WPP

Integrated global marketing and communications services

Media Planning Director

Performance & Paid MarketingConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeTokyo, JapanNo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience in media planning, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role overseeing teams.
Strong experience managing and developing planning talent.
Excellent English communication skills, with experience working across global, regional, and international client teams.
A solid understanding of the Japanese media landscape; providing a local cultural perspective is a plus.
Ability to influence and manage senior client stakeholders, including media leads and marketing directors.
Strong analytical and strategic planning skills, particularly across the consumer journey.
Ability to deliver against targets.
Ability to collaborate across teams, departments, and client organizations.
Ability to delegate effectively and confidently sell strategies, ideas, and initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, presentation, and execution of full-funnel media strategies across channels including TV, out-of-home, 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 delivery.
Build and maintain trusted senior client relationships, 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.
Use data-driven approaches and 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.
Apply knowledge of the Japanese media landscape and integrated planning principles.
Champion adoption of WPP planning and artificial intelligence tools, enabling teams to embed them in day-to-day workflows.
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.
Apply commercial acumen, including understanding account profitability and resource management.
Monitor performance issues proactively, escalating and addressing risks in a timely manner.
Advocate for continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Desired Qualifications

Ability to provide a local cultural perspective on the Japanese media landscape.

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

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
Excellent 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.

About the Company

WPP

Integrated global marketing and communications services

WPP provides integrated marketing and communications services worldwide, combining creativity with data and technology. It offers branding, digital marketing, media planning, market research, public relations, and business transformation, delivering campaigns and programs that help clients build brands, engage audiences, and achieve business goals. The company operates at scale through a network of specialist agencies and partners, enabling cross-disciplinary work and global execution. It differentiates itself by offering end-to-end, integrated solutions, a strong focus on sustainability and responsible business practices, and thought leadership such as publications like the Atticus Journal. WPP’s goal is to be a strategic partner that drives client growth and positive social impact by blending creativity, technology, and data to navigate a rapidly changing market.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 2015

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