Senior Associate Planner, Client Leadership in Manchester

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

EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.

EssenceMediacom handles the media planning and buying for some of the world's smartest advertisers. Supported by keen consumer insight, analysis and experience, we are part of the largest media planning and buying network in the world. We are looking for a Media Executive to join the planning team. The successful candidate will play an integral part in the planning process and will get to work across the entire campaign life cycle – from strategy to execution to reporting. The role will include some client contact and exposure to the fast pace of planning across a market leading advertiser. There will be an opportunity to upskill across all channel specialisms.

3 best things about the job:

• The work: every day working on a planning account is exciting with new challenges, and this is the best way to learn and grow.
• The team: we are a group who want to work for each other and produce brilliant work.
• The client: this role includes significant exposure to a client group who are knowledgeable and keen to add more innovation to their media plans and are at the forefront of a successful cross-agency partnership.

Measures of success:

In three months:

• You are an established member of the team adding value, support and innovation to the business.
• Learned about media planning and established strong working relationships with the planning and channel specialist teams, gaining trust through strong attention to detail.
• Completed all relevant EssenceMediacom & third-party training.

In six months:

• Oversaw campaigns or workstreams across a range of channels.
• Gained the trust of the Account Manager and Account Director.
• Built strong relationships with the relevant stakeholders at our media partners.

Responsibilities of the role

You will work as part of a team to plan multimedia campaigns for the client. Every member of the team will need to have a very strong understanding of how comms planning, be an innovator, and have a willingness to learn.

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.

Positive attitude and good intent, proactive mindset, strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks, attention to detail, ability to build relationships internally and externally, effective communication, and ability to work independently and complete assigned tasks within identified time frames. You may have a degree, diploma, A-levels or life experience; we are open to all applications.

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.

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