Account Director - Comms Planning (12-Month Maternity Cover)

ESSENCEMEDIACOM; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media agency in Greater London is seeking an Account Director to lead planning projects and manage key client relationships. The ideal candidate will have strong management skills and a solution-focused mindset. You will oversee day-to-day account operations, ensuring high-quality delivery and effective communications with clients. The role offers competitive benefits, encourages employee development, and promotes a hybrid working environment, supporting a healthy work-life balance.

Benefits

Competitive medical and dental insurance

Significant paid time off

Employee mental health awareness days

Qualifications

• Extraordinary leadership that inspires creativity.
• Ability to build trustful relationships with clients.
• Self-motivated with a thirst to learn.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects from start to finish.
• Manage day-to-day running of client accounts.
• Establish yourself as a trusted strategic partner.

Skills

Strong management and client relationship skills

People management skills

Solution focused mindset

Positive, proactive approach to problem solving

Calm under pressure

Motivated to drive business results

Job description

Account Director – Comms Planning

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com. WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand

EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.

Role Summary and Impact

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the team as an Planning Account Director. As Account Director, you are critical to the delivery of this ambition; working closely with the Senior Associate Director, you will be a key interface for our clients and lead planning projects from start to finish, acting as the conduit who brings together our specialists to deliver exceptional work. You will oversee the day‑to‑day running of the account, ensuring flow and accuracy of work and that the campaign management process follows best practice. You are across all communications and establish yourself as the first port of call for clients. You will build a strong relationship with your clients and become a trusted strategic partner – showing a deep understanding of your clients’ business and how communications can drive growth.

Skills and Experience

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
• Strong management and client relationship skills
• People management skills to support AD in the management and development of Planners and Execs
• Solution focused mindset
• Enthusiasm, curiosity, and a team player mentality
• Self‑motivated; an ambition to make the ordinary extraordinary
• A thirst to learn – be that the client’s business, people, brands, industry, trends etc
• An ability to prioritise and delegate, as well as manage both up and down
• Empathetic and self‑aware
• Motivated to drive business results for both client & EssenceMediacom
• Positive, proactive approach to problem solving
• Calm under pressure
• Accurate verbal and written feedback and instructions

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in‑office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Please read our Privacy Notice ( https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.