Manager, Planning

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. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com .

3069 - Manager, Planning - UK

Role Summary and Impact

EssenceMediacom, part of WPP, 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.

The Client: BT Group Looks after BT, EE, Plusnet and Enterprise, Open Connect is the team within WPP Media. It is a brand that pushes the boundaries of innovation – it was the first brand to launch 4G, launched EETV before SkyQ and was the first brand to launch 5G. They expect their agency to challenge norms and develop new ideas to help deliver on the objective of showing their customers that the brand truly understands them. For this reason, staying on top of the latest media opportunities, audience research and effectiveness data is essential.

The Role: Media Planning are experts on the paid media landscape and how consumers interact with it. We architect and steward holistic media plans throughout their lifecycle, owning the creation of overall plans, cross-channel budget allocation, in flight cross-channel optimisation & reporting and post-campaign analysis. We are our clients’ key contacts for a unified view across all aspects of their campaigns, narrating the story of the campaign from planning recommendation through to PCA. Performance Planning focuses on campaigns aiming to drive a response. In this case sales and revenue. We are a team of 13 planners overseeing all performance media planning buying for a top 5 advertiser in the UK.

This role specifically manages the BT Business and EE Business performance. Activity which is planned always on throughout the year, spiking at certain times of the year inline with demand to maximise business outcomes.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Support senior media planners to manage tasks within the team, working more independently on smaller campaigns and liaising closely on larger projects.
• Allocate budget appropriately between channels.
• Contribute to clear briefs to Activation and collaborative sessions to deliver these.
• Evaluate responses from the Activation team and work with them to finalise channel and publisher selections and budgets.
• Own the overall plan supporting with updates and optimisations
• Maintain the testing plans and supporting material.
• Manage campaign launches.
• Create and manage cross-channel reporting templates
• Collate and quality assure in-channel Activation reports and develop insights and recommendations for the weekly cross-channel report.
• Contribute in client presentations and manage relationships with junior clients.
• Take responsibility for the collaboration and delivery of creative specs.
• Meet with vendors and have a relevant point of view on their offering.
• Contribute to case studies that can be shared internally as learning and best practice.
• Train and manage Media Planning Execs to deliver high-quality output.
• Build strong relationships with partners, clients and internal teams
• Take responsibility for the performance of assigned media budgets against intended outcomes, and justify optimisations with insightful commentary

Management Responsibility

• Motivate junior team members, leading by example while teaching new skills.
• Provide timely and actionable feedback to aid in team development and improvement.
• Develop strong relationships across the client team to facilitate flawless execution of plans.
• Communicate effectively across all levels of the team.
• Understand when to escalate issues to managers.
• Provide awareness and recognition for jobs well done.

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. 

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

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. 

#LI-Promoted

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.