Job detail for Digital Associate Director, Media Planning

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 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.2565 - Digital Associate Director, Media Planning, Global Client Solutions
The role:
Role Overview
The Account Director (Digital Planning & Activation) is a senior client leadership role responsible for overseeing digital media planning and activation delivery for Electronic Arts (EA) across biddable and platform‑led channels.
The role operates at the centre of EA’s hub‑and‑spoke delivery model, working closely with central planning and activation teams and local market teams to ensure digital strategies are planned holistically and activated consistently across markets.
This role blends digital planning leadership, activation governance, and client partnership, ensuring EA’s objectives are translated into effective digital plans and best‑in‑class execution.
Scope of Channels (Digital‑First)
The Account Director is accountable for digital planning and activation leadership across:

Programmatic Display & Video
Online Video & CTV
Paid Social
DSP‑ and platform‑led digital media
Data‑ and audience‑driven digital planning and execution

Key
Digital Planning Leadership

Lead digital media planning oversight across EA scopes, ensuring plans are:

Strategically sound
Aligned to EA business objectives
Feasible for activation across markets

Partner with central planning teams to

Shape digital channel strategy
Define budget allocation and channel roles
Align planning outputs with activation realities

Ensure digital planning considerations are clearly communicated and understood by local markets and activation teams

 
Digital Activation Leadership

Own senior oversight of digital activation delivery across EA markets
Ensure digital plans are translated into clear, executable activation frameworks
Oversee campaign structure, activation logic, timelines, and delivery quality
Act as senior escalation point for digital delivery, performance, or operational risks
Ensure digital best practices and governance standards are applied consistently

 
Central & Local Market Collaboration

Act as the primary bridge between central teams and local markets for digital planning and activation
Work closely with central planning and activation leadership to:

Define digital frameworks and ways of working
Maintain consistency across markets

Partner with local markets to

Align global and regional digital strategies to local market requirements
Support planning interpretation and activation feasibility
Ensure local insights and constraints inform both planning and execution

Balance global consistency with local flexibility across digital activity

 
Client Partnership & Digital Advisory

Serve as a trusted senior digital planning and activation partner to EA stakeholders
Lead digital discussions across:

Strategy and planning alignment
Activation approach and platform selection
Performance, optimisation, and learning

Clearly articulate digital trade‑offs, constraints, and opportunities to EA clients
Support test‑and‑learn and optimisation frameworks across planning and activation

 
Performance, Measurement & Governance

Ensure digital plans and activation deliver against EA KPIs and outcomes
Maintain oversight of pacing, optimisation priorities, and delivery performance
Partner with measurement and analytics teams to ensure:

Digital reporting clarity
Consistent performance interpretation

Ensure governance is maintained across platforms, partners, and markets

 
Commercial & Operational Ownership

Own commercial accountability across digital planning and activation scopes, including:

PO management
Finance process adherence
Forecasting and cost control

Work closely with finance and operations teams to ensure

Accurate billing
Transparent financial management
Alignment between planning assumptions and activation delivery

Support business cases and staffing justification linked to digital delivery needs

 
Team Leadership & Ways of Working

Provide senior leadership across digital planning and activation teams
Create clarity on ownership, , and decision‑making within a matrixed model
Support capability development in digital planning and activation best practice
Champion EA digital ways of working across central and local teams

 
Skills and Experience
Essential

Proven experience in a digital planning and activation leadership role
Strong understanding of digital media planning and biddable activation
Experience managing complex, multi‑market digital scopes
Strong commercial and operational leadership skills
Excellent stakeholder management and communication capability

 
Desirable

Experience working with global entertainment, gaming, or technology clients
Experience operating within hub‑and‑spoke or global/regional delivery models
Familiarity with platform‑heavy and performance‑led digital environments

 
Key Behaviours

Strategic yet delivery‑focused
Calm and credible under pressure
Commercially rigorous
Collaborative and pragmatic
Clear, confident decision‑maker

 
Reporting & Stakeholders

Reports into: Senior Client / Business Leadership
Key stakeholders:

EA global, regional, and market teams
Central digital planning and activation leadership
Local market planning and activation teams
Finance, operations, and platform partners

 
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. 
We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including 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 characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. 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. 
Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. 
While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 
 
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