Digital Planning Lead in London

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale.

Role Summary and Impact

Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision-making and experiences through media, content, and technology. Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together.

About Wavemaker Digital Planning:

Wavemaker UK houses all its Digital Planning specialists in data-driven marketing into one unit, Wavemaker Digital Planning, focused on accelerating digital transformation for brands. WM Digital Planning is a high-performance digital-first unit made up of experts which cover five core pillars: Digital Planning, Digital Maturity audits, Marketing technology, Analytics, and Data Strategy.

WM Digital Planning consists of c.20 specialists in London and Manchester, with an ambition to be the most distinctive and admired data-driven marketing practitioners in the UK. We will do this through:

• A single-minded focus on advancing clients’ digital marketing maturity through technical innovation, analytical rigour, advanced audience design and a culture of continuous learning and optimisation.
• An agile operating model designed to help clients take control of their digital investment, including support for the creation of in-house capabilities.
• Certified specialist expertise in leading marketing technology and media platforms, and a strong ethos of partnership and innovation with tech and digital media businesses.
• A technology-powered service model with a development roadmap focused on original data science to automate and optimise marketing delivery.
• A culture that rewards expertise and invests in training and developing specialist talent.
• A commitment to driving higher standards in digital media quality, transparency and the responsible use of data.

Digital Planning:

Digital transformation needs focus and expertise. Responsibility for accelerating the digital maturity of our clients’ will be driven by our Digital Planning Leads – each Digital Planning Lead will be housed in one of the four Wavemaker Client Hubs. The Digital Lead will be responsible for:

• Driving progress against client maturity through the WM-Operating System and Digital Maturity Framework, a set of indicators and scorecards for data-driven marketing maturity.
• Control of the overall digital channel investment and ensures WM commercial considerations are taken into account.
• Working with Wavemaker product owners, and with Data Partners on larger accounts, to ensure the right capabilities and technology are in place on the account to advance Digital marketing.
• Collaboration with the Data & Tech teams, as well as identifying new opportunities to advance their clients through the suite of Digital Analytics solutions.
• Working ‘upstream’ with Strategy & Planning to ensure outputs from Provocative Planning are translated into credible Digital marketing approaches.
• Working ‘downstream’ with Platform Leads and Nexus Activation teams to ensure that the Digital marketing approach is activated with rigour and innovation.
• Ensuring that all Digital channels are fully integrated into weekly/monthly client updates and meetings (this includes Ecommerce, Affiliates, and OneSearch (PPC & SEO)).
• Supporting a ‘fluid’ way of working with Platform activation resource within each client hub.
• Being accountable to the Client Managing Directors (CMDs) and Head of Digital Planning for the timely, high-quality delivery of Digital marketing on the account.
• Adopting Agile workflow principles – visualising and valuing work, whilst prioritising tasks with the relevant Platform Leads and activation specialists.
• Working on new business pitches and bringing the strongest Digital solutions to our pitch RFI, RFP and presentations.

Responsible for Commercial Best Practice:

The Digital Planning Lead is a senior member of the Digital community, so will naturally take responsibility for the commercial function of digital investment within their client group. These tasks will include:

• Overall accountability for ensuring digital team follow financial process, this includes reconciliation within the allotted window & SOX compliance for all clients within group.
• On audited and PRF’d clients, the Digital Planning Lead takes responsibility of the necessary tracking and delivery as outlined in the client contract.
• Working collaboratively with trading leads to deliver the agreed investment profile for your client, including the delivery of forecasts.
• Responsibility for designing what the proprietary offering looks like for the client, and being able to confidently speak to clients about the products.
• Thinking ahead, spotting the warning signs as much as the opportunities on your clients, in turn identifying ways to protect or increase revenue and income.

The performance of the Digital Planning Lead will be measured against the adoption of Digital marketing within their client group, as well as other softer metrics such as attitude, enthusiasm and proactivity. Each Digital Planning Lead should have a minimum of two Digital Planning objectives, to be set by their Digital Planning Partner in conjunction with the Head of Digital Planning – these should be linked to the overall strategic growth needs for our clients and our WM Digital Planning growth ambition for the year ahead.

The Digital Planning Lead role will suit candidates with deep digital or performance marketing expertise, with a strong track record of quality and innovation in implementational planning or activation. The role will stretch these candidates by asking them to take responsibility for the advancement of a client group’s whole Digital marketing output and the fitness of our operating model to deliver this.

Skills and Experience

To perform effectively, the Digital Lead will need to be a credible, practical advocate for Digital marketing excellence within his or her client group. This means demonstrating the following characteristics:

• An operational lead capable of inspiring and managing great work from activation specialists: OneSearch (PPC/SEO), Programmatic, Social, Affiliates and from specialists in Digital Planning disciplines (Ecommerce, Addressable, Data Strategy).
• A detail-orientated champion for original, intelligent Digital marketing work on every brief, who will work to get the best out of technology, data, audiences and activation.
• Able to build credible, expertise-based working relationships with senior digital marketing and media clients.
• An insatiable appetite for growing Digital, demonstrating enthusiasm, positive provocation and innovation within day to day work or specific Digital objectives.
• A pragmatist and a collaborator who can work effectively with peers to design solutions, especially Data Partners and Platform Leads within his or her client group.
• A good translator of strategic marketing requirements (developed by Strategy & Planning) into practical Digital marketing activation plans that balance rigour, innovation and learning.
• Being able to identify and seek new opportunities for growth, developing and converting organic and new business proposals.
• A trusted adviser to the CMD/General Manager on how to plan, scope and run Digital marketing activity, including troubleshooting and quality control.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.

Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.