Planning Director - 12 month FTC

Groupm; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media planning agency in Manchester seeks a Planning Director to lead strategic media planning for clients. In this role, you will optimize campaigns, manage client relationships, and facilitate innovative solutions. Successful candidates will demonstrate exceptional communication skills and a strong understanding of media channels. The agency offers a competitive benefits package and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive health plans

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Mental health days

Qualifications

• Skilled in media planning and understanding media channels.
• Advanced communication capabilities tailored to audiences.
• Experience in campaign optimization based on insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning for clients and act as a media planning expert.
• Oversee campaign quality and develop commercial understanding.
• Create impactful planning presentations and brainstorm ideas.

Skills

Effective Communication

Campaign Management

Problem Solving

Ideas Creation

Stakeholder Relationships

Communications Planning

Practice Area Knowledge

Compelling Storytelling

Job description

The planning team at Wavemaker is dedicated to creating industry-leading, unrivalled work. We serve as central conduits to all specialists, striving to push boundaries and positively impact consumers and brands. Wavemaker UK is seeking a Planning Director to join our growing team, to lead planning for specific clients and be a media planning expert.

In this role, you will:

1. Media planning craft: Develop an advanced understanding of media channels, ecosystems, and best practices. Translate strategic approaches into planning practices for client briefs and pitches. Master Wavemaker's Purchase Journey philosophy and internal/external tools to understand consumer and client opportunities. Build relationships with media owners.
2. Campaign management & communication: Oversee campaign quality, develop commercial understanding, and maintain client and agency relationships at a mid-senior level.
3. Communications planning and storytelling: Lead planning presentations, brainstorm campaign ideas, and solve problems independently by analyzing data and insights.

Skills and Experience

We value our culture and people, embracing core values such as leading collectively, creating trust, and championing growth.

• Practice Area Knowledge - Skilled: Develop industry understanding, use tools confidently, and answer client questions effectively.
• Problem Solving - Skilled: Use critical questioning, analyze information broadly, and support troubleshooting.
• Stakeholder Relationships - Skilled: Understand client and agency structures, build relationships, and suggest solutions.
• Effective Communication - Advanced: Deliver impactful, clear, and creative communications tailored to audiences.
• Campaign Management - Advanced: Review work, provide coaching, and optimize campaigns based on insights.
• Compelling Storytelling - Skilled: Leverage organizational and industry knowledge to craft differentiated messages.
• Ideas Creation - Advanced: Lead innovative projects, generate ideas, and foster a culture of creativity.
• Communications Planning - Skilled: Use client and market insights to develop effective media strategies, visualize media plans, and adjust budgets in-flight.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

We invest in our employees' growth, offering global networks, resource groups, and events. Benefits include competitive health plans, retirement, paid time off, discounts, and mental health days. We foster a respectful, inclusive culture with a hybrid work model.

WPP is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. We aim to create a culture where everyone belongs and has opportunities to grow. For accommodations or flexibility, discuss with the hiring team during interviews.