1498 - Business Director, Implementation Planning
The Business Director, Implementation Planning at WPP Media leads integrated media excellence and strategic planning across multiple client accounts. This leadership role drives media transformation by developing the Implementation Planning offering and integrating all media strategies—from brand to performance—across digital, traditional, audio, VOD, and AV channels. The position fosters innovation, manages commercial aspects, and develops talent, engaging confidently with senior stakeholders. The director advises clients on adapting strategies within the WPP Open ecosystem, defining processes aligned with the OASIS framework, including robust media testing and leveraging WPP Open Intelligence. Additionally, the role oversees client portfolios' soft P&L, drives commercial plans, and ensures PCA insights are integrated into future strategy.
Key responsibilities include line managing a team of Account Directors, providing coaching and development in integrated media, data analytics, and media testing. The director leads the evolution of Implementational Planning, identifying growth opportunities and driving media transformation projects while advising clients on integrated media strategies. Elevating the profile of Implementational Planning through training, presentations, and showcasing successful initiatives is essential. The role also involves continuously reviewing and improving planning, optimization, and budget processes within WPP Open, ensuring clear inputs, outputs, and handovers with Comms Planners, Strategists, and activation teams. Overseeing soft P&L, driving revenue growth, managing team allocations, developing commercial plans, and supporting new business pitches are also key aspects of the role. Building strong relationships with senior clients, partners, and internal departments to align implementational and overarching media strategies is crucial. The director partners with client teams to lead integrated media conversations, driving critical projects with an emphasis on rigorous media testing and innovation roadmaps. Crafting learning agendas for media testing, defining KPIs, agreeing on robust reporting infrastructure leveraging WPP Open Intelligence, and integrating PCA insights into future strategy are also part of the responsibilities.
The ideal candidate possesses proven planning and buying experience across diverse media channels, with significant leadership and a deep understanding of full-funnel brand and performance media. Mastery of integrated media strategies—including digital, traditional, audio, VOD, and AV—is essential, demonstrating how channels connect and interact. Expertise in designing, implementing, and analyzing media testing frameworks, utilizing WPP Open Intelligence, is required. A passion for new and emerging channels and technologies and their potential business outcomes is important. Excellent communication skills are necessary, with the ability to confidently present complex integrated media strategies to senior stakeholders and coordinate with Comms Planners, Strategists, and wider teams. The candidate should be highly numerate with strong analytical skills, able to interrogate data for actionable insights and media testing. Proven experience in leading, coaching, and developing teams, fostering expertise in integrated media planning, data-driven insights, and effective media testing is essential. Experience in driving organic growth and supporting new business pitches, with an entrepreneurial mindset and understanding of P&L management in multi-channel media, is also required. A passion for learning, curiosity, and a proactive, problem-solving approach to media excellence through the WPP Open operating model, aligned with OASIS principles, is important.
WPP Media offers a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive medical insurance, group retirement plans, vision and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. The company fosters a culture that values creativity, collaboration, and connection, with a hybrid work approach that includes in-office presence around four days a week. Employees have access to the global WPP Media and WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. The company hosts frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.
WPP Media is committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. The company believes the best work happens when teams are together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. If accommodations or flexibility are required, candidates are encouraged to discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. WPP Media believes in the power of creativity to build better futures for people, the planet, clients, and communities.