At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning across multiple clients and inspire a team of planners.
- Company: Dynamic advertising agency focused on innovative strategies and collaboration.
- Benefits: Full-time role with opportunities for professional development and growth.
- Other info: Join a vibrant team and make a difference in diverse client projects.
- Why this job: Shape impactful campaigns and elevate planning quality in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in media planning, strong leadership skills, and a collaborative mindset.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Planning Director to bring strategic focus, direction and energy across one of our client planning teams. You won’t be tied to a single client. Instead, you’ll take a wide-angled view and help shape the quality of planning across the board, supporting a team of six+ planners, and championing brilliant work that drives results. You’ll be a sounding board, a thought partner and an inspiring voice. You’ll work with Account Directors, Account Managers and Execs across a varied mix of clients, from fast-paced commercial brands to purpose-led charities. Your job is to elevate the quality of thinking and create the space for others to do their best work. We’re after someone with strong channel knowledge, a sharp planning instinct, and a collaborative leadership style. Someone who can coach, question, challenge and guide the team to deliver brilliant work.
What you'll be doing:
- Acting as strategic lead across the planning output of a multi-client team — helping shape briefs, stress-test strategies, and sharpen the thinking behind every response.
- Dotted-line managing a team of planners (approx. 6 people) across varying levels and offering guidance, feedback, stretch opportunities and support.
- Being a trusted partner to the Business Director and senior leadership team where you'll have the responsibility of flagging risks, surfacing great work, and championing consistent quality.
- Leading the development and embedding of comms planning frameworks, tools and templates to ensure clarity, consistency and a high standard of delivery.
- Helping turn insight into action.
- Pushing teams to use data, effectiveness learnings and channel planning tools in smarter ways.
- Supporting the professional development of team members, facilitating training, coaching sessions, and feedback conversations.
- Promoting collaboration between planning, digital, AV and data teams and helping planners navigate cross-channel delivery with confidence.
- Acting as a senior voice in campaign wrap-ups, PCAs and strategic reviews and guiding narrative and identifying learnings that move planning forward.
- Supporting senior client meetings where a strategic planning point of view is needed, particularly in complex, brand-building or cross-channel briefs.
What you'll bring:
- Significant experience in media and comms planning, ideally across a range of categories and objectives, with confidence in both brand and performance thinking.
- Strong cross-channel knowledge and understanding of how digital and AV contribute to full-funnel outcomes.
- A collaborative and inclusive leadership style. You know how to support a team, give good feedback, and spot the moments where coaching matters.
- Confidence in planning tools and effectiveness frameworks (e.g. Touchpoints, measurement approaches, media principles) and how to apply them in everyday work.
- A sharp strategic brain able to simplify complex challenges, get to the heart of a brief, and articulate clear, actionable recommendations.
- The ability to inspire teams to push their thinking and stay curious, while setting clear expectations.
- Experience leading or contributing to planning culture, through training, mentoring, thought leadership, or process development.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Advertising, Marketing, and Strategy/Planning
Industries: Advertising Services
Planning Business Director in London employer: Medialab Group
Medialab Group is an excellent employer for those looking to thrive in a dynamic and innovative environment. With a focus on strategic client relationships and cross-channel media campaigns, employees benefit from a competitive salary, hybrid working arrangements, and ample opportunities for professional growth. The collaborative work culture fosters creativity and efficiency, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals to make a meaningful impact in the media planning industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Business Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its clients. We want you to walk in with insights and ideas that show you’re not just another candidate, but someone who can elevate their planning game.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to be able to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role. We suggest doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to get comfortable and confident.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows you’re genuinely interested and keeps you top of mind for the hiring team. And remember, check out our website for more opportunities!
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Business Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Strategic Thinking:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your strategic mindset. We want to see how you can simplify complex challenges and articulate clear recommendations. Use examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to elevate planning quality.
Emphasise Collaboration:Since this role is all about teamwork, don’t forget to mention your collaborative leadership style. Share stories where you've successfully supported a team or facilitated cross-channel collaboration. We love seeing how you inspire others to do their best work!
Be Data-Driven:We’re looking for someone who can turn insights into action. In your application, talk about how you've used data and effectiveness learnings in your previous roles. Show us that you know how to apply planning tools and frameworks to achieve great results.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application specifically for this role. Highlight your experience in media and comms planning across various categories. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their skills with what we’re looking for, so don’t hold back!
How to prepare for a job interview at Medialab Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your media and comms planning knowledge. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in digital and AV, and be ready to discuss how they contribute to full-funnel outcomes. This will show that you’re not just a planner but a strategic thinker who can simplify complex challenges.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your collaborative and inclusive approach, and be ready to discuss how you’ve supported team members through coaching and feedback. This will demonstrate that you can inspire and elevate others’ work.
✨Be a Problem Solver
Think about specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. Be prepared to articulate clear, actionable recommendations based on your experiences. This will showcase your sharp strategic brain and ability to turn insights into action.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Remember, interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s planning culture and how they measure success. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
