Digital Planning Lead

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.

3000 - Digital Planning Lead - 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:

 Lead the audit of 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.

• Have control 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.
• Ensure 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.
• Be accountable to the Client Managing Directors (CMDs), Digital Planning Partner and Head of Channel Planning for the timely, high-quality delivery of Digital marketing on the account.
• Adopt Agile workflow principles – visualising and valuing work, whilst prioritising tasks with the relevant Platform Leads and activation specialists.
• Working on new business pitches and bringing the strongest Digital solutions to our pitch RFI, RFP and presentations.

Skills and Experience

• Client Partnering and Consulting with Agency knowledge
  • Establishes working relationships with key Digital stakeholders and builds rapport to become a trusted advisor. Seeks to anticipate stakeholders’ needs. Identifies strategic issues and raises questions to help stakeholders explore and understand their wider business challenges. Can easily suggest business solutions to match client/stakeholder needs and achieve objectives.
  • Has in-depth understanding of agency and client and their business goals and challenges. Builds a working knowledge of digital market trends affecting the client (and agency).

• 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.
  • Applies advanced data analytics to understand client challenges and presents insights to relevant stakeholders. Is resourceful in finding other relevant data sources where available (third party data, existing client data) and can develop ways in which data can be activated across multiple digital channels. Applies high level and strategic thinking in a provocative way when working with clients and third parties to achieve desired outcomes.
    
    
• Technical Knowledge of Products and Technical Communication skills
  • Demonstrates a thorough understanding of Xaxis, Nexus and Finecast products and services and tailors' solutions to meet the unique needs of the client/agency as part of a digital strategy. Coaches' others within the digital planning community and the wider agency in building their knowledge. Can discuss all digital channels, products and opportunities with confidence and can apply this knowledge to meet client/agency needs.
    
    
• Commercial Acumen
  • Tracks targets and profitability for the overall business and optimizes means to ensure profitable delivery across all digital channels for set clients. Ensures team understanding and 100% compliance with finance process and GroupM policies and procedures. Supports the client MD and wider agency to provide accurate spend forecasts to the business. Owns the overall financial process, working with nexus activation teams and continues to improve it to reduce the number of financial queries and issues. Utilizes knowledge of the business and financial impact of decisions/solutions to drive high-impact projects that support the organization and contribute to financial performance. Ensures client digital deal points and savings negotiation requirements are met, including buying terms and conditions, viewability, ad fraud, brand safety, cost savings, etc.
    
    
• Industry Knowledge
  • Demonstrates advanced understanding and curiosity about the Digital industry by remaining current on leading trends and interacting with industry stakeholders. Serves as an expert on industry/adjacent industry issues, including trends, competition, challenges, or concepts; and provides guidance and expertise on unique situations. Uses expert Digital knowledge to guide and agency and client innovation roadmap working with both internal and external key stakeholders.
    
    
• Ideas Creation
  • Examines new ideas of solutions, methods and products to ensure the potential and alignment with departmental and business goals. Coaches others to gain new insights and view opportunities from different perspectives.

 

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 Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.  

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.  

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.  Please note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country. 

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location 

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While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  

 

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