Senior Associate Director - Comms Planning

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About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth.

About OpenMind: A Leading WPP Media Brand

OpenMind by WPP is an integrated agency model drawing on talent from across WPP. It has been created to accelerate the European transformation for Nestlé’s media function. Core to the solution is the advanced best data and technology capabilities, fuelled by WPP’s investment in AI, to maximise the impact of Nestlé media investment.

Role Summary And Impact

The Category SAD is an experienced media expert as part of ZEUR UK team, responsible for developing strong relationships with the UK Nestle Category team, providing excellent Comms Planning skills and strategic guidance, have the knowledge/skills to push innovative thinking as well as best in class planning. You will be an excellent communicator & manager to an AD, Manager and Planner on your line of business.

This role will be a key enabler and accelerator of integrating Category strategy into local media plans, strategizing media investment allocation across markets and brands, increasing Category visibility into planning, performance, competition and ensuring x-market consistency.

The role is supported by a team of specialists (Above Market, Cluster), OpenMind leadership, and other Category leadership to draw from for inspiration and support.

• Support implementation of "fewer, bigger, better" strategy through Category holistic media strategy and measurement (including Retail Digital Media & Search).
• Become a key stakeholder in your clients’ business. Leading and executing their vision.
• Develop the client business and contribute to its growth.
• Work closely with the BD to review ways of working processes and develop client growth plans.
• Take on responsibility of managing the quality of the work that is taken to the client and ensuring all reporting and finance processes and timings are adhered to.
• Build strong, long-lasting relationships with X category clients by understanding their business objectives, needs, and challenges.
• Become the ‘go to’ for senior day to day clients. Become their trusted point person.
• Manage the development of exceptional, award winning planning work.
• Be recognized as a go-to source of energy and insight in the team.
• Deliver responses with data and evidence led insights, ambitious innovation opportunities to push things forward.
• Identify commercial opportunities for us to do things better, that would benefit the client and the business.
• Manage and develop your team, ensuring they are performing at their full potential and looking out for their wellbeing.
• Agree objectives with your BD to ensure constant progression.
• Contribute to OpenMind culture in the team – great planners with clear goals, objectives, and development plans.
• Work with GDS (Biddable Digital Team) to ensure they are integrated seamlessly within planning processes and implementation processes.
• Work with retail team to help integrate capabilities into everyday planning.

Skills And Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Solid multimedia planning experience.

Experience managing senior clients and stakeholders.

Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and agency partners.

A thirst for learning about technology, trends, media, people, brands and the industry.

An ambition and tenacity to make the ordinary extraordinary.

An ability to spot the real issue behind the brief – knowing how to challenge the client to understand what they really need.

Data-literacy – aware of the available resources and how to turn data into insights that shape clear strategic opportunities.

Attention to detail.

To have an opinion and be able to voice it in a clear and positive light.

Good storytelling skills – to give our ideas and thinking the best chance of coming to fruition.

Team management skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and manage workload.

Calm under pressure.

Life At WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.

Our benefits include 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 particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.