Team Lead Local Systems Hybrid Remote , Istanbul, Turkey

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 modernize ways of working, shift to cloud and micro-service-based architectures, drive automation, digitize colleague and client experiences and deliver insight from WPP’s petabytes of data.

GroupM is the world’s leading media investment company responsible for more than $63B in annual media investment through agencies Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence and m/SIX, as well as the outcomes-driven programmatic audience company, Xaxis and data and technology company Choreograph. GroupM’s portfolio includes Data & Technology, Investment and Services, all united in a vision to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. By leveraging all the benefits of scale, the company innovates, differentiates and generates sustained value for our clients wherever they do business.

The GroupM IT team in WPP IT are the technology solutions partner for the GroupM group of agencies and are accountable for co-ordinating and assuring end-to-end change delivery, managing the GroupM IT technology life-cycle and innovation pipeline.

This role will work as part of the Local Systems Team for Turkey. This role is a match for an experienced and dynamic IT Team Lead to oversee our core media-finance applications, business intelligence/insights, end-user support, infrastructure tasks, and SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) compliance work. As the Team Lead, you will be responsible for coordinating the efforts of a diverse team, ensuring the stability, security, and compliance of our critical systems. This role requires a strong leader with a comprehensive understanding of both technical and financial processes.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Development 

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a cross-functional IT team managing media-finance applications, end-user support, infrastructure, and SOx compliance.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture that drives innovation and results.
• Monitor team progress and provide regular updates to stakeholders.

Application Development and Maintenance

• Oversee the development, maintenance, and enhancement of core media-finance applications.
• Ensure seamless integration of applications to meet evolving business needs.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with application development and deployment.
• Manage the compliance with SDLC processes and the delivery of technical documentation

Collaboration and Communication 

• Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams to ensure clear and effective communication.
• Work closely with the Business Partner Team and stakeholders during project scoping and feasibility phases to assess technical viability and risks.
• Attend key design meetings and provide expert input.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management 

• Evaluate and manage relationships with third-party vendors and service providers.
• Negotiate contracts and service-level agreements to ensure cost-effectiveness and high-quality service delivery.

Project and Production Support 

• Oversee the full project management lifecycle for multiple concurrent projects, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with business objectives.
• Provide production support for key media-finance applications, addressing issues and optimizing performance.

Strategic Planning and Industry Awareness 

• Stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies to recommend innovative software solutions.
• Ensure compliance with SOx and other industry-specific standards and regulations.

Ad Hoc Responsibilities 

• Handle additional duties as assigned to support team and organizational goals.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Educational Background 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field (highly preferred).

Experience and Expertise 

• Proven leadership experience managing media-finance applications, business intelligence, end-user support, and infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of SOx compliance requirements and implementation.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches.
• Experience in the media or finance industry is a plus.

Technical Proficiency 

• Knowledge of data governance and security best practices.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools.
• Certification in project management (e.g., PMP) is a plus.

Soft Skills 

• Exceptional organizational and detail-oriented skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Strong communication, presentation, and writing skills.
• Team player who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Behaviours

• 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 confidence: 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 deliver extraordinary every day.

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