Strategy Manager

About WPP Media   

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.   
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com   
At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:   

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.  

• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.  

• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.   

Role Summary and Impact

In this pivotal role, the Communication Strategy Manager will be responsible for overseeing the communication strategy for one leading international client, known for its strong market reputation and position. The Manager will drive communication strategy, ensuring its consistent and qualitative translation into daily media planning, and effectively integrating expertise from data science, e-commerce, and content to deliver comprehensive strategic solutions. This position requires provocative thinking and the ability to maintain strategic consistency across all brand initiatives, acting as a critical interface with global teams and ensuring strategic continuity.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Insights & Development:
• Conduct in-depth market and brand analysis to define powerful insights, driving strategic recommendations.
• Collaborate with the Data Science team to identify growth audiences through a strategic lens.
• Articulate compelling insights on target audiences, including consumer decision journey pain points, to inform communication platforms and architecture.
• Manage communication strategy development for annual planning, major launches, and campaigns, addressing client business and communication problems.
• Contribute to high-level strategic projects, such as Masterbrand strategies and integrated media/e-commerce planning.
• Provide ad-hoc support for new business pitches beyond assigned client scope.
• Oversee the quality and presentation of all strategic deliverables.
• Media Planning & Expertise Integration:
• Ensure consistent and high-quality translation of communication strategy into day-to-day media planning.
• Drive the effective integration of specialized expertise (e.g., data science, e-commerce, content) to elevate the overall media planning product.
• Facilitate the development of creative ideas, including content and partnership concepts, throughout media planning outputs.
• Global Client & Stakeholder Collaboration:
• Build and maintain effective, inspiring working relationships with all internal teams (media planning, data sciences, activation, content, commerce).
• Foster respectful and collaborative relationships with senior clients and external agency partners.
• Act as a primary interface for global stakeholders, ensuring seamless communication flow, strategic continuity, and alignment with global strategies.
• Leadership & Innovation:
• Lead brainstorm and ideation sessions to drive engagement ideas, involving cross-agency and media partners.
• Cultivate an environment that encourages intelligent risk-taking, innovation, and creativity within the team.
• Monitor and ensure quality control in daily workflow and strategic outputs.
• Proactively identify and implement new solutions for client challenges.

Requirements

• 6-7 years of progressive experience in media/communications planning, with a strong emphasis on strategy and media planning within a media agency.
• Demonstrated significant autonomy and strategic capabilities developed across a diverse client portfolio, with substantial experience in international client accounts.
• Proven background within media agencies is mandatory; experience from creative agencies or pure research environments is not aligned with the requirements for this role.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, combined with highly developed analytical and conceptual skills.
• Expertise in media strategy development for media planning, including proficiency with measurement tools and econometric models.
• Fully conversant with qualitative and quantitative research techniques, major desktop research tools, and big data analytical offerings.
• Experience in CPG and Pharmaceutical categories, alongside other consumer categories, is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in people management, with the ability to lead, coach, and coordinate at least one direct report or junior resources.
• Excellent client relationship skills, including experience interacting and presenting to senior-level clients.
• Extensive experience collaborating and interfacing with global teams and stakeholders, ensuring strategic continuity and alignment across markets.
• Flawless proficiency in written and spoken English is required for effective global communication.
• Independent, efficient, and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Demonstrates genuine curiosity and a proactive interest in client businesses and challenges.
• Key Competencies:
• Strategic & Innovative Mindset: Approaches daily activities with effective strategies and targeted action plans, anticipates trends, optimizes decisions with a long-term vision, generates creative ideas, and proactively explores cutting-edge solutions, demonstrating open-mindedness and a commitment to continuous learning.
• Collaborative & Influential Communication: Builds effective relationships, fosters an inclusive environment, conveys complex messages clearly and incisively, facilitates dialogue, and actively listens to achieve common goals with clients and stakeholders.
• Adaptive Leadership & Project Management: Inspires and guides others responsibly, promoting individual development towards shared objectives, manages complex projects effectively with an Agile approach, coordinates multiple stakeholders, and ensures adherence to deadlines in dynamic, evolving contexts.
• Technological Fluency & Client Orientation: Leverages opportunities offered by the current technological landscape, positively embraces the use of AI for digital transformation and automation, and promotes a strong culture of accountability to deliver valuable client solutions and extraordinary results.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits  

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include 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 are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.   
  
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach. If you require accommodation or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.   

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.   

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