Manager, Staffing Strategist

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 . Role Summary: The Manager, Staffing Strategist drives efficiency across a portfolio of accounts by strategically resourcing staff across multiple APAC markets. This regional role collaborates with client operations, discipline leads, finance, senior leadership, talent teams, and other resource managers to plan, schedule, and allocate resources for successful delivery. It includes oversight of resourcing across various APAC countries, with specific guidance and support for the Malaysia-based team, ensuring alignment with regional strategies and best practices. Skills and Experience What you will do: Demand Align to a book of business, agency, and/or accounts. Advise client teams on fulfilment timelines, roles, and staff plan recommendations. Own and ensure data accuracy for Workforce Planning. Understand and pivot between fulfilment channels (Talent Acquisition/Contracting/Resource Management) to align with client strategies. Supply Collaborate with client teams to maintain accurate Staff Plans. Assemble and optimize the best possible team for clients. Fulfilment Ensure fulfilment of staff plans across internal and external supply. Simplify client team interactions by aggregating needs between Resource Management and Talent Acquisition (including contract & offshore). Execution & Monitoring Act as a central point of contact for client teams, clarifying staffing requirements. Continuously refine staffing fulfilment to enhance efficiency, minimize bottlenecks, and improve client experience. Monitor fulfilment progress, ensuring alignment with client needs and strategic goals. Utilize data and analytics to measure effectiveness and optimize staffing levels. Key Responsibilities Partner with APAC team leads to assess staffing needs and develop resource plans for high-quality, timely delivery. Collaborate with client and discipline leadership to intake, prioritize, and allocate resources for new and existing business across the region. Monitor regional resourcing bandwidth and optimize utilization across multiple countries. Produce timely, accurate reports for regional/global stakeholders: utilization, billability, staffing plans, capacity, trends, forecasts, and timesheet compliance. Enable cross-market resource sharing within APAC and globally with other Resource Managers. Provide ongoing guidance to the Malaysia team to strengthen local resourcing practices and ensure regional/global alignment. Quarterly evaluate processes/structures to identify operational efficiency opportunities across markets. Conduct regular check-ins with resource and client managers to align staffing plans and address delivery challenges. Escalate key issues to stakeholders: staffing changes/rotations, retention/employee relations, workflow shifts, and projected hiring needs. Partner with Recruitment to identify gaps and initiate hiring/contractor requests when internal resources are insufficient. Maintain confidentiality regarding staffing decisions and internal movements. Support career development initiatives and facilitate internal mobility discussions across the region. What you will need: KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE Deep understanding of client needs, expectations, and staff plans. Expertise in Resource Management, Workforce Planning, and staffing solutions to advise client teams. Ability to maintain data accurac…