Planning Director - 12 month FTC

WPP Media Limited; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading media company in Manchester seeks a Planning Director for a 12-month fixed-term contract. The ideal candidate will drive media planning across clients, oversee campaign management, and effectively communicate strategies. Strong experience in media planning, stakeholder relations, and innovative idea generation is essential. This position operates on a hybrid work model with competitive benefits, fostering a culture of respect and growth.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Group retirement plans

Significant paid time off

Partner discounts

Employee mental health days

Qualifications

• Comfortable presenting from platforms and developing stories from data.
• Ability to manage campaign projects with quality control.
• Confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive planning across specific clients and be a media planning expert.
• Oversee campaign management and ensure quality assurance.
• Own planning presentations and lead idea creation for campaigns.

Skills

Media planning craft

Campaign Management

Effective Communication

Problem Solving

Stakeholder Relationships

Comms Planning

Ideas Creation

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Planning Director - 12 month FTC role at WPP Media.

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.

About WPP Media

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

The planning team are the guardians of creating industry leading, unrivalled work at Wavemaker. We are central conduits to all specialists, striving to push boundaries and have a positive impact on consumers and brand. Wavemaker UK is looking for a Planning Director to join our growing planning team, to drive planning across specific clients and be a media planning expert.

In This Role, You Will

• Media planning craft:
• Develop an advanced understanding of media channels, channel ecosystems and planning best practices.
• Translate strategic approach into planning practices for specific client briefs and pitches.
• Have an advanced understanding of Wavemaker’s Purchase Journey thinking and planning philosophy across all client work. Be an expert in a broad set of internal and external tools to build a deep understanding of the consumer, the client’s business and its opportunities.
• Have an expert overview of the media market landscape, trends and start to build media owner relationships.

• Campaign Management & Effective Communication:
• Oversee campaign management, ensuring quality control and output is of the highest standard.
• Develop a skilled understanding of commercial practices and of the wider agency.
• Build and maintain client and agency relationships at a mid-senior level to ensure a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders and client business.

• Comms Planning And Storytelling:
• Own planning presentations including defining the inputs needed and working with the wider teams to compile work and meet deadlines.
• Lead brainstorm and idea creation for campaigns.
• Problem solve independently, including integrating and questioning data and insights to find solutions based on knowledge and experience.

Skills And Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values.

• 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.
• Develop breadth and depth of industry understanding; become confident using tools, technology, techniques and systems and train others.
• Comfortable presenting both directly from platform (OS, Architect etc) and developing a story from data but delivered outside of platform (Telmar etc).
• Confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams on best solutions to use.
• Problem Solving – Skilled: use critical questioning and a broad perspective to understand problems and propose solutions; support or lead troubleshooting of issues.
• Stakeholder Relationships – Skilled: identify decision makers, understand perspectives, and build relationships; knowledge of client sector/industry to inform strategies and plans.
• Effective Communication – Advanced: deliver clear, impactful communications; guide others on best practices for concise materials.
• Campaign Management – Advanced: review work, coach others, provide actionable insights during mid/post reports, manage workload and priorities.
• Compelling Storytelling – Skilled: translate trends into differentiated content for various audiences.
• Ideas Creation – Advanced: lead new projects, generate ideas, coach others, foster innovation.
• Comms Planning – Skilled: deliver multi-media plans with clear measurement and budget considerations.

Note: This role is UK-based and requires the right to work in the location.

Life At WPP Media & Benefits

We offer competitive benefits including medical, group retirement plans, vision, dental insurance, significant paid time off, partner discounts, and employee mental health days. We are an equal opportunity employer and foster a culture of respect where everyone has the same opportunities to progress. We operate a hybrid model with office presence around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss with the hiring team during the interview process.

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Additional Information

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Contract

Job function: Business Development and Sales

Industries: Advertising Services

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom