Senior Associate Director, Planning

WPP Media Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive medical insurance

Group retirement plans

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Paid time off

Partner discounts

Mental health days

Job summary

WPP Media Limited is seeking an Associate Director, Planning for the UK to drive category-driven media planning for Nestlé. You will build strong relationships with the UK Nestlé Category team, provide strategic communications planning, and champion innovative thinking across markets.

You will lead a team of specialists, align category strategy with local plans, and optimize media investment while maintaining cross-market consistency and impactful storytelling.

Qualifications

• Solid multimedia planning experience.
• Experience managing senior clients and stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and agency partners.
• A thirst for learning about technology, trends, media, people, brands and the industry.
• An ambition and tenacity to make the ordinary extraordinary.
• An ability to spot the real issue behind the brief – knowing how to challenge the client to understand what they really need.
• Data-literacy – aware of the available resources and how to turn data into insights that shape clear strategic opportunities.
• To have an opinion and be able to voice it in a clear and positive light.
• Good storytelling skills – to give our ideas and thinking the best chance of coming to fruition.
• Team management skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and manage workload.
• Calm under pressure

Responsibilities

• Develops strong relationships with the UK Nestlé Category team and provides strategic guidance in Comms Planning.
• Leads and coordinates cross-functional inputs to integrate Category strategy into local media plans.
• Strategises media investment allocation across markets and brands, ensuring consistency across markets.

Skills

Multimedia planning

Senior stakeholders

Stakeholder coordination

Technology trends

Ambition and tenacity

Problem framing

Data literacy

Clear communication

Storytelling

Team management

Calm under pressure

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.

2578 - Associate Director, Planning - UK

Role Summary and Impact

Openmind, part of WPP, is an integrated agency model drawing on talent from across WPP. It has been created to accelerate the European transformation for Nestlé’s media function. Core to the solution is the advanced best data and technology capabilities, fuelled by WPP’s investment in AI, to maximise the impact of Nestlé media investment.

The Category AD is an experienced media expert as part of ZEUR UK team, responsible for developing strong relationships with the UK Nestle Category team, providing excellent Comms Planning skills and strategic guidance, have the knowledge/skills to push innovative thinking as well as best in class planning. You will be an excellent communicator & manager to a Manager and Senior Associate on your line of business.

This role will be a key enabler and accelerator of integrating Category strategy into local media plans, strategizing media investment allocation across markets and brands, increasing Category visibility into planning, performance, competition and ensuring x-market consistency.

The role is supported by a team of specialists (Above Market, Cluster), OpenMind leadership, and other Category leadership to draw from for inspiration and support.

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 & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• BeExtraordinarybyLeading CollectivelytoInspire transformational Creativity.
• Create anOpenenvironment byBalancing People and Client ExperiencesbyCultivating Trust.
• LeadOptimisticallybyChampioning Growthand DevelopmenttoMobilize the Enterprise.
• Solid multimedia planning experience
• Experience managing senior clients and stakeholders
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and agency partners
• A thirst for learning about technology, trends, media, people, brands and the industry
• An ambition and tenacity to make the ordinary extraordinary
• An ability to spot the real issue behind the brief – knowing how to challenge the client to understand what they really need
• Data-literacy – aware of the available resources and how to turn data into insights that shape clear strategic opportunities
• To have an opinion and be able to voice it in a clear and positive light
• Good storytelling skills – to give our ideas and thinking the best chance of coming to fruition
• Team management skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and manage workload
• Calm under pressure

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment toBe Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We alsoLead Optimistically,firmly believingin andChampioning Growth and Developmentfor every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees toleveragethe extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at thecutting edgeof marketing and advertising.

WeCreate an Open environmentbuilt on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office eventsshowcasingteam wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens whenwe'retogether, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment.That'swhywe’veadopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If yourequireaccommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

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