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.

3980 - Associate Director, Planning, UK

Role Summary and Impact

About WPP 650

Join an award-winning team at the heart of UK government, where your work will genuinely shape lives. As part of WPP 650 you’ll be part of a supportive, collaborative environment that values curiosity, kindness, and growth. Together, we use behaviour change principles to design smarter services, influence better decisions, and help millions of people across the country.

Named WPP 650, after the 650 UK constituencies, the name is a reminder that our work must reflect the full breadth of the country, every community, every audience. No two days are the same. The challenges are complex, the problems worth solving, and the learning constant. You’ll tackle issues that matter, alongside talented colleagues who care deeply about what they do. It’s demanding – but always rewarding.

WPP 650 is a bespoke agency unit within WPP, dedicated to serving the evolving communications needs of government clients. We bring together the best of WPP's talent, technology, and insights to deliver impactful, modern, and effective public communications. We are at the forefront of reimagining how government engages with its citizens.

This is meaningful work with real-world impact – the kind you can point to with pride.

Overview of role

WPP has a vision of world-class communications, and since recently we have been moving to a combined agency model including Media, Creative, PR, Data & CRM agency partners to build a team from the best people in the industry to work in partnership with our clients. This is a huge opportunity to be part of an industry changing dynamic that makes a genuine difference through communications. Joining the team will give the person who takes this role a real opportunity to champion digital as a key driver to the success of this new model.

Based in our new WPP campus building in the heart of Manchester’s development district, the largest communications operation outside of London and the home for all WPP regional talent across a number of business disciplines, and an amazing place to grow your communications career and to realise your potential in a dynamic and exciting setting.

Reporting of the role

You will report into the Director, Clients

3 best things about the job

Exciting brands with unlimited possibilities and a broad scope for ideas.
A truly diverse community feel to the team, the client, and the work we do.
Pivotal responsibility in planning and managing all media lines across offline and online.

Measures of success

In three months, you would have

Onboarded fully on to the accounts and met all the key stakeholders.
Fully understanding the processes across the account and key outputs
Built strong relationships with Media team and local senior clients.
Worked closely with the BD to review ways of working processes and develop client growth plans
Taken on responsibility of managing the quality of the work that is taken to the client and ensuring all reporting and finance processes and timings are adhered to.
Motivating our internal teams to produce great work.

In six months, you would have

Become the ‘go to’ for senior clients. Become their trusted point person.
Managed and delivered annual planning across the account.
Managed the development of exceptional, award-winning planning work.
Recognised as a go-to source of energy and insight in the team.