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- Tasks: Lead strategy for high-profile retail campaigns and manage client relationships.
- Company: Join Spark, a dynamic agency known for its innovative media planning.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, well-being days, and great local discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on iconic retail brands while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Extensive media planning experience and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team with excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Spark, our media planners blend analytical thinking, category insight, and channel expertise to drive campaigns that fuel client growth. We are data-driven and growth-oriented, leveraging technology and insights to deliver creative, high-impact solutions. For our retail client, one of the UK’s most recognised supermarkets, our work helps strengthen its position in a highly competitive market.
We’re looking for a Planning Director to lead strategy on a high-profile retail account. You’ll be a team-player with deep media planning knowledge, capable of building trusted relationships with mid-level clients and collaborating seamlessly with agency partners. Your work will be pivotal in producing best-in-class media campaigns that deliver commercial success.
What you’ll be doing:
- Orchestrating integrated retail campaigns across paid, owned, and earned channels, from brand initiatives to seasonal activations.
- Leading cohesive media planning, particularly confident in AV, social, print, and audio channels.
- Acting as the first point of contact for the client during live campaigns, managing campaign delivery, reporting, and financial reconciliation.
- Championing excellence in planning, demonstrating a proactive desire to continually upskill and refine media expertise.
- Writing directional and inspiring briefs that link clients with investment teams, ensuring the best output from each channel.
- Thinking on your feet, responding to competitor activity, budget changes, and business needs with clarity and speed.
Team Leadership:
- Develop, mentor, and upskill junior planners to become top-standard media professionals.
- Support the wider team, driving a culture of collaboration, high standards, and creativity.
What we’re looking for:
- Extensive experience in media planning for retail brands, with a track record of delivering large-scale, multi-channel campaigns.
- Strong leadership skills, able to inspire teams and guide client conversations confidently.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Deep understanding of AV, social, print, and audio channels, with a passion for media excellence.
Why this role matters:
This is a rare opportunity to join a heritage UK retail brand at a time of strategic growth. You’ll lead planning on high-impact campaigns, shape the team’s approach, and directly influence commercial results—all while being part of a talented, collaborative agency environment.
Additional information:
Spark has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics – Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans – 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. Well-being 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! 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.
Planning Account Director employer: Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V
Contact Detail:
Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Account Director
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your media planning expertise. Share specific examples of successful campaigns you've led, especially in retail, to demonstrate your value.
✨Be Ready to Adapt
In this fast-paced world, being flexible is key. Be prepared to discuss how you've tackled unexpected challenges in past campaigns. Show them you can think on your feet and deliver results under pressure.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Account Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Media Planning Skills: Make sure to highlight your extensive experience in media planning, especially for retail brands. We want to see how you've delivered large-scale, multi-channel campaigns that have made a real impact.
Be a Team Player: Since collaboration is key for us, share examples of how you've worked with teams and built trusted relationships with clients. Show us your leadership skills and how you’ve mentored others in the past.
Craft Inspiring Briefs: When writing your application, think about how you can demonstrate your ability to write directional and inspiring briefs. This is crucial for linking clients with investment teams and ensuring the best output from each channel.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Spark!
How to prepare for a job interview at Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V
✨Know Your Media Planning Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your media planning knowledge, especially in AV, social, print, and audio channels. Be ready to discuss specific campaigns you've worked on and how they drove client growth. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the concepts but have real-world experience.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Planning Account Director, you'll need to inspire and mentor junior planners. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, highlighting your ability to foster collaboration and drive high standards. This will demonstrate that you can take charge and guide client conversations confidently.
✨Be Ready to Think on Your Feet
In this fast-paced role, being adaptable is key. Think about times when you've had to respond quickly to changes, whether it was budget adjustments or competitor activity. Share these experiences during the interview to illustrate your proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
✨Craft Inspiring Briefs
Since writing directional briefs is part of the job, come prepared with examples of briefs you've created that successfully linked clients with investment teams. Discuss how these briefs led to successful campaign outcomes, showcasing your ability to deliver best-in-class media solutions.
