Director, Media Planning- 1 year Contract

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.

An Account Director is responsible for all aspects of a client’s business. They are responsible for the management of one or more client accounts. Working with cross-functional teams to access all EssenceMediacom services, you will ensure the strategic delivery of client goals and business objectives.

They provide leadership and is the main client contact for Airbnb. Lead in client comms, strategy planning, client presentations and encouraging the highest quality media product and client satisfaction. They also play an active role coaching, training, and mentoring juniors.

• Manage and own client relationships (Director level and below, which may include Senior Manager, Brand Managers)
• Primary client contact
• Responsible for client performance reviews including Vantage scores, with a goal of achieving all clients in green or secure
• Manage client expectations within agreed upon deliverables
• Manage client briefings
• Oversee and lead all aspects of the business 

• Successfully lead and manage account team
• Establish culture of excellence and quality output
• Works with all internal resources including Investment Team, Finance and Strategy in carrying out the development of their plans and client service requirements and is able to pressure test discipline’s outputs to ensure they meet holistic media plan needs
• Build and nurture relationships with US EssenceMediacom team, ensuring collaboration, strong partnership and a united vision to achieve client business objectives
• Lead by example and foster an environment of collaboration and teamwork
• Embrace EssenceMediacom culture, mission and vision – embody it and action it
• Staff career development/succession planning through strong mentoring and coaching

• Assist SVP or GAD with the development of business plans
• Ensure revenue forecasted accurately
• Responsible for ensuring monthly invoicing /billing for client is up to date
• Responsible for Global spend tracker and Client facing Buy Summaries (BCR)
• Complete understanding of client SOW and compensation
• Ensure client compensation is in line with SOW
• Ensure client service team responsibilities are completed to assist with discrepancy clearing

• Solid understanding of online and offline planning
• Skilled interpretation of client briefs and writing strategic plans, establish strategies to meet objectives
• Develops media plans and presentations in conjunction with more senior staff
• Lead and oversee buy brief content and conduct buy brief meetings with internal groups
• Oversee all media administrative duties including campaign set-up and maintenance, and issue accurate client financial reports i.e. BCRs, with a high degree of accuracy
• Extensive understanding of different media channels
• Lead client’s plan presentations.
• Extensive knowledge of all syndicated and proprietary tools
• Approve media plans

• Full familiarity with research tools and planning software programs needed to complete planning tasks at all levels, Comspoint, Vividata
• Resourcefulness, able to tap into company resources across cross functional groups and demonstrate best use of resources
• Able to convincingly and methodically build solutions to client problems
• Strong presentation skills
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and oversee direct reports
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Strong analytical skills
• Mathematically inclined, quantitative skills
• Able to understand and apply consumer insights

• 7+ years in media planning / buying or other relevant media industry experience
• Direct client service experience
• Strong understanding of marketing & consumer communications roles
• Post-secondary degree with a focus on Marketing preferred