Why we're hiring:

WPP is a creative transformation company, helping clients create growth by combining technology and creativity. As one of the world's largest marketing and advertising services organizations, we are committed to driving innovation and operational excellence across our vast global network.

You will be joining the Automation Operations Centre within WPP's Enterprise Technology, Automation & AI department. This is a pivotal time for us as we're building a dedicated, in-house team to deliver, manage, monitor, and optimize our growing portfolio of automation solutions. This team is at the forefront of our digital transformation, ensuring the seamless operation and continuous improvement of critical automation capabilities across WPP globally.

You will play a crucial role in solution delivery and day-to-day technology management of the Global Automation Operations Centre (AOC) program. Reporting to the AI & Automation Product Manager and supporting Automation product, platform and delivery teams worldwide, you will lead a team of developers in implementing change and configuration sprints as we expand our automation product suite globally.

The AOC is chartered to develop and delivery automation products, support global automation products or projects delivered by Automation delivery teams from around WPP. Our support apparatus gives those teams confidence and freedom to hand over their existing successes and continue innovating.

Are you a proactive and detail-oriented leader with a passion for Agile methodologies and a strong track record in automation project delivery? We are looking for an Agile Project Manager to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be responsible for driving the execution of configuration sprints and product enhancements, ensuring our automation solutions remain robust and scalable. You'll work at the heart of our AOC, collaborating with experienced engineers and stakeholders to ensure our global automation processes are delivered with

speed and precision.

What you'll be doing:

• Sprint Leadership: Lead a team of developers through the full Agile lifecycle, managing change and configuration sprints to enhance and scale our global automation product suite.
• Backlog Management: Partner with the AI & Automation Product Manager to refine the product backlog, ensuring user stories are well-defined, prioritized, and ready for development.
• Scrum Ceremonies: Facilitate all standard Agile ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, backlog grooming, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Global Expansion Support: Coordinate the rollout of automation configurations across global regions, ensuring local requirements are integrated into the core product roadmap.
• Impediment Removal: Proactively identify and resolve technical or procedural blockers to maintain team velocity and ensure on-time delivery of sprint commitments.
• Stakeholder Communication: Provide transparent updates to leadership and global stakeholders regarding project health, risks, and delivery milestones.
• Reporting & Metrics: Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as velocity, burn-down charts, and cycle time to drive continuous improvement.
• Documentation Oversight: Ensure all project documentation, including sprint reports, change logs, and configuration baselines, are accurately maintained within the AOC framework.
• Quality Assurance Coordination: Work closely with senior engineers to ensure updates, patches, and version upgrades for RPA and Power Platform components meet quality standards before deployment.
• Adherence to Procedures: Strictly follow established operational procedures, security policies, and incident management protocols within the AOC environment.
• What you'll need:
• Overall experience: 7+ years of experience in project management, specifically leading technical teams in IT or software development environments.
• Agile Expertise: Deep understanding of Agile frameworks (Kanban is our focus) and proven experience managing complex sprints.
• Automation Familiarity: Proven understanding of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) concepts and Microsoft Power Platform capabilities.
• Technical Tooling: Proficiency in using project management and incident tools such as Jira, Wrike, MS Planner.
• Global Delivery: Experience managing projects across multiple time zones and cultures in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance immediate sprint goals with long-term product roadmap objectives.
• Effective Communicator: Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical complexities for non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem-solving: Proven experience dealing with technical blockers and resource constraints.
• High level of attention to detail: Ensuring configuration changes meet strict operational standards.
• Proactive attitude: A strong desire to stay ahead of emerging trends in AI and Automation.
• Resource Management: Ability to manage developer workloads and prioritize effectively to meet tight deadlines.
• Mandatory Certifications
  • PMI-ACP (PMI Agile Certified Practitioner) OR
  • Certified Scrum Master (CSM) OR
  • Certified Agile Coach
• Preferred Certifications:
  • PL-200: Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant (Expected within the first 3 months of hire)

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

 

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?