Job title: Planning Manager
Duration: 4 months FTC
Role type: Full time
Location: 2 days p/w onsite in Southbank London
Start: ASAP (4-6 weeks onboarding time)
Rate: £40 - 50k pro rata
Interview: 1 stage process
Our client is looking for a Planning Manager to work on a leading global skincare brand, driving integrated communication strategies that enable them to achieve and exceed marketing objectives. You'll develop regional media plans, oversee campaign execution, and ensure planning excellence across key markets. Collaborating with local offline and digital teams, you'll translate client strategies into integrated campaign plans while maintaining deep engagement with campaign performance and optimisation opportunities.
This is an excellent opportunity to expand your planning expertise, develop client leadership skills, and grow into senior planning roles.
Experience:
- Demonstrated experience developing integrated media strategies across multiple channels
- Proven track record of successful campaign execution and optimisation
- Strong client-facing experience
- Proficiency with media planning tools and platforms
- Experience with full-funnel channel planning (traditional, digital, social, emerging channels)
Core Competencies:
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop integrated, data-driven planning strategies that drive client objectives
- Media Expertise: Solid understanding of traditional (TV, radio, print, OOH) and digital channels (programmatic, social, video, CTV, BVOD)
- Client Management: Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; ability to translate client objectives into strategic recommendations
- Execution: Strong project management and attention to detail; ability to manage timelines, approvals, and deliverables
- Analysis: Numeracy skills and comfort with data analysis; ability to interpret campaign performance and identify optimisation opportunities
- Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across teams (planning, digital, offline, buying); willingness to support colleagues
- Curiosity: Innate curiosity about market trends, new technologies, and audience insights
- Ownership: Pride in delivering quality work; proactive approach to identifying and solving problems
Professional Attributes:
- Strong attention to detail with high numeracy
- Positive \"can-do\" attitude and approach
- Willingness to share ideas and insights
- Ability to recognise when to escalate issues or seek second opinions
- Commitment to continuous learning and professional development
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
This role offers:
- Strategic influence over regional campaign responses and client outcomes
- Hands-on execution with measurable campaign impact
- Cross-functional collaboration with digital, offline, and paid media teams
- Client exposure and relationship development
- Career progression path to senior planning roles
- Innovation opportunities with emerging channels and platforms
- Professional development within leading global agency
THE OPPORTUNITY
Campaign Planning & Strategy:
- Develop comprehensive integrated media planning strategies aligned with client marketing objectives and campaign KPIs
- Ensure planning excellence in timely delivery of outputs; own integrated campaign plans across regional markets
- Identify optimal media channel mix across full-funnel channels
- Advise clients on channel integration and cross-channel effectiveness
Execution & Optimisation:
- Oversee accurate campaign approvals, pacing, and scheduling from annual to tactical planning using relevant planning tools (OMNI)
- Stay close to all campaign tracking and evaluation metrics; feed insights into ongoing optimisation and future planning recommendations
- Provide regular analysis and optimisation recommendations on campaign performance.
- Ensure effective implementation of regional strategies in collaboration with local offline and digital hub teams
Client & Stakeholder Management:
- Build and maintain strong client relationships; serve as primary planning contact for assigned accounts
- Present media planning documents and performance recommendations to senior client stakeholders
- Communicate clearly on channel connections and integrated strategy benefits (paid, owned, earned)
- Escalate issues proactively; seek guidance from senior colleagues when needed
- Manage client expectations and campaign timelines effectively
Market Insights & Innovation:
- Maintain regular engagement with media partners to understand new innovations and audience insights
- Stay informed on emerging channels, platforms, and planning best practices
- Contribute to wider team thought pieces and ad-hoc media projects
- Share ideas and insights with colleagues to drive continuous improvement
