WPP Media | Senior Director Account Lead

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.     Brief Description  As a Senior Digital Media Planner, you will be responsible for creating the digital media strategy and accompanying plans that address clients’ business needs. You will also oversee overall campaign execution and performance, together with your digital media operations partner. As a senior member of the team, you are expected to co-manage a set of accounts with account business leads and manage your own (digital media only accounts).   Description  Mindshare I Senior Digital Media Planner  Digital Tokyo, Japan  Description  Position at Mindshare  As a Senior Digital Media Planner, you will be responsible for creating the digital media strategy and accompanying plans that address clients’ business needs. You will also oversee overall campaign execution and performance, together with your digital media operations partner. As a senior member of the team, you are expected to co-manage a set of accounts with account business leads and manage your own (digital media only accounts).   Reporting of the role  This role reports to the Media Planning Directo .   3 best things about the job:  * Diversity　of Clients – you get to work with a wide portfolio of clients (from, FMCG to technology, financial, and so on).  * Young and Dynamic Team– as the demand for digital continues to evolve, so does the team members of the team. What used to be a full digital media planning and buying team now also has non-media and mobile specialists. You get to learn from the experience of each individual.  * Support– Mindshare is backed by strong teams: (1) Within Mindshare (from the business unit teams and the specialist teams – Strategy, Client Leadership, etc.); and, (2) GroupM (from User Experience, Production, Creative Services, CRM, and Analytics).  Measures of Success   In three months– you would have established a good working relationship with key stakeholders (internal and external teams); you would have learned the day-to-day requirements of your assigned clients and have proposed process improvements, as needed. You would have proposed, defended and followed-through on the media strategy and plans that answer client briefs.  In six months– you would have helped enhance processes for digital media planning, primarily for your assigned accounts. You would have mastered the proprietary and syndicated planning tools (including but not limited to, programmatic media). Also establish the strong relationship with the key media publishers and platform.  In twelve months - you would have done collaborative work with various internal teams (Client leadership, Strategy, etc) and have come up with solid integrated digital media campaign case study/studies. And start developing and implementing the innovative solution.  Responsibilities of the role:  * Create digital media strategy and campaign plans (propose, iterate as needed and secure approval from clients)  * Manage and engage with client counterparts and internal account teams for key account assignments  * Negotiate with media publishers  * Identify and propose innovative digital media solutions to clients  * Do campaign implementation (collaboration with ad operations team), optimization and reporting  * Participate in new business pitches, etc.  * Provide assistance to Media Planning Director for business development of key agency accounts  Qualifications:  * Experience in a digital media function  * Experience in advertising, public relations/communications, marketing or any similar field  * Strong English verbal and written communication skills as advantage  * MS Office Skills (Excel and PowerPoint)  * Strong analytical and numerical skills  * Client servicing skills  * Has a good grasp of the Japanese digital media landscape; capable of using media tools  * Strong project management skills – ability to manage multiple projects and accounts  * Can work with minimal supervision  * Energetic team player, and ability to work under pressure  * Experience in performance and programmatic media planning would be an advantage  * Fluency in Japanese as a priority and English as strong advantage  About Mindshare  We were born in Asia in 1997 and for more than 20 years our values of Speed, Teamwork and Provocation have guided us in a world where everything is media.  We are the Cannes Lions Media Network of the Year 2019 and WARC Media 100 #1 Media Network 2020, with the top 3 most creative campaigns in the world for the past year.  In Asia Pacific we have been Campaign Asia’s Media Agency Network of the Year every year since 2015 and we are also Performance Agency of the Year.  Our 10,000 people work with some of the world’s best brands and companies to accelerate their growth.  In 116 offices across 86 countries we integrate brand and demand, ruthlessly focus on outcomes and create the unexpected.  We manage $24bn in billings and are the largest media agency in GroupM, WPP’s Media Investment Management arm, which is the #1 media holding group globally with billings of $63bn (Source: COMvergence 2019).   Hear our stories (and join us) at www.mindshareworld.com and follow us at: WeChat ID:  Mindshare China; Instagram and Twitter: @mindshare; Facebook: facebook.com/mindshare and Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/company/mindshare.   About Japan  Japan is both the world’s third-largest media market and third-largest e-commerce market. As one of the first markets to develop a full mobile e-commerce ecosystem circa 2001 to 2002, Japanese digital consumers are experienced and discerning; digital marketing campaigns are sophisticated, multi-layered labor of love. While growth is lower in this mature market, e-commerce is projected to increase by 12% in 2016, 11% in 2017 – emerging technologies are driving substantial growth. Programmatic spend across all devices has seen a 156% increase between 2012 and now, with mobile Programmatic spend expected to grow 174% between now and 2017. If you want to excel in a mature, refined media advertising atmosphere and reach savvy consumers with equally-savvy media plans, Japan is the place to be.  WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer. We view everyone as an individual and we understand that inclusion is more than just diversity – it’s about belonging. We celebrate the fact that everyone is unique and that’s what makes us so good at what we do. We pride ourselves on being a company that embraces difference and truly represents the global clients we work with.  #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.

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.