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.

2583 - Senior Associate Director, Planning - UK 

Role Summary and Impact 

We are looking for someone to become part of the most awarded team in the agency, as Senior Associate Director for Tesco Stores

Tesco is Britain’s largest retailer turning over £50+ billion each year and operates in the fast-paced grocery sector that has come to the forefront during the Coronavirus epidemic.

Tesco is a £70m+ account and a team of 26 FTEs, with a core planning team of seven planners. The Account Director will work on one of the three core ‘pillars’ within the account, with a direct report. The role requires an experienced and ambitious planner looking to take their career to the next level.

As one of EssenceMediaCom’s most high-profile clients, you will be part of a strong team who always strive to deliver best in class and forward-thinking media planning. Experience across brand and performance planning is essential and internally the person will need to form a close collaboration with the Digital and Strategy teams to provide a whole-brained perspective to the account, strategies and work. Tesco believe in both the art and science of marketing, so the Account Director needs to have the competency to straddle both the creative and (increasing) analytical side of planning. They will contribute towards the development, presentation, and delivery of top-quality planning work on Tesco’s major planning projects.

Externally, client-servicing is also a key component, and they will be responsible for managing the key relationships within their pillar (Tesco Media and Campaign Team leads). We work incredibly closely with Tesco’s partner agencies, such as BBH, so collaborative relationships here are crucial.

Your responsibilities will be wide-ranging including account-management, mining through research to draw on actionable insights, brand and outcome-based planning and working with specialists to ensure implementation excellence. You’ll have exposure to senior clients, our central EssenceMediaCom team in the US, and all key EssenceMediaCom UK contacts.

3 best things about the job

• You get to work on the newly renewed & one of the biggest accounts in the agency with a fantastic track record of delivering truly brilliant award-winning work. Following the pitch success, there is great ambitions to transform their business and you will be at the cutting edge of everything that will be ‘new’ for them and also for the broader agency.
• You get to work with a brilliant team of people and have access to leading talent within the agency, and the broader WPP network.
• A truly collaborative relationship with the client, where our team are seen as an extension of their team and we all work to common goals/KPIs.

Measures of success

 In three months, you would have:

• Onboarded fully on to the accounts and met all the key stakeholders.
• Fully understanding the processes across the account and key outputs
• Built strong relationships with Media team and local senior clients.
• Worked closely with the BD to review ways of working processes and develop client growth plans
• Taken on responsibility of managing the quality of the work that is taken to the client and ensuring all reporting and finance processes and timings are adhered to.
• Motivating our internal teams to produce great work.

In six months, you would have:

• Become the ‘go to’ for senior clients. Become their trusted point person.
• Managed and delivered annual planning across the account.
• Managed the development of exceptional, award-winning planning work.
• Recognised as a go-to source of energy and insight in the team.
• Delivered several responses, with data and evidence led insights, ambitious innovation opportunities to push things forward.
• Spotted a commercial opportunity for us to do things better, that would benefit the client and the business.
• Managed and developed your team, ensuring they are performing at their full potential and looking out for their wellbeing.
• Agreed objectives with your BD to ensure constant progression.

In 12 months, you would have:

• Become a key stakeholder in your clients’ business. Leading and executing their vision.
• Developed the client business and contributed to its growth.

Responsibilities of the role

• Lead the business working with key stakeholders across the EssenceMediacom network
• Develop talent
• Lead RTB’S
• Build strong client relationships
• Seeking new revenue workstreams to grow the account
• Manage a reporting and financial processes

Skills & Experience

• To be a true team player where you enjoy building relationships with clients and our colleagues around the world
• Knowledge of all media and experience of end-to-end planning
• A digital first approach to planning with a fast-growing tech company
• Positive attitude and willingness to develop talent
• A motivational leader

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 that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country. 

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

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