Planning Account Director

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global marketing agency is seeking a Planning Director to spearhead strategy on a significant retail account. The successful candidate will possess extensive media planning experience and strong leadership skills, ensuring the delivery of impactful multimedia campaigns. Collaboration with clients and agency partners will be crucial in driving growth and achieving commercial success. Exceptional benefits include flexible working options, additional leave days, and family-friendly policies.

Benefits

Opportunity to work from anywhere for 6 weeks

Two additional paid leave days

24/7 helpline for personal and professional support

26 weeks full pay for family milestones

Birthday day off

Local discounts at various venues

Qualifications

• Track record of delivering large-scale, multi-channel campaigns.
• Ability to inspire teams and guide client conversations confidently.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Orchestrating integrated retail campaigns across various channels.
• Leading cohesive media planning focusing on AV, social, print, and audio.
• Acting as the first point of contact for clients during live campaigns.
• Championing excellence in media planning.
• Writing inspiring briefs linking clients with investment teams.
• Responding to competitor activity and budget changes.

Skills

Extensive experience in media planning for retail

Strong leadership skills

Proactive solutions-focused mindset

Deep understanding of AV, social, print, and audio channels

Job description

Overview

At Spark, our media planners blend analytical thinking, category insight, and channel expertise to drive campaigns that fuel client growth. We are data-driven and growth-oriented, leveraging technology and insights to deliver creative, high-impact solutions. For our retail client, one of the UK’s most recognised supermarkets, our work helps strengthen its position in a highly competitive market.

The Role

We’re looking for a Planning Director to lead strategy on a high-profile retail account. You’ll be a team-player with deep media planning knowledge, capable of building trusted relationships with mid-level clients and collaborating seamlessly with agency partners. Your work will be pivotal in producing best-in-class media campaigns that deliver commercial success.

What you’ll be doing

• Orchestrating integrated retail campaigns across paid, owned, and earned channels, from brand initiatives to seasonal activations
• Leading cohesive media planning, particularly confident in AV, social, print, and audio channels
• Acting as the first point of contact for the client during live campaigns, managing campaign delivery, reporting, and financial reconciliation
• Championing excellence in planning, demonstrating a proactive desire to continually upskill and refine media expertise
• Writing directional and inspiring briefs that link clients with investment teams, ensuring the best output from each channel
• Thinking on your feet, responding to competitor activity, budget changes, and business needs with clarity and speed

Team Leadership

• Develop, mentor, and upskill junior planners to become top-standard media professionals
• Support the wider team, driving a culture of collaboration, high standards, and creativity

What we’re looking for

• Extensive experience in media planning for retail brands, with a track record of delivering large-scale, multi-channel campaigns
• Strong leadership skills, able to inspire teams and guide client conversations confidently
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Deep understanding of AV, social, print, and audio channels, with a passion for media excellence

Why this role matters

This is a rare opportunity to join a heritage UK retail brand at a time of strategic growth. You’ll lead planning on high-impact campaigns, shape the team’s approach, and directly influence commercial results—all while being part of a talented, collaborative agency environment.

Additional information

Spark has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics – Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans – we also offer:

• WORK YOUR WORLD: opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS: Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day-to-day work and create time to focus on your well‑being and self‑care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS: 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Well‑being content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES: We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF: You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS: This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.