Planning Manager

Publicis Groupe; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wholeself program

Publicis Liberté flexibility

Marcel AI Platform

Marcel Classes

Career Conversations

Job summary

Starcom, part of Publicis Groupe, is seeking a Planning Manager to shape integrated media strategies for a major national brand. You’ll lead client relationships, guide junior talent, and collaborate with specialists across planning, activation, investment, strategy, analytics and digital.

You’ll drive campaign thinking from brief to reporting, turning data into media solutions that solve business challenges and deliver growth. This role emphasizes leadership and strategic impact.

Qualifications

• Experience in media planning, activation and strategy.
• Ability to build client relationships and present ideas.
• Proven track record in developing integrated campaign recommendations.
• Experience across multiple media channels and disciplines.
• Strong presentation and influencing capabilities.
• Analytical mindset to solve business challenges.
• Project management with competing priorities.
• Collaborative across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Developing integrated media and communications strategies aligned to client objectives.
• Leading planning responses across brand, retail and campaign activity.
• Turning data and insights into actionable media recommendations.
• Presenting strategic recommendations and performance insights to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Managing campaign planning from briefing through implementation and reporting.
• Mentoring junior team members and contributing to a positive team culture.

Skills

Media planning

Activation

Strategy

Client service

Relationship building

Campaign recommendations

Cross-channel

Presentation

Analytics

Project management

Collaboration

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Media research platforms

Job description

Company description

Marketing today is complex, fast‑moving and under constant pressure - but that’s where we do our best work.

At Starcom, we believe progress comes from focus. In a world of endless data, accelerating technology and constant change, we help brands move beyond what they could do and concentrate on what they should do to drive real growth.

Our Focus Framework gives our people the clarity to identify the audiences, ideas, media, and metrics that matter most - turning complexity into impact and ambition into results.

If you’re motivated by smart thinking, meaningful collaboration, and the opportunity to make a real difference, you’ll find your unfair advantage here.

Starcom. Focus For Growth.

Overview

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for a Planning Manager to join one of our most established and valued client partnerships, helping shape integrated media strategies, build trusted client relationships and drive meaningful business results. This role offers a unique opportunity to combine strategic thinking, client leadership and team development while working within a supportive, high performing team.

The Opportunity

As Planning Manager, you'll take ownership of integrated communications planning across a major national brand, partnering closely with clients and collaborating with specialists across planning, activation, investment, strategy, analytics and digital.

You’ll lead campaign thinking from brief through to reporting, helping clients solve business challenges through smart, effective media solutions. You’ll also play an important role in developing junior talent and contributing to the ongoing success of a collaborative team.

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing integrated media and communications strategies aligned to client objectives.
• Building strong relationships with client stakeholders and becoming a trusted strategic partner.
• Leading planning responses across brand, retail and campaign activity.
• Turning data, insights and business challenges into actionable media recommendations.
• Working closely with activation, digital, investment and analytics planning specialists to deliver connected solutions.
• Presenting strategic recommendations, campaign updates and performance insights to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Managing campaign planning from briefing through implementation and reporting.
• Identifying opportunities to improve effectiveness, innovation and business outcomes.
• Supporting and mentoring junior team members while contributing to a positive team culture.

About the Team

You’ll join a team of planning and activation specialists who are known for their collaboration, stability and strong client partnerships. Many team members have worked together on the account for several years, creating deep client trust, strong ways of working and a genuinely supportive environment.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced leaders, contribute to innovation initiatives and gain exposure to broader agency projects that support both personal and professional growth.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re interested in people who can demonstrate experience in some of the following areas:

• Media planning, communications planning, activation, client service or strategy.
• Building strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Developing integrated campaign recommendations.
• Working across multiple media channels and disciplines.
• Presenting ideas and influencing outcomes.
• Analysing information to solve business challenges.
• Managing projects and balancing competing priorities.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.

Experience using tools such as PowerPoint, Excel and media research platforms will be beneficial, but we're equally interested in learning how you've developed your skills and approach throughout your career.

We're open to hearing from people coming from planning, activation, strategy or client service backgrounds who are excited by the opportunity to grow. Whether you're looking to deepen your planning expertise, expand your client leadership experience or take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear your story.

Nice to Have

• Experience in any of the following would be helpful, but isn't essential: Automotive
• Communications or media planning.
• Audience, consumer or market research tools.
• Campaign measurement and effectiveness.
• AI-enabled tools and ways of working.
• Automotive or retail category experience.
• Coaching, mentoring or people leadership.

Why Join Starcom?

• Work on a well-established national brand with significant media investment.
• Take ownership of highly visible planning and client-facing responsibilities.
• Develop your strategic planning and leadership capability.
• Learn from experienced planning, activation and client leaders.
• Access world‑class learning, development and career opportunities across Publicis Groupe.
• Be part of an inclusive culture that values growth, collaboration and diverse perspectives.

Additional information

Publicis Groupe benefits: Be a part of the Publicis Groupe family, recent winner of the Employer of Choice Awards and one of the world's most progressive and dynamic modern communications businesses. You can learn more about us at www.publicisgroupeanz.com.

Enjoy all the perks that come with our network offering:

• A comprehensive Wholeself program supporting physical, mindful, and financial wellbeing.
• A creative, lively, and rewarding office environment where people love working with each other, supported by our Publicis Liberté flexibility approach — "working your way with us."
• Access to our Global AI Platform Marcel, connecting Publicis Groupe employees with opportunities for career mobility and collaboration across our global network.
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities including more than 15,000 learning programs via our online learning platform, Marcel Classes.
• A culture of open feedback and support to reach your goals through our Career Conversations program.
• A committed Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion strategy driven through our Viva Women, Égalité, enABLE, EmbRACE, and Écologique committees.
• Leave benefits including Birthday Leave, Flexible Public Holidays, and an additional 5 days of leave after 2 years of service.
• Work Your World program enabling employees the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world for up to 6 weeks per year.
• Parental leave policy with up to 18 weeks based on tenure, paid primary carer leave, secondary carer swap, and Cub Care leave.
• Access to counsellors, psychologists, and professionals through Sonder, an all‑one digital wellbeing technology platform designed to support psychological, medical & safety needs.
• A workplace that stands together to provide a more open, supportive, and recovery‑forward culture for all employees with life-threatening illnesses. Read more about our Working With Cancer Pledge: https://workingwithcancerpledge.com/
• Proud partners of Diversity Council Australia, Pride in Diversity, Family Friendly Workplaces, Supply Nation, and the Australian Disability Network.

If you don't tick every box in this ad, please don't rule yourself out. Research suggests that women and other people in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. We focus on hiring people who share our values of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, fearlessness, and integrity rather than ticking boxes — so if this role resonates with you,

Diversity. Inclusion. Equity. More than just words; these are part of our DNA. At Publicis Groupe, we are committed to the inclusion and recognition of all people regardless of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, and religious affiliation. We believe that to deliver the best solutions to our clients, our people need to reflect the diverse communities in which our clients operate. We value diversity and the skills, knowledge, and experience that difference brings to our culture and solutions.

Uniqueness is powerful; without it, we wouldn't be where we are today. So be you — we like it that way.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for people with disability or those that require additional support throughout the application process. If you need any assistance or adjustments, please contact us via recruitmentpublicisgroupe.com; your personal information will be kept confidential.