Application Implementation Lead

WPP IT provides IT services for WPP, the world’s largest communications services group. As a creative transformation company, WPP is helping its clients transform the future through extraordinary work. WPP IT is an integral part of that journey and we are proud to provide technology for some of the world’s most creative brands.

Why we're hiring:

At WPP, technology is at the heart of everything we do, and it is WPP IT’s mission to enable everyone to collaborate, create and thrive. WPP IT is undergoing a significant transformation to modernise ways of working, shift to cloud and micro-service-based architectures, drive automation, digitise colleague and client experiences and deliver insight from WPP’s petabytes of data.

GroupM is the leading global media investment management operation serving as the parent company to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker and Essence each global operations in their own right with leading market positions. GroupM’s primary purpose is to maximize performance of WPP’s media agencies by operating as leader and collaborator in trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, proprietary tool development and other business-critical capabilities. GroupM’s focus is to deliver unrivaled marketplace advantage to its clients, stakeholders and people.

As we continue on this journey, we are seeking an experienced Application Implementation Lead to join our team. You will be responsible for the planning, design and delivery of new business projects and workflows on the Wrike platform across all GroupM markets in EMEA, as well as managing a team of Implementation Managers. The role will also be responsible for Wrike platform operations. Report into Global Wrike Product Owner. 

What you'll be doing:

• Oversee Wrike EMEA regional workflow tool project and delivery roadmap
• Lead and manage the EMEA team of Implementation Managers.
• Focus on establishing the base Wrike service offering and engagement model with vendor to control initial project onboarding
• Facilitate technical discussion to agree base solution architecture and implementation model
• Lead setup, configuration, build and integration activities – maintaining best practice, consistency and standardization between existing and new implementations.
• Assist with the design, architecting and implementation of data integrations to support workflow and automation improvements.
• Manage vendor and review service/SLAs
• Ensure smooth handoffs pre/post onboarding - collaborating with support teams, end user groups and all stakeholders.
• Report to the Global Product Owner and steering group on implementation progress, issues, risks and changes.
• Lead Wrike superuser forums - ensure immediate business needs are managed and contracting aligns with Global agreement. Promote re-use, common solutions and workflows
• Wrike Platform Operations - contact point for maintenance, upgrades, security reviews, audits, etc.
• Undertake some super-admin duties as defined by the global platform standard operating procedure

What you'll need:

• Experience in digital transformation programs within large organizations
• Demonstrable experience in software implementation is required. Experience in implementing workflow tools, specifically Wrike, is desirable.
• Experience in application maintenance, configuration and release management to end-users, including troubleshooting, resolving issues, applying updates, and implementing new features.
• Knowledge and experience in project management methodologies such as Agile/PMI/Lean
• Has sufficient credibility and gravitas, and ability to work with and relate to a highly demanding internal stakeholder base
• Experience in business analysis, requirements elicitation, business process engineering, as-is and to-be mapping, BPMN, etc.
• Highly organized, excellent planning skills with strong business change background
• A direct, straightforward style, able to cut to the core quickly
• Excellent people and team management skills, able to manage upwards and influence in a complex environment (matrixed and across multiple physical locations)
• Experience in working in a technical environment with APIs and Integrations. Demonstrable experience working with API protocols and formats (e.g., SOAP, REST, XML and JSON) is desirable.
• Bachelor's/master’s degree in Information Systems, Technology, Business Management, or related degree; or equivalent combination of education and work experience

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 accepting: of 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 promote a culture of people that 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?