Senior Manager, Media Planning

About WPP Media

WPP Media serves as the AI-driven media division within WPP, integrating media, data, and partnerships to deliver scalable personalized creative solutions. They operate through the innovative WPP Open platform powered by Open Intelligence, enabling clients to analyze media investments effectively across channels.

Role Summary and Impact

The Senior Manager, Planning role involves developing and executing integrated media strategies that support business growth and brand impact across multiple markets. The position requires translating client goals into data-backed planning frameworks that inform campaign strategies and investment decisions. This role balances strategic thought, analysis, and collaboration across markets, partnering with strategy, activation, and analytics teams as well as global client stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in crafting integrated media strategies aligned with business objectives, audience insights, and market conditions.
• Convert data and insights into actionable planning recommendations guiding channel effectiveness and budget allocation.
• Collaborate closely with Market Lead and internal teams to ensure media plans support wider marketing aims.
• Work with regional and local teams to ensure tailored execution of strategies in markets.
• Promote sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across markets to boost planning impact.
• Align planning procedures, frameworks, and reporting standards when applicable.
• Support the Market Lead by delivering strategic perspectives and contributing to client presentations.
• Forge strong relationships with internal colleagues and client representatives across markets.
• Identify opportunities to integrate new tools, data sources, and technologies enhancing campaign performance.
• Collaborate with internal capability teams to implement advanced solutions including AI-enabled tools that support insight generation and strategic planning.
• Drive adoption of best practices and consistent planning frameworks to elevate organization-wide planning excellence.
• Continuously seek improvements in planning workflows, teamwork, and knowledge sharing.

Measures of Success

Within 3 months: Build strong partnerships with teams and clients, understand client business contexts and market priorities, contribute insights to discussions, analyze competitive activity, and develop familiarity with internal tools and platforms.

Within 6 months: Refine planning approaches supporting multiple markets, enhance client engagement with insightful recommendations, incorporate advanced data and AI tools, boost cross-market knowledge exchange, and show measurable strategic contributions.

Within 9 months: Become a recognized and trusted strategic partner, enable alignment across market plans, support consistent planning practices, and propose innovative planning solutions adding value to clients and driving growth.

Candidate Qualifications

• A minimum of five years' media planning, strategy, or client leadership experience, ideally with regional or global campaign exposure.
• Experience with consumer packaged goods (CPG) clients is advantageous.
• Fluency in Mandarin (written and spoken) with deep knowledge of Mandarin-speaking markets, cultural nuances, and consumer behaviors.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills to transform complex data into practical media and communications plans.
• Well-versed in digital media ecosystems, planning principles, and performance measurement linking recommendations to business outcomes.
• Knowledge of AI ecosystems such as GPT and Claude, understanding their roles in planning and strategy.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders, demonstrating solid organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of supporting leadership in delivering insights.
• Capability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional, international, matrixed environments.
• Commercial acumen to identify growth opportunities aligned with client objectives.
• Proactive and solution-focused approach to identify gaps and advocate continuous planning improvements.
• Global strategic mindset balancing local market specifics with wider goals.
• Experience navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, influencing outcomes alongside senior leaders.

Work Environment & Benefits

WPP Media prioritizes employee growth and supports their professional development through global networks and learning opportunities. Benefits include competitive medical and retirement plans, vision and dental coverage, generous paid leave, partner discounts, and mental health days. The company fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion while adopting a hybrid working model where employees spend approximately four days per week onsite, promoting collaboration and creativity. Flexibility and accommodations can be discussed during recruitment.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is committed to equal employment opportunities and an inclusive culture where all employees feel valued and able to progress.