Solutions Planning Associate Director

WPP Media; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global media company in Greater London is searching for a Solutions Planning Associate Director to drive revenue growth and manage key client relationships. This pivotal role requires expertise in media planning and a keen focus on operational excellence. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and a proactive mindset toward process improvement. A collaborative approach is essential to effectively educate and influence stakeholders, making this a critical position for client success and team development.

Benefits

Competitive medical and dental insurance

Group retirement plans

Significant paid time off

Employee mental health awareness days

Preferential partner discounts

Qualifications

• Solid experience in media planning, ideally within an agency.
• Proven ability to manage and grow client relationships.
• Strong understanding of media solutions and planning principles.
• Excellent organisational skills and process improvement focus.
• Experience in line managing junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Protect and grow revenue from priority clients.
• Manage senior client relationships for better understanding.
• Create custom data strategies in collaboration with teams.
• Drive efficiencies and best practices in workflows.
• Line manage Senior Account Managers and provide support.

Skills

Media planning experience

Account management

Client relationship management

Process improvement

Operational efficiency

Collaborative approach

Strong communication skills

Job description

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

Role Summary and Impact

As a Solutions Planning Associate Director, you'll be crucial in protecting and growing revenue from our priority clients, leading new client onboarding, and ensuring best-in-class delivery of our Media Solutions. You'll be the primary point of contact for key client concerns, a champion of process efficiency, and a vital link between the day-to-day work of the Solutions Planning team and strategic client workstreams. This role demands a sharp eye for detail, strong team management skills, and a commitment to operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Protect & Grow Revenue

• Focus on key, priority clients to retain, protect, and grow spend, taking ownership of new and newly converted clients as they onboard.
• Address specific client concerns and challenges, collaborating closely with agency Client Leadership to maintain pipeline stability and monthly commitments.

Manage Client Relationships

• Own senior client lead relationships, ensuring a deep understanding of their business challenges and competitive landscape.
• Work with key stakeholders to educate agency and client teams on Media Solutions planning principles and best practices.

Educate & Enable

• Possess an in-depth understanding of guaranteed outcome frameworks and our MS measurement offering, effectively proving out value.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Science team to create custom data strategies for key clients.
• Lead on and embed best practices within the team, ensuring high standards of delivery.
• Line manage Senior Account Managers & Managers, providing guidance and support for day-to-day operations.
• Act as an escalation point for core process and ways of working issues.
• Drive continued efficiencies in ways of working and ensure adherence to best practice planning principles throughout the client journey (from discovery through to activation).
• Refine and improve operational workflows, leveraging AI and automation where appropriate.

Skills and Experience

• Solid experience in media planning, account management, or a similar client-facing role, ideally within an agency or media solutions environment.
• Proven ability to manage and grow client relationships, with a focus on revenue protection and new business onboarding.
• Strong understanding of media solutions, planning principles, and measurement methodologies.
• Excellent organisational skills and a keen eye for process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Experience in line managing or mentoring junior team members.
• A collaborative approach, strong communication skills, and the ability to educate and influence.
• A proactive mindset, always seeking to refine and improve workflows.

Core Role Competencies

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in‑office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include 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 particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.