Senior Associate Director - 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 .

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. For more information, visit wpp.com.

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. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

About OpenMind: A Leading WPP Media Brand

OpenMind:

Openmind is a bespoke team within GroupM, made up of best-in-class digital, offline and integrated media experts who work together for Nestlé. At OPENMIND, we feature our Pervasive Performance model to drive revenue and long-term value for our clients. Pervasive Performance is rooted in the belief that Brand and Performance are inextricably linked.

Role Summary and Impact

This role offers a unique and compelling opportunity to shape the future of media strategy for one of the world's most iconic brands, Nestlé, ranked as the fourth biggest brand in the UK by sales. As a Category SAD, you will be at the forefront of innovation, driving impactful campaigns and fostering deep client relationships. What makes this position truly exciting is the chance to:

• Influence UK Strategy: Directly integrate category strategy into local media plans, impacting investment allocation across diverse brands within the UK market. Your insights will enhance Nestlé's visibility in planning, performance, and competitive landscapes, ensuring consistency for a brand of this significant scale.
• Champion Innovation: Leverage your expertise to push the boundaries of media thinking, developing cutting-edge communication plans and strategic guidance that redefine industry best practices.
• Cultivate Key Relationships: Build and nurture strong partnerships with the UK Nestlé Category team, becoming a trusted advisor and an indispensable part of their success.
• Lead and Inspire: Guide and mentor a dedicated team, including an Associate Director, Manager, and Planner, fostering their growth and ensuring best-in-class execution.
• Collaborate and Grow: Benefit from a robust support system, drawing inspiration and assistance from a network of specialists, OpenMind leadership, and other Category leaders.

This is an opportunity to make a significant impact, innovate within a dynamic industry, and grow your career within a globally recognised media agency, working with a brand that is a true leader in the UK market.

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.

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

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While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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