Account Director, Planning (EMEA)

M&C Saatchi; Camden Town; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media agency in London is seeking an experienced Account Director to oversee performance-driven media plans and lead teams across multiple accounts. The ideal candidate has 6–8 years of experience in performance media, with strong leadership and project management skills. This hybrid role requires a confident leader capable of guiding clients and optimizing campaigns in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years' experience in performance media, ideally agency-side.
• Preferred experience in app acquisition campaigns.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee performance-driven media plans.
• Guide media performance strategy using analytics.
• Lead the development and delivery of strategic pitch decks.

Skills

Performance media experience

Strong team leadership

Multi-account oversight

Presentation skills

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Account Director, Planning
Location: London office, hybrid working model with days required in office weekly
Reports To: Business Director (for Interim period it will be the Managing Director)

The Role

We’re hiring an experienced Account Director to join our team. This role is ideal for someone with a strong media planning background who thrives in a fast-paced, high-performance environment. You’ll be leading across multiple accounts, bringing clarity to complexity, managing diverse stakeholders, and helping shape campaigns that deliver against aggressive performance goals.

You’ll play a key role in campaign planning and delivery, lead pitch deck development, and guide your team and clients through the ever-evolving media landscape. Experience in performance campaigns is essential, with preferred but not essential experience in app acquisition. Strong team leadership and multi-account oversight are critical to success in this position.

For an interim period this role reports into the Managing Director, whilst the Business Director is on maternity leave.

This role will have two direct reports, which are Account Managers of which in their teams they have 2 more additional junior team members.

The Clients

We work across a range of clients, including Travel and Tourism, Retail, Entertainment, Wellness, Ride-hailing. Campaigns are not limited to UK only and are activated across multiple markets globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and oversee performance-driven media plans, particularly in app acquisition and digital growth campaigns.
• Work across multiple accounts, ensuring consistency in quality, delivery, and client experience.
• Guide media performance strategy using platform data insights and collaborate with analytics partners to optimize campaigns.
• Manage a team of planners, offering mentorship, performance feedback, and development support, while also handling challenging conversations when needed.
• Be a strategic partner to clients, bringing both confidence and clarity to discussions
• Ensure efficient internal operations, prioritization, and delivery across your portfolio of work.
• Lead the development and delivery of strategic pitch decks, coordinating cross-functional input and aligning recommendations to client KPIs.

About You

• 6–8 years' experience in performance media, ideally agency-side, with a proven track record across planning and execution.
• Preferred, but not essential experience in app acquisition campaigns with a clear understanding of mobile KPIs, retention strategies, and MMP platforms.
• Deep understanding of performance data and how to translate numbers into strategic action.
• Experience planning multi-channel campaigns across search, social and programmatic
• Confident leading senior client conversations, including in high-stakes or high-pressure situations.
• Proven ability to manage and inspire teams, while also holding high standards and driving accountability.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, particularly across multiple client accounts and stakeholders.
• Experienced in deck building and storytelling—you know how to pull together compelling, insight-led narratives that land.
• Pitch experience and presentation skills essential

Location

• Hybrid role with a central London based office

M+C Saatchi Group has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture. As part of this M+C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please make us aware as part of your application.