Performance Planning Account Director in London

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward.

This role sits at the heart of LEGO Retail’s growth ambitions. As Performance Planning Account Director, you will lead cross-channel performance strategy and planning, ensuring paid media investment drives measurable business results while building future-ready capabilities in line with LEGO’s priorities: driving demand, innovating for the future, and enabling sustainable growth.

You will be accountable for channel performance direction and strategic output, while working closely with a specialist digital buying team who lead activation and reporting. Success in this role requires strong leadership, clear communication, and the ability to align multiple stakeholders to deliver best-in-class work.

Day-to-Day You Will…

• Guide cross-channel planning and review media approaches before activation.
• Align closely with the digital buying team on timelines, priorities and performance focus areas.
• Lead performance conversations with the client, focusing on insight and forward actions.
• Review outputs and recommendations to ensure strategic quality and clarity.
• Monitor pacing and investment direction at a high level, ensuring we stay on track to deliver goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Cross-Channel Strategy & Performance Leadership
  • Own the cross-channel performance media strategy, ensuring plans drive qualified traffic, conversion and revenue growth for LEGO.com.
  • Translate business goals into clear media frameworks, investment approaches and testing roadmaps.
  • Balance short-term demand capture with longer-term growth and innovation opportunities.
  • Ensure performance plans reflect evolving platform capabilities, consumer behaviours and measurement best practice.
• Performance Direction & Collaboration
  • Provide clear strategic direction to the digital activation team, ensuring plans are executed in line with objectives.
  • Work closely with buyers and analysts to align on timings, deliverables, test plans and optimisation priorities.
  • Lead performance reviews, using data and insight to shape future strategy rather than just report on results.
  • Identify gaps or risks in delivery and proactively course-correct with internal teams.
• Innovation & Future-Fit Thinking
  • Champion testing of new formats, audiences and approaches that unlock incremental growth.
  • Bring forward new platform opportunities, tools and ways of working that improve effectiveness or efficiency.
  • Ensure learning agendas are structured and that insights are applied to future planning.
• Client & Stakeholder Leadership
  • Act as a senior strategic lead for the client, confidently explaining performance strategy and results in clear, commercially focused language.
  • Represent the agency in key meetings, building trust through proactive communication and strong recommendations.
  • Collaborate with cross-channel teams to ensure integrated, audience-first planning across media.
• Operational Oversight & Quality
  • Oversee budgets, pacing logic and overall investment approach (in partnership with activation teams).
  • Ensure work is delivered to a high standard, on time, and aligned to agreed processes and governance.
  • Raise risks and opportunities early with both client and Business Director.

What are we looking for?

The Right Person Will Be Able To Confidently:

• Lead performance strategy with a strong commercial mindset.
• Turn complex performance data into clear, actionable narratives.
• Work collaboratively with specialist activation teams, aligning multiple stakeholders around shared priorities.
• Balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail when needed.
• Identify growth opportunities through data, testing and innovation.
• Stay calm and solutions-focused in a fast-moving environment.
• Take ownership, push work forward and maintain high standards of quality and governance.
• Build strong client relationships through clear communication and trusted strategic guidance.

Additional information

Starcom has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, we also offer:

• WORK YOUR WORLD: opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS: Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day-to-day work and create time to focus on your well-being and self-care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS: 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES: We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF: You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS: This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full-time employees being office-based three days during the working week. We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.