Head of Media Strategy & Planning - Boots UK

Boots UK; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retail company is seeking a Head of Media Strategy & Planning to lead media initiatives that align with business goals. You will manage a media budget, lead a team, and collaborate with multiple stakeholders to drive media strategies. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in media planning and a proven track record of team leadership. Competitive benefits are included.

Benefits

Boots Retirement Savings Plan

Discretionary annual bonus

Generous employee discounts

Enhanced parental leave pay

Flexible benefits scheme

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading high-performing teams.
• Extensive experience in media planning or buying across channels.
• Visionary approach to crafting forward-thinking media strategies.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the strategic direction of Boots' paid media budget.
• Ensure alignment of media strategies with business goals.
• Lead a dynamic team of Media Managers and Specialists.

Skills

Team leadership

Media planning and buying

Strategic vision

Relationship building

Data-driven insights

Job description

Overview

As the Head of Media Strategy & Planning, you will spearhead the strategic direction of Boots UK's paid media budget, ensuring it not only drives substantial returns but also aligns seamlessly with the company's broader business goals. This pivotal role spans across three key business units- Beauty, Healthcare, and GM—delivering world-class media strategies powered by data-driven insights, customer understanding, and cutting-edge media solutions. You will lead a dynamic team of Media Managers and Specialists and serve as the primary liaison to our media agency partners and media owners.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team, cultivating a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration, while driving exceptional results across all campaigns.
• Oversee and collaborate with our media agency, ensuring they align with our strategic vision and have the necessary resources to succeed.
• Foster cross-functional partnerships with Performance Marketing, Partnerships, Measurement, Marketing, and CRM teams to drive integrated, holistic media strategies.
• Represent Boots' Media Team as a thought leader both internally and at industry conferences, advocating for the transformative role of media in achieving business success.
• Demonstrate the significant contribution of paid media to business growth, championing the effectiveness and efficiency of our media spend.
• Strengthen and grow relationships with key media platforms and agencies, including Google, Meta, TikTok, and ITV, unlocking new and innovative opportunities.

Media Planning and Buying

• Oversee Boots' annual media spend and budget allocation, ensuring strategic deployment across all channels to maximize ROI and alignment with business objectives.
• Support the Media Managers in crafting high-impact media strategies that optimize Boots' investment across both offline and digital channels, including TV, OOH, Print, Radio, Social, and Display.
• Stay at the forefront of media trends, identifying and leveraging innovative solutions to maintain Boots' competitive edge in the marketplace.
• Drive value from key media partnerships through strategic deal structures, ensuring maximum efficiency and returns.

Brand and Audience Understanding

• Deeply understand Boots' brand positioning, identity, and customer base to create media campaigns that resonate with and engage the right audience.
• Harness first-party data and customer insights to personalize media messaging, enhancing customer engagement and delivering tailored experiences.
• Present actionable insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders, demonstrating the measurable impact of media investment on customer growth and engagement.

• A proven track record of leading high-performing teams and setting a clear strategic vision that drives results.
• Extensive experience in media planning or buying, either client-side or agency-side, across a variety of offline and digital channels.
• A visionary approach to crafting and executing forward-thinking media strategies that push boundaries.
• Experience collaborating with Performance, Creative, and Content teams to seamlessly integrate media planning with broader marketing objectives.
• Passionate about the media industry, with a proven ability to turn media and marketing theory into tangible campaigns that deliver measurable results.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to cultivate strong partnerships with media agencies, platforms, and suppliers.

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Expertise in media contracts and negotiation strategies, including maximizing value through proprietary media, barter, and team structures.
• Strong understanding of media auditing, econometrics, and the ability to translate these insights into actionable plans.
• In-depth knowledge of performance media channels such as PPC and Affiliates.

Additional information

• Are you looking to join a team of media experts, in one of the UK's best-known high-street retailers, with one of the UK's largest 1st Party datasets? Are you passionate about the ever-evolving media industry and want to lead a team driving that change?
• At Boots, we foster a working environment where consideration and inclusivity help everyone to be themselves and reach their full potential. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, passionate about embracing the diversity of our colleagues and providing a positive and inclusive working environment for all.

Benefits

• Boots Retirement Savings Plan
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Generous employee discounts
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay and gift card for anyone expecting or adopting a child
• Flexible benefits scheme including holiday buying, discounted gym membership, life assurance, activity passes and more.
• Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.

(Please note, any salary estimates given on third-party sites are not provided or endorsed by Boots and may not be accurate)