WPP | HRBP (Head of Talent / Sr. Manager), Japan

WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.  We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit WPP.com.   About the Role  You will be the client lead and trusted advisor for an international client brand - accountable for client relationship, team leadership and delivery of top class media strategy & planning.   You are a people leader, media expert and growth driver. In an AI driven era where consumers are changing the way they discover and interact with brands, you will navigate our media delivery from traditional paid media planning to an orchestrated practice of paid, owned and earned. You will understand and drive the balance between brand voice and trust creator voice in this market.  You have knowledge and experience of the media landscape in Japan, and can confidently navigate vendor and partner relationships, including negotiating the best deals for our clients.  What You'll Own  Account Team Leadership  * Serve as the senior relationship owner one or more strategic accounts, operating as a trusted partner to key client stakeholders * Lead account planning cycles — annual, quarterly, and in-flight — translating client business objectives into channel-agnostic media strategy * Oversee delivery excellence across paid channels (programmatic, search, social, data/analytics), ensuring executional quality and commercial accountability * Drive retention and organic growth by identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities, maintaining rigorous commercial hygiene on scopes and fees * Build and coach a high-performing account team; set the bar on client communication, presentation standards, and ways of working  Campaign Activation Leadership  * Partner directly with channel leads (programmatic, search, social, data) to ensure activation is aligned to strategy — not just executing against a plan, but interrogating it * Hold ownership of integrated performance reporting; lead QBRs with strategic framing, not just dashboards * Drive the adoption of measurement frameworks, audience strategy, and emerging capabilities (AI-driven planning, clean room data, identity solutions) across your client portfolio * Act as the escalation point for activation issues; resolve with speed, communicate with clarity  New Business & Client Growth  * Support the agency's new business pipeline as a senior contributor — leading pitch strategy, narrative development, and live presentation on priority pursuits * Develop and maintain prospect relationships in collaboration with the client vice president and leadership team * Identify organic growth opportunities within the existing client base for WMS; own the development of proactive briefs and thought leadership that create commercial moments * Represent the agency externally at industry events, client offsites, and partner forums  What Success Looks Like  90 days: Deep client immersion; relationship mapping complete; activation audit underway; first pitch contribution delivered.  6 months: Clear account growth plans in place; at least one organic upsell progressed; activation and reporting cadence running at full health.  12 months: Measurable revenue growth across portfolio; track record on new business; a team that performs and a client base that advocates for the agency.  Who You Are  * 10–12 years in media, advertising, or marketing services — with genuine breadth across account management, channel activation, and business development * Commercially sharp: you understand fee structures, scopes, extraction rates, and how agencies make money — and you protect margin without compromising the relationship * Activation-literate: you don't need to be a platform technician, but you can hold your own in a programmatic strategy conversation, a paid social planning session, or a search efficiency review * Exceptional communicator and presenter — equally credible in a client townhall and a pitch theater * Proven people leader — you build followership, not just structure * Effectively bilingual  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 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. PLEASE READ OUR PRIVACY NOTICE (HTTPS://WWW.WPP.COM/EN/CAREERS/WPP-PRIVACY-POLICY-FOR-RECRUITMENT) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.

WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.  We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit WPP.com.   ROLE OBJECTIVE The Planning Director is responsible for delivering high-quality, consistent media plan recommendations grounded in a deep understanding of the client’s category, brand challenges, and business objectives. This role translates business objectives into clear communications strategies, defines measurable KPIs, and drives innovation informed by robust audience and consumer insight. As a senior leadership role, the Planning Director plays a critical part in managing senior client relationships, leading integrated planning efforts, and developing high-performing teams. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES MEDIA PLANNING & STRATEGY LEADERSHIP * Lead the development, presentation, and execution of full-funnel media strategies across channels including TV, OOH, and digital * Translate business and marketing objectives into clear communications objectives and measurement frameworks * Provide strategic insight and analysis to support data-driven recommendations and long-term planning decisions * Maintain strong relationships with key media partners and lead negotiations to maximize value and outcomes for clients * Coordinate closely with partner agencies to ensure integrated, best-in-class delivery CLIENT LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT * Build and maintain trusted senior relationships with clients, acting as a strategic planning advisor * Lead relevant components of client meetings, campaign approach presentations, workshops, and strategic reviews * Collaborate with global and regional EssenceMediacom teams to ensure work meets global quality standards * Keep clients informed of industry trends, emerging best practices, and innovations relevant to their business OPERATING & TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE * Apply a data-driven approach, leveraging platforms and tools to analyze competitive spend, consumer behavior, category trends, and campaign performance * Interpret and synthesize consumer insight and competitive research into actionable planning recommendations * Demonstrate strong understanding of the Japanese media landscape alongside integrated planning principles * Champion the adoption of WPP planning and AI tools, empowering teams to embed them into day-to-day workflows PEOPLE LEADERSHIP * Partner with the Client VP to develop team capability, skills, and subject-matter expertise * Mentor and guide team members, encouraging innovative thinking and continuous improvement * Provide clear direction, feedback, and support to drive performance and professional growth COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS LEADERSHIP * Demonstrate strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of account profitability and resource management * Monitor performance issues proactively, escalating and addressing risks in a timely manner * Act as an advocate for continuous improvement and operational excellence KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS * Product: Excellence in planning output and operational execution (KPIs to be defined) * Client: Client satisfaction, retention, and growth; strong performance in agency evaluations for strategy and activation planning * Commercial: Achievement of client profitability targets * People & Culture: Positive Culture Amp feedback from managers, peers, and clients EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE * 10+ years’ experience in media planning, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role overseeing teams * Strong experience managing and developing planning talent * Business Japanese & English communication skills, with proven experience working across global (US), regional (Singapore), and international client teams * Solid understanding of the Japanese media landscape; ability to provide local cultural perspective is a plus * Demonstrated ability to influence and manage senior client stakeholders (media leads, marketing directors) * Strong analytical and strategic planning skills, particularly across the consumer journey * Results-driven mindset with the ability to deliver against targets * Proven collaboration skills across teams, departments, and client organizations * Strong ability to delegate effectively and to sell strategies, ideas, and initiatives with confidence 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 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. PLEASE READ OUR PRIVACY NOTICE (HTTPS://WWW.WPP.COM/EN/CAREERS/WPP-PRIVACY-POLICY-FOR-RECRUITMENT) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.

WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.  We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit WPP.com.   MEDIA PLANNING MANAGER ROLE OVERVIEW As a Media Planning Manager, you will manage integrated media and communications planning for a key global client, covering both digital and offline channels. This role requires balancing strategic thinking with operational execution—translating business objectives into full-funnel media strategies and actionable plans. While the account has a strong digital focus, offline channels such as TV, OOH, and print remain critical, requiring a planner who can develop cohesive cross-channel recommendations. You will work closely with senior client stakeholders, internal /external activation teams, creative partners, and external media vendors to ensure campaigns are strategically aligned, effectively executed, and continuously optimized. This role also includes project leadership responsibilities and mentoring junior team members. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INTEGRATED MEDIA STRATEGY & PLANNING * Work with directors and develop comprehensive, insight-driven media strategies aligned with client marketing and business goals. * Define channel roles, budget allocation, audience targeting, and campaign phasing across digital and offline media. * Ensure integration between brand-building and performance-driven channels * Apply audience research, competitive analysis, and historical performance data to strengthen planning recommendations. CAMPAIGN PLANNING, EXECUTION & OPTIMIZATION * Translate strategy into detailed media plans, flowcharts, timelines, and budget trackers. * Partner with digital activation teams, TV buyers, and media vendors to ensure accurate implementation. * Monitor campaign pacing, delivery, and performance against KPIs. * Identify optimization opportunities and recommend adjustments based on real-time performance and insights. CLIENT MANAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION * Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for client stakeholders, ensuring clear and proactive communication. * Present media strategies, plans, and performance reports confidently in both Japanese and English. * Understand the client’s category, business priorities, and competitive landscape to provide relevant recommendations. * Support senior leadership in strategic discussions and annual planning. DATA ANALYSIS & REPORTING * Analyze campaign performance across channels and translate findings into actionable insights. * Prepare campaign reports and post-campaign analyses. * Use data to inform future planning, budget allocation, and performance forecasting. * Ensure planning recommendations are grounded in measurable outcomes. PROJECT & TEAM MANAGEMENT * Lead planning projects from briefing through execution and reporting. * Manage timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional coordination. * Oversee workload allocation and support development of junior team members. * Ensure accuracy and quality of planning outputs. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL & EXTERNAL COLLABORATION * Work closely with internal teams (Digital Activation, Analytics, Strategy, Creative, Investment). * Coordinate with external partners, including media owners, creative agencies, and production teams. * Contribute to internal knowledge sharing on media trends, tools, and best practices. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE First 3 months * Gain a strong understanding of the client’s business, target audiences, and media ecosystem. * Support plan development and begin contributing strategic recommendations. * Establish working relationships with internal teams and client stakeholders. Within 6 months * Independently lead planning for selected campaigns or projects. * Present plans and performance updates directly to clients. * Provide informed recommendations based on media trends and performance insights. Within 12 months * Lead annual planning and campaign reviews. * Deliver data-driven strategic recommendations for future campaigns. * Act as a trusted planning lead for the client and internal teams. REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE * 5+ years of experience in media planning or communications planning within an agency environment. * Strong knowledge of both digital media (programmatic, paid social, search, video, display) and offline media (TV, OOH, print, radio). * Experience managing integrated campaigns and coordinating multiple stakeholders. * Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, budget tracking). * Excellent presentation and communication skills in Japanese and English. * Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. * Experience mentoring junior staff or leading projects preferred. TYPICAL SCOPE OF AUTHORITY * Own planning workstreams for key campaigns. * Recommend channel strategy and budget allocation. * Present directly to mid- to senior-level client stakeholders. * Provide guidance to planners and executives. #LI-DNP 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 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. PLEASE READ OUR PRIVACY NOTICE (HTTPS://WWW.WPP.COM/EN/CAREERS/WPP-PRIVACY-POLICY-FOR-RECRUITMENT) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.