Head of Planning, Comms Design

About Us

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. We believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different.

When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow.

Media responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do, whether it’s creating media plans that reflect the diversity of our communities, promote brand safety, and foster sustainability.

Our agency celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000+ strong talent across 90+ markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.

Role Description

There is a really exciting opportunity to join our brand new Team UTD, a fully integrated media and creative team working together on NatWest. This team is agile, fast- paced and truly revolutionary in the operating model and way we work.

As the Head of Design ( Planning ) on NatWest , you are fully accountable for the Planning product for NatWest and hold the complete ownership of all planning outputs . You deeply understand the business opportunities, category dynamics, audience behaviours and how media consumption is evolving . You are passionate about not just paid , but how the total media ecosystem works together across OESP. Comfortable with data, culture and ruthless insight, y ou are at the forefront of bringing the next generation of planning across the full ecosystem to life . Working closely with the Head of Strategy and the creative teams , you’ll drive cohesive approaches that cover strategy to execution, responsible for driving innovation across our OESP planning product for NatWest.

You own the governance of planning, ensuring frameworks, tools and measurement is embedded into the planning team , support ing the team’s efforts to ensure brilliant OESP comms planning , design, flawless execution, and most importantly, delivery on KPIs and business results for your client.

Key Responsibilities

Client

• Builds and maintains executive-level relationships (senior clients, media/data partners, industry leaders) and ensures the servicing function aligns with and drives these relationships.

• Accountable for the planning product delivered to NatWest across all franchises , and is adaptable in their understanding for brand, retail, B2B and UHNWI

• Actively leads the articulation and evolution of the NatWest product: collaborates across media, analytics, creative and vendor teams to ensure best-in-class output.

• Is the voice for the consumer to NatWest, and delivers audience first planning

• Responsible for POV’s on industry changes / news and outlining impact on clients

• Understand and demonstrates expertise through channel trends
• Drives innovation and experimentation

Internal

• Drives the Planning team on NatWest, motivating and developing our talent from Group Director through to Associate

• Works hand in hand with the Head of Strategy and creative teams, and Client Leads -

• Collaborates with the team to ensure all documentation provided to NatWest is of high quality and ladders up to our overall planning strategy

• Is a senior collaborator in Team UTD and contributes to overall team culture

• Alongside management of the NatWest planning team also manages a portion of the wider Initiative UK Design (planning) team, contributing to upskilling, training and building the community of planners across Initiative

Commercial

• Drives commercial growth through identification of client challenges, unlocking mutual growth

New Business

• Contributor to new business as required

Desired Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in integrated planning role in media, publisher / vendor, or communications discipline (digital, content );

• Have proven experience and expertise in strategic media planning across the funnel and the digital mix;

• Hold excellent knowledge of the UK media landscape and put the consumer experience at the heart of activities and decisions

• A courageous leader and collaborator who can envision and energise large cross-functional teams and drive effective media owner relationships;

• Can demonstrate strong strategic and analytical thinking to assess and recommend opportunities;

• Have people management experience and a passion for developing others;

• Have mastery with media planning tools such as TGI, GWI, Facebook Campaign Planner etc ;

• Fully digital literate, and understanding of key owned,  earned and shared media including SEO, social  media and search. LLM knowledge  a key advantage.  

Employee Transparency

At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are an equal-opportunity employer committed to championing an inclusive culture that provides a sense of belonging for all our employees. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on age, disability, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, belief, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please reach out to Ninette at [email protected] , if you would like to have a confidential conversation regarding any adjustments that would ensure our recruitment process is accessible for you. Please note requesting a reasonable adjustment will not affect your application.

The Perks

We aim to provide all our people with a supportive and fun work environment where you can develop your full potential and benefit from the broad range of opportunities within the agency. When you join us, we want to make sure you feel valued – and that you are rewarded for your fantastic work. So, we also offer a range of benefits:

• Flexi–leave, with 25 days annual leave to be taken as minimum. In addition to your holiday entitlement, the office usually closes between Christmas & New Year
• Free breakfast and free lunch
• Early finish Fridays
• Core Hours (Mon-Thurs, flexible start/finish times)
• Retail discounts
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice car scheme
• Wellbeing programme, including Headspace & flu jabs
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Paid time off for Volunteering
• Group Income Protection
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance or Health Cash Plan (dependent on level)
• Group Personal Pension Plan with matched contributions from 3-6%
• Generous Parental Leave & Pay
• Independent mortgage advice
• Financial education
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye tests
• Flexible benefits including Dental, Travel insurance, Cycle to Work, Gym Discounts and many more!