Associate Director, Planning Chicago, United States; New York, United States
MediaCom, Chicago, IL, United States
Chicago, United States; New York, United States
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.
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth.
Our Culture & Core Values
Extraordinary
– by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
Open
– environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
Optimistically
– by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
About EssenceMediacom EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.
Role Summary & Impact
As an Associate Director of Planning, your primary objective is to supervise all implementation needs and communication with the client(s) and agency client/planning/other teams. You will liaise and coordinate with global marketing teams as understanding international marketing will be essential to your duties.
In addition, you will oversee the client implementation team to ensure productivity, including managing staffing and workload issues at the client team level.
You will provide strategic rigor to implement ideas and ensure integration of the work between creative and media.
Further, you will be well versed in 360 media planning to effectively convey and manage the media deliverable within the agencies.
Skills and Experience
Maintain day‑to‑day client contact and agency contact regarding their area of responsibility.
Oversee the development of objectives and strategies, as well as the development of plans and presentations.
Supervise the group in the interpretation of competitive and other research data.
Train and evaluate Supervisors, Managers and Associates on the team.
Act as the liaison between internal teams as well as various partner vendors to ensure media performance.
Maintain a deep understanding of business, target audiences and the wider communications environment.
Listen, identify, and articulate compelling drivers, barriers and channel relationship insights.
Understand, embrace, and integrate client and creative agency research into plans.
Package strategic frameworks, contextual frameworks and engagement ideas for clarity and client presentation.
Assist in crafting compelling selling strategies.
Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, and communications; OR equivalent professional work experience.
5–8 years of account planning or related media/communications planning experience, with a focus on team leadership and management.
Experience and comfort facilitating ideation sessions.
Excellent strategic thinking.
Good client relationship skills, including experience interacting and presenting to senior‑level clients.
Experience working in and across multiple communications disciplines, including digital.
Fully conversant with all major desktop research tools and qualitative research techniques.
Excellent quantitative skills, including analytical abilities and math proficiency.
Ability to work within and effectively manage a team, prioritizing and organizing multiple assignments for both self and team direct reports, where applicable.
Demonstrate genuine curiosity and interest in our clients and their business.
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment.
WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.
We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in‑office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.
Our benefits include 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 particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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.
WPP Media is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.
Compensation The base salary range for this position is $75,000 – $180,000 USD. Individual compensation varies based on job‑related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.
We offer a competitive benefits package. More details can be found at https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome.
EEO & Equal Employment Opportunity Policy As set forth in WPP Media’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
For more information, we refer to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.
Protected Veteran Categories (VEVRAA Compliance)
A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.
A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Legal Notice Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.
Application Process To apply for this role, please submit your application through our standard application portal. All required fields marked with an asterisk (*) must be completed. The review of your application will be conducted in accordance with our Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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.
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth.
Our Culture & Core Values
Extraordinary
– by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
Open
– environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
Optimistically
– by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
About EssenceMediacom EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.
Role Summary & Impact
As an Associate Director of Planning, your primary objective is to supervise all implementation needs and communication with the client(s) and agency client/planning/other teams. You will liaise and coordinate with global marketing teams as understanding international marketing will be essential to your duties.
In addition, you will oversee the client implementation team to ensure productivity, including managing staffing and workload issues at the client team level.
You will provide strategic rigor to implement ideas and ensure integration of the work between creative and media.
Further, you will be well versed in 360 media planning to effectively convey and manage the media deliverable within the agencies.
Skills and Experience
Maintain day‑to‑day client contact and agency contact regarding their area of responsibility.
Oversee the development of objectives and strategies, as well as the development of plans and presentations.
Supervise the group in the interpretation of competitive and other research data.
Train and evaluate Supervisors, Managers and Associates on the team.
Act as the liaison between internal teams as well as various partner vendors to ensure media performance.
Maintain a deep understanding of business, target audiences and the wider communications environment.
Listen, identify, and articulate compelling drivers, barriers and channel relationship insights.
Understand, embrace, and integrate client and creative agency research into plans.
Package strategic frameworks, contextual frameworks and engagement ideas for clarity and client presentation.
Assist in crafting compelling selling strategies.
Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, business administration, and communications; OR equivalent professional work experience.
5–8 years of account planning or related media/communications planning experience, with a focus on team leadership and management.
Experience and comfort facilitating ideation sessions.
Excellent strategic thinking.
Good client relationship skills, including experience interacting and presenting to senior‑level clients.
Experience working in and across multiple communications disciplines, including digital.
Fully conversant with all major desktop research tools and qualitative research techniques.
Excellent quantitative skills, including analytical abilities and math proficiency.
Ability to work within and effectively manage a team, prioritizing and organizing multiple assignments for both self and team direct reports, where applicable.
Demonstrate genuine curiosity and interest in our clients and their business.
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment.
WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.
We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in‑office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.
Our benefits include 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 particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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.
WPP Media is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans.
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.
Compensation The base salary range for this position is $75,000 – $180,000 USD. Individual compensation varies based on job‑related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.
We offer a competitive benefits package. More details can be found at https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome.
EEO & Equal Employment Opportunity Policy As set forth in WPP Media’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
For more information, we refer to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.
Protected Veteran Categories (VEVRAA Compliance)
A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.
A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Legal Notice Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.
Application Process To apply for this role, please submit your application through our standard application portal. All required fields marked with an asterisk (*) must be completed. The review of your application will be conducted in accordance with our Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
#J-18808-Ljbffr