Planning Associate Director

Zenith; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical cover

Reflection Days

Shared Parental Leave

Job summary

Zenith seeks a Planning Associate Director to support one of the world’s most recognised outdoor brands, The North Face. You will shape integrated media strategies, align across data, activation and insight, and drive growth across EMEA.

You’ll work at the heart of the account, building trusted client partnerships and guiding planning decisions with senior teams. Join a team that values collaboration, strategic thinking and measurable impact, delivering connected experiences across channels

Qualifications

• Experience developing integrated media strategies that deliver brand and commercial outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the media landscape and channel roles across the journey.
• Confidence managing senior stakeholders and presenting strategic recommendations.
• Ability to balance commercial thinking with customer understanding and priorities.
• Experience working across multiple markets, regions or complex accounts.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage priorities.
• Collaborative mindset with curiosity for emerging trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of integrated, full‑funnel media strategies for client objectives.
• Create cross‑channel plans across digital and offline environments with clear roles.
• Collaborate with specialist teams to connect planning and activation for seamless journeys.
• Guide annual, quarterly and campaign planning, including investment forecasting.
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and provide strategic guidance.
• Translate data and trends into clear recommendations for decision making.
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on learning and innovation.

Skills

Integrated media strategies

Media landscape knowledge

Stakeholder management

Commercial and customer focus

Multi-market experience

Organisational skills

Collaborative mindset

Job description

Company Description

We are the ROI agency, a position we have proudly held true to since 2005. Our more than 6,000 specialists across 95 markets offer unparalleled capabilities in Media, Data, Technology, Commerce and Content.

We put effectiveness at the heart of our work to solve complex challenges, drive successful business outcomes and grow our clients’ businesses.

Over the years, we have evolved our definition of ROI, as it has changed with the ever‑complicated communications landscape. ROI is no longer simply about the most efficient planning, buying and reporting of media.

Yes, ROI is about delivering Return on Investment; but it’s also about going beyond to deliver a Return on Imagination and more integrated experiences that inspire Growth.

Top‑line growth for our clients’ businesses, growth for our people and growth for our culture.

Powered by our best‑in‑class proprietary tools and data, our work spans the full spectrum of media communications, from analytics, data and technology to performance marketing, content and superior trading.

This breadth means we deliver Insight that lies at the intersection of consumer, category and brand, attributing every budget to stronger business outcomes.

It means we deliver more creative media solutions that bring together best‑in‑class strategy, planning and the power of Publicis Groupe to ensure distinct and more personal brand experiences for our clients.

It means we adopt new data analytics and value optimisation techniques while building relationships with some of the world’s most exciting start‑ups.

We leverage over 30 years of media planning expertise to go beyond traditional media solutions and deliver a Return on Investment that is both forward‑thinking and accountable to our clients.

At Zenith, we ultimately seek out a more meaningful kind of ROI. Our unique way of thinking inspires growth for some of the world’s leading brands, including Coty, Electrolux, Essity, Lactalis, Luxottica, Nestlé, Nomad Foods, Reckitt, TikTok and Verizon.

Overview

We are hiring a Planning Associate Director to join our team supporting one of the world's most recognised outdoor brands, The North Face. This is an exciting opportunity to shape integrated media strategies that drive brand growth, commercial performance and meaningful consumer connections across EMEA markets. Working at the heart of the account, you’ll bring together media, data, activation and insight to create connected experiences that deliver measurable impact. If you enjoy collaborating with talented specialists and building trusted client partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of integrated, full‑funnel media strategies that align with client objectives and support sustainable business growth.
• Create cross‑channel media plans across digital and offline environments, ensuring every channel plays a clear and effective role.
• Collaborate closely with specialist teams to connect planning and activation, delivering seamless customer journeys.
• Guide annual, quarterly and campaign planning cycles, including investment recommendations, forecasting and optimisation opportunities.
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, providing strategic guidance and thoughtful consultation.
• Translate data, performance insights and market trends into clear recommendations that support confident decision‑making.
• Foster a collaborative team culture that encourages shared success, continuous learning and innovative thinking.

Qualifications

• Experience developing integrated media strategies that deliver brand and commercial outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the media landscape and the role different channels play across the customer journey.
• Confidence managing senior stakeholder relationships and presenting strategic recommendations.
• Ability to balance commercial thinking with customer understanding and business priorities.
• Experience working across multiple markets, regions or complex account structures.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• A collaborative mindset, curiosity for emerging trends and a passion for creating impactful media solutions.

Additional Information

• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical cover
• Reflection Days
• Shared Parental Leave

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients’ office four days per week.

Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).

Equal Opportunity

At Zenith International we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs – for example, related to disability, neurodivergence or a health condition – please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility and embrace change – building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected and genuinely included.