Manager, Implementation Planning & Activation

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.

• Review incoming briefs from the client servicing team, address any gaps or questions, and confirm the brief is ready to move into planning.
• Lead and oversee the end-to-end media planning process — directing the Senior Executive, reviewing output at each stage, and ensuring strategic alignment throughout.
• Review completed media plans, confirm they are accurate and ready for distribution, and share with the client servicing team for client review.
• Receive consolidated client feedback from the client servicing team, direct plan revisions with the Senior Executive, and ensure the updated plan is returned promptly for client distribution.
• Receive and communicate plan approval confirmation from client servicing to the Senior Executive, ensuring the team is aligned and ready to move to build.

• Receive campaign structure from the client servicing team, ensure the team is fully briefed, and confirm SLA timelines are understood and achievable.
• Stay informed of campaign build progress, proactively flagging any risks to delivery or timelines.
• Check budgets across all active campaigns to ensure full alignment with the approved media plan before going live.
• Conduct the final QA review and sign-off on all campaign builds before previews are shared with the client servicing team for client review.
• Receive client approval or feedback from client servicing, coordinate all required changes with the team, and confirm final campaign activation.

• Remain informed on pacing performance and any budget or delivery risks across active campaigns, taking action or escalating where necessary.
• Lead in-flight optimisation decisions — monitoring campaign performance, diagnosing issues, and directing the team to make adjustments that maximise delivery against client KPIs.
• Drive a culture of testing — identifying opportunities across audiences, formats, placements, and bidding strategies to continuously improve performance.

• Conduct the final review and sign-off on all post-campaign and performance reports before they are shared externally.
• Ensure reports are accurate, insight-driven, and clearly articulate performance, learnings, and recommendations.
• Share approved reports with the client servicing team in a timely manner, in line with agreed reporting cadences.

• Maintain deep, up-to-date knowledge of platform capabilities, product updates, betas, and best practices across key channels — programmatic, paid social, paid search, and beyond.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media partners and publishers to stay ahead of innovation and surface opportunities for clients.
• Engage with WPP Media's internal product and technology teams to identify and apply proprietary solutions where relevant to client briefs.

• Manage and develop the Senior Executive, providing clear direction, regular feedback, and stretch opportunities.
• Manage team workload across the full campaign lifecycle, ensuring quality, accuracy, and SLA compliance at every stage.
• Collaborate effectively with client servicing, planning, data, and specialist teams to ensure seamless end-to-end delivery.

• Ensure all bookings, loadings, budget reconciliations, account queries, and monthly proforma checks are completed accurately and on time.
• Maintain oversight of financial compliance across all active accounts, escalating discrepancies promptly.

• 4–5 years of media agency experience with a strong focus on implementation planning and campaign activation.
• Proven ability to lead the end-to-end implementation planning process — from brief review through plan sign-off, build oversight, and final QA.
• Deep hands-on platform expertise across two or more channels —paid social (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat), paid search (Google Ads, SA360), or programmatic (DV360, The Trade Desk).
• Experience working within a structured workflow involving client servicing, planning, and activation teams — comfortable owning your stage of the process and collaborating effectively across functions.
• Strong QA mindset — high attention to detail with a zero-tolerance approach to errors in plans, campaign builds, and reports before they reach clients.
• Confident managing and directing junior team members, with clear communication and a coaching approach.
• Analytical ability to monitor pacing, identify delivery risks, and make timely optimisation decisions.
• Well-organised with the ability to manage multiple campaigns, briefs, and team priorities simultaneously without compromising on quality.
• Proactive problem-solver who takes ownership and drives resolution.
• Genuine passion for platforms, ad tech, and the craft of implementation.