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 . 2471 - Director, Planning - UK Role Summary and Impact Wavemaker positively provokes growth for clients by reshaping consumer decision-making and experiences through media, content, and technology. Our name is both our mission and our method. We do our best work for brave brands and people who relish being challenged to go further and faster, together. The planning team are the guardians of creating industry leading, unrivalled work at Wavemaker. We are central conduits to all specialists, striving to push boundaries and have a positive impact on consumers and brand. Wavemaker UK is looking for a Director, Planning to join our growing planning team, to drive forward our planning output and help to create amazing work for our clients. In this role, you will: Media Planning Craft: • Lead the Wavemaker planning output on your specific client to create unrivalled work. • Be able to articulate the strategic approach into media behaviours and train and support the wider team. • Need strategic thinking on how we utilise tools and specialism outside of planning on response i.e. sources of growth, measurement, learning agenda, data, etc • Build presence outside of current teams and drive visibility of planning team within the wider agency. • Bring a fresh perspective to planning approaches including the use of different tools, new insights and coach others to challenge the status quo. Effective communication: • Overall responsibility for the development of all planning responses, ensuring we are developing unrivalled work in all executions. • Manage senior client relationships, understanding what they need for their business and how to drive growth for them. • Manage the planning team ensuring the have clear personal objectives, structure and regular reviews. Idea creation and storytelling: • Build and develop relationship with media owners and look for opportunities to create unrivalled work • Have an advanced commercial understanding of Wavemakers products and services. Understanding which are suitable for their clients and how sell in solutions. • Be a story telling expert, driving added value with the team and quality boosting output. Skills and Experience Practice Area Knowledge – Advanced- Demonstrates advanced understanding of the industry as well as future trends Serves as an internal consultant/expert on at least some tools and technology. Effectively guides junior team members on advanced elements. Works with leadership team to develop new solutions and/or spot new applications Problem Solving – Advanced - Performs complex analyses of a range of information and identifies issues before they become problems; helps others think about how to define or redefine complex problems. Supports business leaders to find solutions and evaluates others’ solutions to determine the best way forward. Understand how to resolve escalated issues and coaches others to problem solve. Manages escalations. Stakeholder Management – Advanced - Capitalizes on deep understanding of (current or potential) client and agency organizational structures, business processes, strategic objectives