--- title: 'Associate Director, Planning, UK at WPP Media' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-planning-uk-wpp-media-manchester-1cebhyrcmw99' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-12' --- # Associate Director, Planning, UK at WPP Media - **Company:** WPP Media - **Location:** Manchester, United Kingdom - **Posted:** 2026-11-12 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-12 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/wppmedia/jobs/5463370008 ## Job description ## 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. 3980 - Associate Director, Planning, UK ## Role Summary and Impact ## About WPP 650 Join an award-winning team at the heart of UK government, where your work will genuinely shape lives. As part of WPP 650 you’ll be part of a supportive, collaborative environment that values curiosity, kindness, and growth. Together, we use behaviour change principles to design smarter services, influence better decisions, and help millions of people across the country. Named WPP 650, after the 650 UK constituencies, the name is a reminder that our work must reflect the full breadth of the country, every community, every audience. No two days are the same. The challenges are complex, the problems worth solving, and the learning constant. You’ll tackle issues that matter, alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about what they do. It’s demanding – but always rewarding. WPP 650 is a bespoke agency unit within WPP, dedicated to serving the evolving communications needs of government clients. We bring together the best of WPP's talent, technology, and insights to deliver impactful, modern, and effective public communications. We are at the forefront of reimagining how government engages with its citizens. This is meaningful work with real-world impact – the kind you can point to with pride. ## Overview of role WPP has a vision of world-class communications, and since recently we have been moving to a combined agency model including Media, Creative, PR, Data & CRM agency partners to build a team from the best people in the industry to work in partnership with our clients.  This is a huge opportunity to be part of an industry changing dynamic that makes a genuine difference through communications. Joining the team will give the person who takes this role a real opportunity to champion digital as a key driver to the success of this new model. Based in our new WPP campus building in the heart of Manchester’s development district, the largest communications operation outside of London and the home for all WPP regional talent across a number of business disciplines, and an amazing place to grow your communications career and to realise your potential in a dynamic and exciting setting. Reporting of the role You will report into the Director, Clients 3 best things about the job - Exciting brands with unlimited possibilities and a broad scope for ideas. - A truly diverse community feel to the team, the client, and the work we do. - Pivotal responsibility in planning and managing all media lines across offline and online. 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. - Contributed to WPP 650 culture in the team – great planners with clear goals, objectives, and development plans. - Got involved in wider business unit workstreams. 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 WPP Media network - Develop talent - Lead RTBs - Build strong client relationships - Seeking new revenue workstreams to grow the account - Manage a reporting and financial processes ## What you will need - 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 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 Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy for more information on how we process the information you provide. #LI-Promoted Please read our [Privacy Notice](https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy#:~:text=WPP%20Media%20Privacy%20Notice%20for%20Recruitment) for more information on how we process the information you provide. ## About WPP Media ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: WPP Media is WPP's global media collective that combines AI, data, and creative to deliver intelligent growth for the world's leading brands. - **Entity Type**: Division of Public Company (WPP plc – LSE: WPP, NYSE: WPP) - **Headquarters**: New York, United States - **Founded**: Not publicly available (parent WPP plc founded 1971; WPP Media formed as a unified media collective in recent years) - **CEO**: Brian Lesser (CEO, WPP Media) ## Core Business - **Industry**: Advertising Services, Media Planning & Buying, Marketing Technology - **Target Customers**: B2B and B2C enterprise brands across all sectors; global clients include major Fortune 500 companies - **Mission or Purpose Statement**: "Intelligent growth for the AI era" – helping brands harness data, AI, and media to drive measurable outcomes. ## Products & Services - **Open Media Studio (OMS)**: An end-to-end media delivery platform integrated with WPP Open, enabling scaled creative, production, data, commerce, and personalized media execution. (SaaS/Platform) - **Open Intelligence**: An AI-enabled data solution that unifies fragmented data across ecosystems into predictive marketing intelligence, supporting privacy-first activation. (Data & Analytics Platform) - **Data and Technology Consulting**: Consulting services for data strategy, technology architecture, advanced analytics, audience insight, cloud integration, and platform adoption. (Service) - **Media Management & Delivery**: Expert activation, smart investment, strategic partnerships, and proprietary media solutions powered by AI and advanced analytics for personalized advertising at global scale. (Service) - **Service and Strategy**: Dedicated teams offering deep sector expertise, creative strategy, and business outcomes aligned with client goals. (Service) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed separately (parent WPP plc market cap approx. £8 billion as of July 2025) - **Key Metric**: $65 billion in managed media annually (from wppmedia.com) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: WPP is publicly traded; works with hundreds of global brands including many Fortune 500 companies. Key technology partners include major cloud and AI providers. - **Growth Signals**: - 40,000+ media experts worldwide - 160 offices across 80+ markets - 1,600+ active job postings (LinkedIn, July 2025) with +8.7% monthly job growth - Strong investment in AI-first capabilities and privacy-forward data unification ## Competitive Advantages - **Scale**: One of the largest media buying organizations globally, managing $65B in media. - **AI Integration**: End-to-end platform (OMS + Open Intelligence) deeply embedded with AI for predictive analytics, automation, and personalization. - **Integrated Ecosystem**: Unique ability to unify media, data, creative, production, and commerce under one roof. - **Global Reach**: 40k+ experts in 80+ markets providing local insights with global execution. - **WPP Network**: Access to 100,000+ experts across WPP's integrated agency network. ## Strategic Focus - **AI-Driven Growth**: Embedding AI across all capabilities to deliver smarter, faster, more measurable outcomes. - **Privacy-First Data Unification**: Building Open Intelligence as a secure, cross-ecosystem data platform that respects consumer privacy. - **Talent Development**: Investing in AI-enabled learning frameworks and internal mobility to future-proof skills. - **Sustainability & Inclusion**: Part of WPP's broader commitment to building better futures for people, planet, clients, and communities. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as open, optimistic, and extraordinary – with emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and challenging the status quo. - **Growth**: AI-enabled learning framework, cross-team mobility across WPP’s global network of 100k+ experts. - **Work Environment**: Hybrid/office-based roles across 160 offices; global opportunities in 80+ markets. - **Perks**: Competitive compensation, performance-based rewards, access to cutting-edge AI tools, and work with leading global brands. - **Team**: Join a collective of 40k+ media experts, data scientists, technologists, and creatives. ## Sources 1. [wppmedia.com](https://www.wppmedia.com/) 2. [WPP Media Company Info](https://www.wppmedia.com/company-info) 3. [WPP Media Careers](https://www.wppmedia.com/careers) 4. [WPP Media – What We Do](https://www.wppmedia.com/what-we-do) 5. [WPP Media LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpp-media) 6. 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