Global Media Planning Director (Senior) in London

Senior Talent Acquisition Partner for Zenith UK and Spark Foundry, recruiting Media Planning, Strategy and Account Management roles!

Company Description

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. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices worldwide, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our "Power of One" business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, P&O Ferries, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa. We place a huge focus on our People and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential and we encourage everyone to make "Brave Plays" in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign's Best Places to Work for three years in a row (2021, 2022 and 2023) and most excitingly, Media Week's Agency of the Year 2023!

Overview

We’re looking for a Global Comms Planning Partner to join the Starcom Worldwide team — leading strategic communications planning for one of our most globally recognised, purpose‐driven clients. This is a high‐profile and intellectually stimulating role that sits at the intersection of media, data, creativity, and brand purpose. You’ll play a pivotal part in shaping how a major global brand communicates with audiences around the world — driving the next phase of its transformation and helping to define what "connected communications" truly means in today’s world. The role offers visibility across senior client leadership and international Publicis Groupe teams, and the chance to influence how global campaigns are built, adapted, and brought to life across markets.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading global comms strategy and planning across multiple markets — translating brand objectives into actionable communications frameworks and media principles
• Partnering closely with global brand strategy, insights, and media investment teams to ensure clear, consistent and innovative planning approaches
• Acting as the senior client contact for comms strategy, providing strategic leadership and thought partnership on briefs, campaigns, and innovation initiatives
• Collaborating with regional and local market teams to ensure global strategies are effectively translated into market‐level activation
• Leading cross‐functional collaboration across Publicis Groupe — including content, commerce, data and technology specialists — to deliver integrated, connected solutions
• Contributing to annual planning, portfolio prioritisation and strategic business reviews
• Supporting senior leaders across strategy and media with the development of global frameworks, tools and best practice guides
• Managing, mentoring, and developing a small, high‐performing team of planning specialists

What We’re Looking For

• Extensive experience in global communications planning, ideally with experience managing multi‐market campaigns
• A sophisticated understanding of audience‐led planning, channel strategy, and brand architecture
• The ability to distil complex business challenges into clear, inspiring strategies
• Confident and credible in senior stakeholder environments — able to advise, challenge, and inspire
• A global mindset — comfortable working across multiple regions, cultures, and time zones
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills, with the ability to unite strategists, media planners, and creative partners around a common goal
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop others
• An innate curiosity for brands, culture, and the evolving media landscape

Why this role

This is a rare opportunity to step into a truly global position on a category‐leading brand that touches millions of lives every day. You’ll be part of a client partnership that prizes innovation, creativity, and collaboration — and a global network (Publicis Groupe) that gives you access to world‐class tools, talent, and data capabilities. You’ll have the freedom to influence communications strategy at the highest level, with a remit that spans brand architecture, channel planning, and creative connection — all while helping shape the future of how one of the world’s most loved brands shows up for consumers around the world. If you’re a strategic thinker with strong comms planning expertise and a passion for big, complex global work — this is the next step you’ve been waiting for.

Additional Information

Starcom 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!

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.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG's (Employee Action Groups).

Job Details

• Seniority level: Not Applicable
• Employment type: Full‐time
• Job function: Management and Manufacturing
• Industries: Advertising Services