Associate Director, Implementational Planning, UK

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 . 3634 - Associate Director, Implementational Planning, UK Role Summary and Impact

Are you looking to join a high-performance experienced team, whose ambition is to be the most distinctive and admired data driven, Digital Planning team in the UK? This is your opportunity to accelerate our clients digital and data transformation strategy whilst developing our Digital Planning IP within Wavemaker. This role will suit candidates with deep digital or performance marketing expertise, with a strong track record of quality and innovation in implementational planning or activation.

The role

is stretching, giving candidates responsibility for the advancement of a client group’s whole Digital marketing output and the fitness of our operating model to deliver this. In this role, you will:

Support the Digital Planning Lead to audit our clients digital maturity, through the WM-Operating System and Digital Maturity Framework, delivering a set of indicators and actions, that drive growth and ensure our clients are future-fit. Working with the digital planning lead and Nexus activation teams, support in the leadership of the overall digital channel investment and ensure WM commercial considerations are taken into account. Work with Wavemaker product owners and with Data Partners, to ensure the right capabilities and technology are in place on the account to advance Digital marketing. Collaborate with the Data & Tech teams, as well as identify new opportunities to advance our clients through the suite of Digital Analytics solutions. Work ‘upstream’ with Strategy & Planning to ensure outputs from Provocative Planning are translated into credible Digital marketing approaches. Work ‘downstream’ with Platform Leads and Nexus Activation teams to ensure that the Digital channel approaches are activated with rigour and innovation. Support the digital lead in ensuring that all Digital channels are fully integrated into weekly/monthly client updates and meetings (this includes Ecommerce, Affiliates, and OneSearch : PPC & SEO). Support a ‘fluid’ way of working with Platform activation resource within each client hub. Being accountable to the Digital Planning Lead and Digital Planning Partner for the timely, high-quality delivery of digital marketing on the account. Support on new business pitches and help bring the strongest Digital solutions to our pitch RFI, RFP and presentations. Skills and Experience Client Partnering and Consulting with Agency knowledge. Responds to key Digital stakeholder requests in an accurate, timely and professional manner and seeks to have a good understanding of client needs and challenges. Gains stakeholder trust by responding to stakeholder requests and needs. Has a good understanding of how the agency operates and works with their clients. Knows about the clients’ business and who the key digital decision-makers are there. Digital Channel Strategic thinking and Planning Demonstrates an interest in client challenges by asking relevant questions and helps to gather insights to help aid digital planning. Follows instructions to meet client needs but is prepared and confident to challenge briefs. Builds digital case studies and gathers insights on clients to support the team and share learnings. Demonstrates understanding of digital campaign optimization strategies and how to meet key performance indicators. Uses big picture and critical thinking in day-to-day role, flagging and escalating potential issues in client work to team members. Technical Knowledge of Products and Technical Communication skills Has a good understanding of Xaxis, Nexus and Finecast product and service offerings and across all digital channels. Can discuss all digital channels, products and opportunities with confidence and can apply this knowledge to meet client/agency needs. Commercial Acumen Has a clear understanding of how finance works and how the agency makes a profit. Ensures exceptional finance management for digital clients and works with Nexus activation teams to ensure the finance process is adhered to, including any required booking, reconciling and documenting activity within deadline (including timesheets) and addressing finance queries. Demonstrates a growing understanding of the financial impact of decisions/solutions to drive projects and analyses that support the agencies mission. Understands GroupM’s trading strategies and processes. Digital Industry Knowledge Demonstrates basic understanding themes in the Digital industry (programmatic/Paid Search/ SEO/AI/digital media/platforms/Analytics). Research industry information and summarizes findings. Recognizes different digital products and services and begins to understand how they are applied. Ideas Creation Demonstrates curiosity by asking questions regarding current products/services and processes. Contributes to idea generation within team settings. Provides ideas and new solutions, methods and products to update what existed prior. Demonstrates willingness to try new and innovative ideas, products and solutions. Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Grow