Senior Media Planner

Sainsbury's; City Of London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is seeking a Senior Data Strategist to drive media strategies for key clients. This role involves translating complex data into actionable insights and collaborating across teams to enhance digital growth. The ideal candidate has strong data planning skills and retail media experience. Benefits include generous employee discounts, flexible working, and performance-related bonuses.

Benefits

Colleague discount

Pension scheme

Private healthcare

Annual holiday allowance

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Ability to translate complex customer/ecommerce data into clear, client-ready strategies and plans.
• Proven skill in aligning recommendations to both client outcomes and retailer/category objectives.
• Demonstrable experience of presenting to senior stakeholders and influencing cross-functional teams.
• Evidence of leading significant projects to measurable outcomes.
• Practical knowledge of targeting, segmentation and profiling techniques for direct and digital media.

Responsibilities

• Build insight-led, data-driven media strategies for FMCG clients.
• Translate complex customer and ecommerce data into clear, persuasive plans.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives shaping company propositions.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to solve client and category challenges.

Skills

Data planning

Presenting

Client strategy alignment

Cross-functional teamwork

Retail media knowledge

Job description

Overview

About the team:

Nectar360 is Sainsbury’s loyalty, data and marketing services business. We use first‑party Nectar data to unlock customer understanding across Sainsbury’s and our FMCG and General Merchandise clients. You’ll join a fast‑growing, dynamic commercial team focused on combining and commercialising data and media to deliver ambitious digital growth across in‑store, onsite (e‑commerce) and offsite channels.

More about the role:

As Senior Data Strategist, you’ll be the planning expert for one or more major categories and 1–2 key FMCG clients. You’ll build insight‑led, data‑driven media strategies that align client goals with Sainsbury’s category and corporate objectives. Day‑to‑day, you’ll translate complex customer and ecommerce data into clear, persuasive plans and recommendations, partnering closely with Client Service, Analytics, Data & Insights, Campaign Media Management and Trading.

You’ll also contribute to strategic initiatives that shape our future proposition – from enhancing our Digital Trading Platform to supporting flagship programmes such as Pollen and the continued growth of offsite digital media. This is a highly visible, client‑facing role where consultative selling and ‘live planning’ in meetings are part of how you create measurable impact.

More about you:

You are an exceptional data planner who can handle large, complex datasets and distil them into simple, compelling stories for senior stakeholders. You’re confident presenting, influencing and bringing cross‑functional teams together to solve client and category challenges. You’re comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in identifying opportunities and generous in sharing your expertise to upskill colleagues and support the wider team.

Experience in retail media is highly valued, and we welcome applicants from agency‑side senior data/media planning backgrounds. Familiarity with loyalty, market research and ecommerce data – and how targeting, segmentation and profiling drive direct and digital media – will help you hit the ground running.

Essential criteria:

• Ability to translate complex customer/ecommerce data into clear, client‑ready strategies and plans.
• Proven skill in aligning recommendations to both client outcomes and retailer/category objectives.
• Demonstratable experience of presenting to senior stakeholders and influencing cross‑functional teams.
• Evidence of leading significant projects (e.g., platform improvements or cross‑team initiatives) to measurable outcomes.
• Practical knowledge of targeting, segmentation and profiling techniques for direct and digital media.

Benefits and working arrangements

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. There’s always the chance to try something new, whether as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business, and development is supported. We recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. We also offer a broad range of benefits.

Starting off with colleague discount, you’ll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury’s, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We also provide a pensions scheme and life cover. You may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 20% of salary (which may vary for Nectar360), depending on company performance.

Your wellbeing is important. You’ll receive an annual holiday allowance and can buy additional holiday. Other benefits include season ticket loans, an interest free car loan up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advances, and access to retailer discounts. There is an Employee Assistance Programme and private healthcare if needed.

Moments that matter are important to us, so we offer up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

Responsibilities

Everything Nectar360 does is powered by data and strong relationships with the UK’s favourite brands. The Nectar 360 team focuses on developing loyalty programmes, turning data into impactful insights, managing traditional and digital media, and supporting retail media ambitions. It’s an agency‑within‑a‑retailer environment where risks are welcome, learning happens, and results are recognised.