Planning Director - retail client

Company description Spark Foundry make up part of a thriving global media network and are part of the Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s leading communications groups. We are globally connected with over 8,000 employees in 110 offices across 70 countries.

Who We Are in the UK? Spark Foundry, the Acceleration Agency. We help brands to identify, learn and respond to opportunities faster than the competition. Every client has an area of their business they need to accelerate, from short-term goals to long-term transformation. We’ve proven our approach during the most difficult year on record. Now we’re using it to provide a launchpad for their future. Come be an accelerator with us.

How we accelerate:

• Planning: an approach that works in practice rather than theory, arming planners with the ability to create cutting edge campaigns
• Intelligence: a suite of tools that give definitive answers to big questions, and uncovers actionable insights about real people
• Trading: a model built on flexibility and trusted relationships, underpinned with bold guarantees
• Relationships: a culture of asking challenging questions to better understand the brief – we are not a ‘yes’ agency
• People: a strong history of recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and accelerating their careers

Our Commitment: We are diverse though our experience, people and the clients we look after - and we celebrate that diversity. Our people hold us accountable to our beliefs and via regular surveys and our grass roots D&I team, The Collective, and internal next generation board, Firestarters, we hold regular events and work continually towards generating ideas, initiatives and educating our people to ensure we are a diverse and inclusive agency. As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.

Overview Intro: We’re looking for an Account Director to lead the thinking for one of the UK’s most recognised names in value fashion retail — a brand loved for its accessibility, reach and role in everyday style. This is an opportunity to shape the strategy for a household name at a pivotal point of transformation, helping it evolve from value-led retailer to a credible destination for affordable fashion. This role sits at the intersection of culture, media, and retail — perfect for a planner who thrives on fast-moving trends, has a strong grasp of retail/fashion dynamics, and loves turning complex business challenges into sharp, actionable ideas that drive growth.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading planning direction for one of the UK’s biggest fashion retailers, blending brand, comms, and retail strategy
• Partnering with clients and internal teams to define the best media approach and unlock new opportunities for growth
• Turning consumer, sales and trend data into compelling insights that fuel creative ideas and commercial outcomes
• Developing integrated campaign strategies that span paid, owned, and earned media — from brand building to conversion
• Collaborating closely with wider planning, investment and internal teams to ensure work is cohesive, consistent, and effective
• Acting as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, confidently guiding conversations and building long-term partnerships
• Keeping a pulse on culture, retail and fashion trends — ensuring the brand stays relevant, distinctive, and future-facing

What we’re looking for:

• Strong experience in retail or fashion, ideally in a similar level role
• Proven track record of solving complex strategic challenges and driving measurable growth
• Confident communicator and storyteller with the ability to inspire creative teams and influence senior clients
• Highly analytical and data-literate, comfortable using consumer insights and retail data to inform decisions
• Collaborative and curious, with a natural ability to connect teams and unite people around great ideas
• Experience managing multi-agency partnerships and navigating large client organisations

Why this role: This is a rare opportunity to help redefine what value fashion means in the UK — shaping a brand that millions of people interact with every day. You’ll be at the heart of a large-scale transformation, working alongside brilliant creative partners and a highly collaborative client team that’s eager to push boundaries. At Spark Foundry, we champion curiosity and experimentation — combining data with creativity to create work that not only performs, but resonates culturally. If you’re a strategic thinker who loves retail, understands how people shop, and wants to make an impact in a fast-changing category, this is the role for you.

Additional information: Spark Foundry has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees, full details of which are shared when you join. This includes the classics like Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical, as well as Reflection Days, Shared Parental Leave, and spans other initiatives like: Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups). At Spark Foundry, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application. Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.