Business Director, Media Planning

WPP Media Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP Media Limited is seeking a Media Planning Business Director to lead the paid media strategy for Google Gemini within Made For Google. You will own the strategic direction, oversee large cross-regional campaigns, and serve as a trusted advisor to day-to-day clients, guiding senior stakeholders and prioritising work with Directors and Client Leadership.

You will drive the Pod Product quality, deliver strategic POVs, and mentor a team of planners across EMEA while aligning with broader client

Qualifications

• Experience in digital advertising and media planning.
• Strong knowledge of the media landscape, full-funnel strategy (Brand and Direct Response).
• Proven experience in media at a Director/Business Director level with team leadership.
• Ability to lead large, multi-partner campaigns at scale.
• Active interest in digital media and how digital innovation drives change.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and storytelling for senior clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide media planning for Google Gemini and PA products.
• Direct and mentor a team (PA, Pod, Central) and coordinate with Directors and Client Leadership.
• Drive cross-regional collaboration and central project workstreams in EMEA and globally.
• Present strategic POVs and influence client discussions beyond day-to-day briefs.
• Ensure alignment of campaigns with client business objectives and ROI.
• Coach and develop team, manage performance, and foster growth.

Skills

Digital advertising

Media planning

Brand & Direct Response

Vendor relationships

Director-level leadership

Team management

Campaign scaling

Digital media innovation

Communication skills

Data analysis

Collaboration

Google stack knowledge

Job description

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.

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.

3588 - Business Director, Media Planning - UK

About Made For Google

Made For Google (MFG) is a bespoke, global agency solution powered by WPP Media and EssenceMediacom dedicated to managing Google’s media strategy, creative, and data-driven advertising. It brings together integrated experts to drive brand and business outcomes.

About The Team

Media Planning are experts on the paid media landscape and how consumers interact with it. We architect and steward holistic media plans throughout their lifecycle, owning the creation of overall plans, cross-channel budget allocation, in-flight cross-channel optimisation & reporting, and post-campaign analysis. We are our clients’ key contacts for a unified view across all aspects of their campaigns, narrating the story of the campaign from planning recommendation through to PCA.

About The Role

We are looking for a Media Planning Business Director to serve as the Product Area Discipline leader accountable for all associated media work, strategic vision, and thought leadership across Google Gemini.

In this role, you will demonstrate your ability to execute at scale by managing a PA or multiple larger, complex campaign(s) simultaneously. You will serve as a trusted advisor to day-to-day clients, interrogating all work, and facilitating media work prioritisation decisions alongside Directors, Planning Leadership, and Client Service to ensure alignment and set clear team expectations.

As a leader within the discipline, you will help to drive multiple central project workstreams for EMEA, foster cross-regional and global partnerships, and elevate the overall planning product. You will be responsible for getting the best out of your team— inspiring individuals to consistently go above and beyond while navigating career growth and operational excellence.

Some Of The Things We’d Like You To Do

Master of the Pod (Gemini) & Product Excellence

• Elevate the Pod Product: Drive overall pod quality and output through continuous process improvement, strategic and tactical thought-leadership, and close collaboration with lateral internal and external EMEA teams.


• Campaign Interrogation: Interrogate and review all campaigns to guarantee high-quality execution and strategic rigor across all deliverables.

Business Alignment & Leadership

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work closely with Google clients, Analytics, and Client Services to ensure media campaigns directly align with broader client business objectives.


• Prioritisation & Resource Management: Facilitate media work prioritisation decisions with Directors and Client Leadership to manage team bandwidth and adjust team focus in real-time as needs shift.

Strategic Thought Leadership & Client Delivery

• Lead Presentations & Strategic POVs: Take an active role in PA, Pod, and Central client presentations, developing strategic POVs that address broader PA challenges and emerging market opportunities beyond day-to-day briefs.


• Answering Business Questions: Confidently answer high-level business questions (e.g., \"How does your tactical recommendation align with the business objectives?\") by drawing upon deep knowledge of PA challenges, competitive context, target audiences, and historical performance.


• Point of Escalation: Act as the primary point of escalation for high-profile campaign challenges and navigate solutions with clients and senior leadership.

Centralized Insights & Innovation

• Drive Account-Level Insights: Oversee the creation and presentation of centralized insights that influence the overall account strategy and direction.


• Identify New Opportunities: Proactively identify, craft solutions for, and persuade internal stakeholders and clients on untapped areas of opportunity to drive measurable business impact.

Team Leadership, Growth & People Management

• Storytelling & Mentorship: Guide, coach, and train team members on effective written, verbal, and visual storytelling across all planning deliverables.


• Line Management: Line manages up to 5 direct reports (and influences a wider team of 10+), supporting individual career growth roadmaps, setting aligned goals, and delivering continuous feedback.


• Performance Coaching: Act as a point of escalation for performance matters, coaching managers on constructive feedback conversations, and building learning plans to bridge developmental gaps.


• Cross-Discipline Connector: Serve as a key connector for cross-discipline and cross-PA conversations and team integration.

Skills And Experience

• Experience in digital advertising and media planning.


• Strong knowledge of the media landscape, full-funnel strategy (Brand and Direct Response), and strong vendor relationships.


• Proven experience in media at a Director / Business Director level, with a track record of running and motivating high-performing teams.


• Demonstrated ability to execute at scale on large, complex, multi-partner campaigns.


• An active interest in digital media and how digital innovation drives business change.


• Exceptional verbal & written communication and storytelling skills—ability to think on your feet and lead strategic conversations with senior clients.


• Strong analytical mindset—ability to analyze raw data, extract centralized insights, and develop actionable recommendations.


• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment while driving initiative independently.


• Knowledge of 3rd party research tools, industry resources, and a strong understanding of the Google stack.

Life At WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment toBe Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We alsoLead Optimistically, firmly believingin andChampioning Growth and Developmentfor every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leveragethe extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at thecutting edgeof marketing and advertising.

WeCreate an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office eventsshowcasingteam wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens whenwe'retogether, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. 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 note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.

Please read our Privacy Notice.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.