Manager, Planning

WPP Media · London, United Kingdom

  • Senior
  • Full-time
  • Posted 2026-08-20
  • Confirmed live on 25 September 2026

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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.

3117 - Planning Manager - UK

Role Summary and Impact

The planning team are the guardians of creating industry leading, unrivalled work. We are central conduits to all specialists, striving to push boundaries and have a positive impact on consumers and brand.

We are looking for a Planning Manager to join our growing planning team, to create impactful cross-channel campaigns and build your media planning skills.

In this role, you will lead day-to-day planning operations, act as a trusted advisor to clients, and mentor junior team members. This is an exceptional opportunity to take ownership of exciting client briefs, collaborate with specialist teams, and accelerate your career within a globally recognized media agency.

In this role, you will:

Media planning craft:

• Develop an in-depth understanding of media channels including where, when, and how to use them based on the client brief.

• Have a skilled knowledge of Wavemaker and industry media planning tools (including Wavemaker Architect, TGI, AdIntel, etc.) and be able to train other team members.

• Have a skilled understanding of industry best practices, planning theory, DE+I planning, and carbon-conscious media.

• Develop a fundamental knowledge of Wavemaker Purchase Journey thinking and our Provocative Planning Philosophy.

Campaign management:

• Take ownership of campaign activity including briefing teams, collating responses, managing client deliverables, and ensuring absolute accuracy across all workstreams.

• Work closely with the planning and activation teams to ensure the day-to-day account is run efficiently and effectively.

• Bring in specialist teams where needed to work on briefs and client questions.

• Ensure financial management processes (including PO trackers, bookings, reconciliations, and billing queries) are always excellent and met in a timely manner.

Effective communication:

• Become a trusted main day-to-day contact for junior clients, learning their business and ways of working, and ensuring all requests & queries are answered accurately and promptly.

• Support in managing Planning Executives, ensuring they are on track with daily tasks, and mentoring and challenging them with new projects to develop their careers.

• Develop a proactive problem-solving mindset, knowing when to flag any issues or concerns to the Planning Director.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.

• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.

• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Core Skills:

Practice Area Knowledge – Skilled

• Demonstrates solid knowledge of the media landscape, including future trends, best practices, and challenges.

• Comfortable using (or briefing out) the various products, platforms, and systems that comms planning uses.

• Demonstrates breadth and depth of industry understanding. Confidently uses tools, technology, techniques, and systems, and is able to train others.

• Comfortable presenting both direct from platform (Wavemaker Architect, etc.) and developing a story from data delivered outside of platform (TGI, AdIntel, etc.).

• Can confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams on the best solutions to use.

Problem Solving – Fundamental

• Applies focused questioning and systematic research to understand problems and their wider impact. Translates business problems into practical solutions.

• Uses critical questioning and maintains a broad perspective when analysing information to gain a deeper understanding of the issue.

• Quickly generates appropriate solutions informed by previous experience, knows how to resolve escalated issues, and supports others to problem solve.

• Provides communication support for troubleshooting issues internally and externally with third parties.

Stakeholder Relationships – Fundamental

• Demonstrates knowledge of the agency’s and client’s organizational structures, key stak

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