Head of Industry Partnerships and Employer Brand

WPP · London, England

  • Senior
  • Full-time
  • Posted 2026-11-09
  • Confirmed live on 10 November 2026

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Job description

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.

We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.

We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.

Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.

ABOUT WPP

WPP is undergoing its most significant structural transformation in decades. Through Elevate28, we are moving from a holding company model to a single integrated operating company. The EVP WPP is building for the Elevate28 era is anchored on five dimensions – one of which is Inclusion & Belonging. This role ensures WPP shows up in the industry as one company and as a recognised leader in inclusive practice.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Head of Industry Partnerships & Engagement decides where and how WPP shows up across the industry for inclusion: which partners we work with, which events we sponsor, and which inclusion and people awards we enter. Historically, these decisions were made agency by agency. This role brings them together under One WPP, with one clear strategy and one voice.

It is a strategic and visible role. You will set the criteria, recommend how a dedicated sponsorship budget is invested, and represent WPP at key industry moments, engaging partners, clients, and talent. The role is about positioning WPP as an inclusive industry leader through where we sponsor, where we recruit, and the recognition we earn.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partnership & Sponsorship Strategy (40%)
One clear, criteria-led approach to who WPP partners with and where we invest.

• Partnership Strategy: Set the global framework for identifying, assessing, and prioritising external inclusion partners and industry bodies, aligned to the I&I strategy and employee programmes.

• Sponsorship Decisions: Build and run a clear process for deciding which industry events and platforms WPP sponsors, replacing ad-hoc, agency-level requests with one enterprise approach.

• Investment Recommendations: Recommend how the dedicated sponsorship budget is allocated, based on strategic fit, audience, and expected impact. Spend tracking and vendor administration sit with P&C Operations and GBS.

• Portfolio Direction: Approve partner selections and renewals, guiding the Inclusion Partnerships & Client Engagement Lead, who manages partners day to day.

Key KPIs & Objectives:

• Established Partnership & Sponsorship Framework, with tiering, selection criteria, and an intake process for event and sponsorship requests.

• Set an Annual Sponsorship Investment Plan recommended and approved within the allocated budget.

• Consolidate Legacy agency-level sponsorships into the One WPP model.

• Industry Presence & Engagement (35%)
Positioning WPP as a global growth partner centered on inclusion

• Event Activation: Lead WPP’s inclusion presence at priority industry moments (e.g., Cannes Lions, Advertising Week, CES, Campaign, Adobe Summit), so inclusion is visible in how WPP shows up.

• Frontline Ambassador: Serve as a representative, building relationships with partners, clients, and industry leaders across a range of settings and audiences.

• Talent Showcase: With Regional Inclusion Directors and HRBPs, build a roster of employee speakers and ambassadors, including ERG leaders, for panels, keynotes, and industry moments.

• Client Moments: Create joint on-stage and on-site opportunities with client partners, working with the Inclusion Partnerships & Client Engagement Lead.

• Talent Pipeline: Partner with Talent Acquisition so sponsorships and partnerships open routes to diverse, early-career, and experienced talent.

Key KPIs & Objectives:

• Launch Industry Event Activation Plan, naming priority global events and WPP’s presence at each.

• Co-create WPP Speaker & Ambassador Roster.

• Curate relationships with partners and clients to support business growth and inclusion client opportunities for ongoing engagement.

• Awards, Recognition & Impact (25%)
Earning recognition for WPP’s inclusive practices and showing the return on where we invest.

• Awards Strategy: Identify priority global inclusion and people awards, and agree regional priorities with Regional Inclusion Directors, based on WPP’s strategy and programmes.

• Submission Process: Run a shared awards process with Regional Inclusion Directors, GBS team, and the Global Head of Inclusion & Impact.

• Industry Positioning: Supply partnership, sponsorsh

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