Implementation Planning Associate Director

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.

About the Role

We are searching for a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our OpenDoor team as an Implementation Planning Associate Director. This is a full‑time position based in London. The role will report to the WPP Solutions Partner and will manage a matrixed team of digital planners, in‑channel activation and offshore teams. This role plays a crucial part in supporting WPP's mission to deliver consistency, delivery excellence and best‑in‑class service for Amazon in every country across its diverse businesses, including XCM, Prime Video, and RMI. The role is across Amazon Devices, a varied and dynamic portfolio including Amazon Leo, Alexa, Kindle, Kids Tablet and Fire TV. OpenDoor is Amazon's media partner everywhere in the world except North America and Latin America and makes up a considerable proportion of Amazon's global marketing efforts.

The Implementation Planning team creates an effective link between the Strategy & Planning teams and Activation, data and tech teams. The Implementation Planning Team ensures that comprehensive briefs are developed in collaboration with the strategy and comms teams and ensures that channel specialists meet clients’ expectations by achieving campaign KPI’s timely and through embedding operational excellence. They are also developing and supporting the delivery of tasks such as reporting output, offer insights and recommendations across strategic planning and agency pitches.

Responsibilities

• Day to day leadership of Amazon Devices digital activities, managing all key clients, task management of deliverables and leading the digital planning process for briefs.
• Work with the comms design team to integrate offline and online media into a single integrated media plan.
• Manage all digital aspects of the business through direct line management of Digital cross‑channel planning, digital in‑channel planners and digital implementation, social activation teams, programmatic activation teams.
• Lead with directors direct pan‑regional IO / partnerships buys which focus on deal based pan‑regional buying (multi‑market IO Twitch, Yahoo, XBOX deals).
• Integrate the expertise of data and technology teams into the day to day planning, activation and operational excellence of Amazon Devices planning.
• Manage and become the escalation point for onshore and offshore working teams to ensure a smooth, healthy relationship between all teams.
• Become the trusted advisor for all digital activities, ensuring full knowledge of on all aspects of campaign activation for questions from key clients.
• Unify disparate streams of information and insights from all biddable channels, in context of client business objectives.
• Help teams develop integrated experience strategies across biddable & digital touchpoints, identify strategic opportunities for proprietary solutions growth in service of solving client business problems.
• Be the driving force on the selection and application of systems, tools and platforms, proprietary solutions, enabling them with the proper resources and knowledge for successful implementation.
• Police the delivery of all tools and technology within WPP Open (our tech and tools operating system) for Amazon Devices.
• Outline advanced data analytics/measurement frameworks to shape holistic measurement of performance media strategy and activation.
• Advise key stakeholders by continuously helping them successfully navigate through critical business changes, upselling larger digital scopes and services where they add value.
• Lead the development, presentation, and delivery of top‑quality cross‑channel planning work for larger campaigns.
• Plan against client outcomes – quantifying objectives and the likely impact of comms on them across all biddable practice areas, in collaboration with practice leads.
• Scrutinize performance planning budgets, of assigned accounts, to identify strengths and weaknesses and ensure proper financial allocations and ensures WPP Open and Amazon’s goals are protected and driven.
• Develop an advanced understanding of media channels, channel ecosystems and planning best practices.
• Start to translate strategic approach into planning practices for specific client briefs.
• Oversee campaign management, ensuring quality control and output is of the highest standard.
• Lead pan‑regional IO and Partnerships based buying for multi‑market campaigns with manager and executive.
• Work in a complex, matrixed environment, influencing stakeholders and leading cross‑functional teams towards our common media goals.
• Own deep knowledge of all WPP Open deliverables and campaign KPIs that have been committed to Amazon and share it across biddable and digital teams when/if needed.
• Proactively connect, partner with regional and key local market leadership on behalf of Amazon.
• Ensure knowledge sharing and communication flow remains informative, connected, and proactive to help provide repeatable, consistent activation excellence for all biddable/digital channels.
• Monitor and ensure adherence to client and WPP Open excellence standards across practices.
• Proactively develop action plans and blueprints to address any gaps and non‑compliance to standards.
• Build and maintain client and agency relationships at a mid‑senior level, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders and client business.

Data‑Driven Insights

• Utilize advanced data analytics to understand media performance deeply, and guide optimization strategies ensuring maximum ROI.
• Provide expert insights on the application of data science and how to effectively use client and biddable data.

Skills & Experience

• Can confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams on best solutions to use.
• Strong knowledge of all digital channels, technology and data and how this combines to support activation.
• Uses critical questioning and maintains a broad perspective when analysing information to gain a deeper understanding of the problem and its impact on activation of media.
• Has strong knowledge of the entertainment and subscription industry which is shared to build strategies and plans.
• Leads the delivery of relevant and accurate information to drive maximum impact.
• Consistently delivers communications to influence and educate all levels of seniority, appropriately judging the demands of the situation.
• Multi‑market activation experience and managing multi‑market activation teams.
• Entertainment category experience.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment whilst maintaining a partnership focus throughout.

Bonus Points

• Applies big picture thinking in work and proactively leverages an understanding of the organization and key industry trends.
• Understands the different elements of responses.
• Applies knowledge of client, audience, channel, market and category to effectively deliver compelling multi‑media digital plans.
• Translates learnings and trends from strategy team to create digital activation that is effective with clear measurement.
• Applies best practices to campaign management and acts as the escalation point for issues.
• Provides actionable insights during mid and post‑campaign reports to improve in‑flight optimizations and future campaign brief recommendations.
• Oversees team members to discuss current projects, workload and activities, prioritises resources accordingly.
• Improves workload management by supporting others in setting priorities and by postponing less relevant work.

Benefits of OpenDoor

• Unparalleled Access: Gain direct experience working with one of the world's most innovative and influential companies.
• Mentorship & Training: Receive guidance from experienced professionals at both WPP and Amazon.
• Cutting‑Edge Technology: Utilize industry‑leading tools and platforms, including WPP Open.
• Data‑Driven Environment: Develop your analytical skills and contribute to data‑driven decision making.
• Global Impact: Be part of a team that is shaping the future of marketing on a global scale.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country. 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.