscape and market trends
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving to interrogate briefs and shape responses
• Highly organized with prioritisation, multitasking and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment
• Experience mentoring or developing others with a collaborative, resilient approach

• relationship-building
• communication
• strategic thinking
• budgets and forecasting
• revenue growth strategies
• campaign development and execution

…