Overview

About 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. 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. About Wavemaker: A Leading WPP Media Brand Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision‑making and experiences through media, content, and technology. Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together.

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 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 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.
• Independently problem solve, 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. Becomes confident using tools, technology, techniques and systems and is able to train others.
• Comfortable presenting both direct from platform (OS, Architect etc) and developing a story from data but delivered outside of platform (Telmar etc).
• Can confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams on best solutions to use.
• Problem Solving – Skilled: Uses critical questioning and maintains a broad perspective when analyzing information to gain a deeper understanding of the problem and wider impact. Quickly generates appropriate solutions informed by previous experience. Understands how to resolve escalated issues and supports others to problem solve.
• Stakeholder Relationships – Skilled: Has expert knowledge of client and agency structures. Identifies key decision makers and understands their perspectives to build relationships. Knowledge of the client sector/industry to inform strategies and plans.
• Effective Communication - Advanced: Leads the delivery of relevant and accurate information to drive maximum impact. Delivers communications to influence and educate all levels of seniority.
• Campaign Management – Advanced: Reviews the work of others to ensure accuracy and objectives; provides coaching; applies best practices; uses insights for in‑flight optimization and future brief recommendations.
• Compelling Storytelling – Skilled: Applies big picture thinking and designs differentiated communications for various audiences.
• Ideas Creation – Advanced: Proactively generates ideas to deliver against client objectives; coaches others to gain new insights.
• Comms Planning – Skilled: Delivers compelling multi‑media plans with purchase journey thinking and channel visualization; identifies budget shifts in-flight where appropriate.

Life At WPP Media & Benefits

We invest in our employees with competitive benefits, opportunities for growth, and programs that support well‑being. We offer medical, group retirement plans, vision and dental insurance, paid time off, partner discounts, and mental health awareness days. We are an equal opportunity employer and foster a culture of respect and belonging. We support a hybrid approach with in‑office presence around four days a week and accommodations available during the interview process.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires the right to work in this location. Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Business Development and Sales

Industries

• Advertising Services