Associate Director, Planning

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.

About the role

This role is within Mindshare, a leading brand within WPP Media, where you will be instrumental in driving Good Growth for clients and all stakeholders through intentional media strategies. As an Associate Director of Planning, you will supervise all implementation needs and communication with the client(s) and agency client/planning/other teams. You will liaise and coordinate with global marketing teams, as understanding international marketing will be essential. You will oversee the client implementation team to ensure productivity, including managing staffing and workload issues at the client team level. Additionally, you will provide strategic rigor to implement ideas and ensure integration of the work between creative and media, and be well-versed in 360 media planning to effectively convey and manage media deliverables within the agencies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain day-to-day client and agency contact regarding their area of responsibility.
• Oversee the development of objectives, strategies, plans, and presentations.
• Supervise the group in the interpretation of competitive and other research data.
• Train and evaluate Supervisors, Managers, and Associates on the team.
• Act as the liaison between internal teams and various partner vendors to ensure media performance.
• Maintain a deep understanding of business, target audiences, and the wider communications environment.
• Listen, identify, and articulate compelling drivers, barriers, and channel relationship insights.
• Understand, embrace, and integrate client and creative agency research into plans.
• Package strategic frameworks, contextual frameworks, and engagement ideas for clarity and client presentation.
• Assist in crafting compelling selling strategies.
• Facilitate ideation sessions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, communications, or equivalent professional work experience.
• 5-8 years of account planning or related media/communications planning experience, with a focus on team leadership and management.
• Excellent strategic thinking and client relationship skills, including experience interacting and presenting to senior-level clients.
• Experience working in and across multiple communications disciplines, including digital.
• Fully conversant with all major desktop research tools and qualitative research techniques.
• Excellent quantitative skills, including analytical abilities and math proficiency.
• Ability to work within and effectively manage a team, prioritizing and organizing multiple assignments for both self and team direct reports.
• Demonstrate genuine curiosity and interest in clients and their business.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• Group retirement plans.
• Significant paid time off.
• Preferential partner discounts.
• Employee mental health awareness days.
• Access to extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks for professional growth and learning.
• Inclusive culture with employee resource groups and frequent in-office events.

Pay

US Pay Range: $75,000 - $180,000 USD

Schedule

Hybrid approach with teams in the office around four days a week.