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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning across multiple clients, guiding a team of planners to deliver exceptional results.
- Company: Join Medialab, the UK's top independent media agency, known for its innovative and purpose-driven approach.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 22 days holiday, private medical insurance, and exciting team events.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant culture that values integrity, growth, and making a positive impact.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in media planning with strong leadership and cross-channel knowledge required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with diverse clients, from commercial brands to impactful charities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Overview
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
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Planning Business Director employer: MediaLab Group
Contact Detail:
MediaLab Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Business Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the media and communications industry. Attend relevant events, webinars, or workshops where you can meet people who work at Medialab or similar agencies. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Medialab's recent campaigns and case studies. Understanding their approach and the types of clients they work with will help you speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their success during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past. Highlight your collaborative style and how you've helped others grow, as this aligns with Medialab's values.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in media planning and effectiveness frameworks. Being able to discuss current tools and methodologies will show that you're proactive and ready to bring innovative ideas to the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Business Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company Culture: Familiarise yourself with Medialab's values and culture. Highlight how your personal values align with their commitment to integrity, accountability, and helping people flourish in your application.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects your experience in media and communications planning. Emphasise your collaborative leadership style and any relevant achievements that demonstrate your ability to inspire and guide teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, discuss your strategic thinking and how you can contribute to the planning output of a multi-client team. Use specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate your skills and approach.
Showcase Your Knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of cross-channel knowledge and effectiveness frameworks in your application. Mention any tools or methodologies you have used successfully in previous roles to drive results.
How to prepare for a job interview at MediaLab Group
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
As a Planning Business Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to think strategically. Prepare examples of how you've shaped briefs and stress-tested strategies in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you simplify complex challenges and articulate clear recommendations.
✨Highlight Your Leadership Style
This role requires a collaborative and inclusive leadership style. Share specific instances where you've supported your team, provided constructive feedback, or coached individuals to achieve their best work. Emphasise your ability to inspire and motivate others.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Channel Knowledge
Familiarity with various media channels is crucial. Be prepared to discuss how digital and AV contribute to full-funnel outcomes. Bring examples of how you've successfully integrated different channels in past campaigns to drive results.
✨Prepare for Data-Driven Discussions
Since the agency values data-driven decision-making, be ready to talk about how you've used insights and effectiveness learnings in your planning processes. Discuss any tools or frameworks you've employed to turn data into actionable strategies.
