Global Planning Manager

WPP Media; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Wavemaker is seeking a Planning Manager to join our growing planning team and create impactful cross-channel campaigns while building your media planning skills. You will develop an in-depth understanding of channels and use it to guide client campaigns, train teammates, and implement best practices.

You will work with Planning Executives, manage client deliverables, and ensure accurate financials while embracing WPP Media’s core values and a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Understanding of the media landscape, including future trends.
• Knowledge of media planning tools (OS, Telmar) and ability to train others.
• Ability to present data-driven stories and insights to clients.
• Experience coordinating campaigns from start to finish.

Responsibilities

• Own campaigns from briefing to delivery with accurate timelines.
• Coordinate with planning and activation teams to run the day-to-day account.
• Mentor Planning Executives and develop their skills.
• Provide timely, accurate responses to client queries and requests.

Skills

Campaign management

Effective communications

Stakeholder relationships

Compelling storytelling

Ideas creation

Comms planning

Problem solving

Job description

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 ourpioneeringagentic 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.

The planning team are the guardians of creating industry leading, unrivalled work at Wavemaker. We are central conduits to all specialists, striving to push boundaries and have a positive impact on consumers and brand.

Wavemaker is looking for a Planning Manager to join our growing planning team, to create impactful cross channel campaigns and build your media planning skills.

In this role you will:

• Develop an in-depth understanding of media channels including where, when and how to use them based on the client
• Have a skilled knowledge of Wavemaker and industry media planning tools and be able to train other team
• Have a skilled understanding of industry best practices and planning
• Develop a fundamental knowledge of Wavemaker Purchase Journey thinking and Provocative Planning

Campaign management

• Ownership of campaign activity including briefing teams, collating response, managing client’s deliverables, and ensuring accuracy across all
• Work closely with the planning and activation teams to ensure the day-to-day account is run efficiently and
• Be able to bring in specialist teams where needed to work on briefs and client
• Ensure financial management processes are always excellent and met in a timely

Effective communication:

• Become a trusted main day-to-day contact for junior clients, learning their business and ways of Ensuring that all requests C queries are answered with accuracy and in a timely manner.
• Support in managing Planning Executives to ensure they are on track with daily tasks, mentor and challenge them with new projects to develop their
• Start to develop a proactive problem-solving mindset but know when to flag any issues or concerns with Planning

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP C WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Practice Area Knowledge – Skilled - Demonstrates knowledge of the media landscape including future trends, best practice and challenges. Comfortable using (or briefing out) of the various products, platforms and systems that comms planning use.

• Develops breadth and depth of industry Becomes confident using tools, technology, techniques and systems and is able to train others.
• Comfortable presenting both direct from platform (OS, Architect etc) and developing a story from data but delivered outside of platform (Telmar etc).
• Can confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams on best solutions to

Problem Solving – Fundamental - Applies focused questioning and systematic research to understand the problem and wider impact. Translates business problems into solutions

• Uses critical questioning and maintains a broad perspective when analysing information to gain a deeper understanding of the problem and wider
• Quickly generates appropriate solutions informed by previous
• Understands how to resolve escalated issues and supports others to problem
• Supports or leads troubleshooting communication for
• Asks questions and performs routine or basic analysis to define
• Generates some solutions in own area of work and suggests additional sources of information to further investigate
• Seeks a variety of perspectives and inputs and probes for more information to fully understand the problem and wider
• Provides communication support for troubleshooting issues internally and externally with third
• Develops a broad understanding of industry tools, technology, techniques and systems as well as application.
• Can run simple tasks independently and either present to clients direct or package for wider

Stakeholder Relationships – Fundamental – Demonstrates knowledge of the agencies (or clients) organization structure and people, client relationships, business strategy, industry and challenges. Cultivates, nurtures and grow relationships with key clients, stakeholders and decision makers internally, externally and virtually.

• Has a good understanding of how the agency operates and works with their
• Knows about the client’s business and who the key decision makers are
• Has good understanding of agency and client and their business goals and
• Builds a working knowledge of market trends effecting the client (and agency).
• Responds to stakeholder requests in an accurate, timely and professional manner and seeks to have a good understanding of client needs and

Effective Communications – Skilled - Is able to lead dialogues between and with internal and external people (strategy, comms planning, channel planning and activation teams as well as clients and media partners). Uses simple, clear and human language wherever possible but can be technical when required. Thinks about most appropriate communication channels and styles and employs active listening.

• Breaks down complex technical information into understandable language, guiding others on best practice.
• Uses knowledge and expertise to generate comprehendible, broadly-applicable
• Designs differentiated communications (content focus, style, presentation, etc.) for various internal and external audiences based on an understanding of their differing levels of
• Attends client and agency meetings to

Campaign Management – Skilled - Manages and takes ownership of several project/tasks accurately and thoroughly and with minimal error- without losing track of important details or deliverables.

• Teaches others the importance of accuracy and thoroughness so that sufficiently detailed information is logged
• Manages and takes ownership of campaigns from start to completion, maintaining accurate pipeline and campaign information across elements of the plans. E.g creative trackers and booking deadlines
• Delivers accurate reports with value-added insights and actionable findings to improve campaign
• Be accountable for the ongoing management of campaign E.g finance reconciliations
• Balances several projects and tasks simultaneously with minimal error and without losing track of important details or

Compelling Storytelling – Skilled - Be able to use knowledge of the media ecosystem, industry trends and clients' business pressure points to build a persuasive story and recommendation that acknowledges their preferred communication style.

• Applies big picture thinking in work and proactively leverages an understanding of the organisation and key industry
• Understand the different elements of
• Designs differentiated communications (content focus, style, presentation, ) for various internal and external audiences.

Ideas Creation – Skilled - Generates or facilitates new ideas, methods, innovation or creative media solutions that can deliver growth.

• Regularly engages in new projects/activities that can help solve identified barriers or opportunities as part of
• Can identify the relevant partners to bring ideas to
• Uses wider industry knowledge and trend understanding to help generate solutions that can deliver against communication

Comms Planning – Skilled - Find solutions for client business problems using media.

• Applies knowledge of client, audience, channel, market and category to effectively delivery compelling multi-media
• Translates learnings and trends to create marketing communication strategies that are effective with clear
• Application of purchase journey thinking and visualisation of how the media plan works across
• Translation of strategic direction / platform / provocation into directional role for media, channel role and behaviour in
• Identifies and recommends budget shifts as campaign is in-flight where

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 C 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 every one 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 note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location