At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global planning for MGM theatrical and digital distribution, ensuring quality and coherence.
- Company: Join WPP Media, a leader in media and entertainment impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health benefits, and global networking opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the entertainment industry with innovative strategies.
- Qualifications: Experience in global media planning and team leadership required.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with growth potential and a commitment to diversity.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 ÂŁ per year.
WPP Media and Amazon have built OpenDoor to accelerate media and entertainment impact for global clients. This role partners with Prime Video Global Strategy to lead the global planning hub for MGM theatrical and digital distribution slate.
Role Summary and Impact
The Planning Director manages the end‑to‑end planning system, translating strategy into actionable frameworks that scale across regions and ensuring a unified planning spine, channel architecture, and process discipline. The role provides global direction, quality, and coherence for international media planning, driving predictability and rigor for exceptional execution.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead development of planning for each title, including audience architecture, channel roles, pacing, and investment guidance.
- Translate strategic direction into modular frameworks adopted by diverse markets.
- Define planning standards, templates, checklists, and expectations that ensure consistent global quality.
- Maintain visibility across all planning workstreams and ensure coherence across titles and markets.
- Partner with client lead, studio leads, and insight teams to recommend incremental tactics and execute tracking drills.
- Provide clear briefs, guidance, benchmarks, and timelines to activate teams.
- Anchor measurement inputs and learning agendas within the planning process.
- Recommend first‑to‑market opportunities and build commercial leverage on relevant platforms.
- Support content and strategy in global ideation sessions, turning actionable ideas into activation deliverables.
Global‑to‑Local Orchestration
- Clarify global versus local expectations and guide markets through the planning spine.
- Conduct targeted reviews of market plans for priority titles and major markets to ensure alignment and quality.
- Partner with local planning leads to culturally relevant regional plans.
- Integrate audience insights, trends, marketplace data, and competitive intelligence into the planning process.
- Lead landscape reviews and audience deep dives for key titles.
Leadership of the Planning Pod
- Build and coach a hub team of planners across levels.
- Establish rigorous quality standards and enforce consistent use of tools and workflows.
- Collaborate with Ops for resourcing, capacity management, and tool adoption.
- Continuously improve the planning model, frameworks, and toolkits.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Required:
- Significant global or multi‑market media planning experience in theatrical or high‑velocity categories.
- Deep expertise across digital, AV, social, programmatic, OOH, and partnerships.
- Proven ability to lead planning across multiple markets, titles, and timelines simultaneously.
- Strong synthesis of insights into actionable plans.
- Experience managing and developing a planning team.
- Operational capability and comfort with structured workflows.
Bonus points:
- Experience with studio, distributor, entertainment franchise, or global content pipeline.
- Familiarity with Amazon’s narrative‑first culture and leadership principles.
- Experience developing global toolkits or planning playbooks.
- Exposure to WPP Open data environments or advanced planning tools.
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
WPP Media invests in employee growth with competitive medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off, partner discounts, and mental health resources. Benefits include global networking and learning opportunities across the WPP and WPP Media ecosystem.
WPP Media is an equal‑opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a respectful culture where everyone can progress in their careers.
This is a UK‑based role; only candidates with the right to work in the UK may apply.
Read our Privacy Notice for how we process your information.
Planning Director, MGM Theatrical in London employer: WPP Media
Contact Detail:
WPP Media Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Director, MGM Theatrical in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. Show us you’re genuinely interested in what they do, and come armed with insightful questions.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to clearly articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role. Keep it concise but impactful – we want to hear your story!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the position. Plus, it’s just good manners!
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Director, MGM Theatrical in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Planning Director role. Highlight your experience in global media planning and how it aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading a team of planners, don’t forget to emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've built and coached teams in the past. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and guide others!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate applications that are easy to read and get straight to the point, so keep it professional yet engaging.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do – just follow the prompts and you’ll be set!
How to prepare for a job interview at WPP Media
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research MGM Theatrical and their recent projects. Understand their audience architecture and how they approach media planning. This will help you tailor your responses to show that you can translate strategic direction into actionable frameworks.
✨Showcase Your Planning Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience in managing end-to-end planning systems. Prepare examples of how you've developed planning standards and templates in previous roles. Highlight your ability to maintain visibility across workstreams and ensure coherence across titles.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Since this role involves building and coaching a team, come prepared with examples of how you've led planning teams in the past. Talk about how you've established quality standards and enforced consistent use of tools and workflows to drive exceptional execution.
✨Engage with Insights
Familiarise yourself with audience insights, trends, and competitive intelligence relevant to the theatrical landscape. Be ready to discuss how you would integrate these insights into the planning process and recommend first-to-market opportunities during the interview.