Regional Planning Lead - XCM EU at OpenDoor Hybrid Remote, London, England

  • London
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
DescriptionOpenDoor I Regional Planning Lead, XCMPURPOSEThe purpose of this document is to help prospective team members better understand the role and responsibilities for the position of Regional Planning Lead, XCM EU at OpenDoor, WPP's bespoke global operating model for Amazon.ABOUT WPP & OPENDOORAt WPP, we're constantly reinventing the future of creativity on an ever-broader canvas, bringing together unrivalled talent, resources and skills to provide an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce and technology.Over the last decade, we have developed a dedicated global client practice with the mission of accelerating WPP's impact for our largest clients by bringing them the best of WPP. Each team is custom-built around a client's specific needs and challenges, providing easy access to the right capabilities. And that's why we've built OpenDoor for Amazon.OpenDoor is a unique integration of the best of WPP and Amazon - building on their respective strengths and visions. Whether at WPP or at Amazon, every project is an OpenDoor on new possibilities. Anything and everything can be an opportunity for our people to drive impact - for them to innovate, learn, thrive, and occasionally fail too.The unique OpenDoor partnership model is built to deliver next level Productivity, fueled by our industry-leading approach to People, Platforms, and Process. OpenDoor spans across all WPP agencies and disciplines such as media, business consultancy, communications and brand strategy, tech and commerce, public relations, and production.OpenDoor's values are built from Amazon's own , and WPP's core values of Open, Optimistic and Extraordinary. Together, when WPP's Creative Transformation meets Amazon's next-level customer centricity, our people come together to challenge and impact what's done today and build a better future.By joining OpenDoor, not only are you joining a cross-function team partnering with one of WPP's top five global clients, but you are also taking a step to challenge yourself and the world around you every day, working in the most unusual way on some of Earth's most ambitious opportunities in marketing, tech, media, business, and creativity.ABOUT THE ROLEWe are searching for a visionary and highly experienced individualto join our OpenDoor team as a Regional Planning Lead. This is a full-time position based in London. This role is pivotal in driving media planning excellence and strategic direction for Amazon's cross-channel marketing efforts across Europe. As the Regional Planning Lead, you will be responsible for shaping the strategic vision, ensuring high-quality execution, and fostering a collaborative environment within the Regional planning team. This role is part of the XCM EU Regional Hub team.XCM is Amazon's Cross-Channel Marketing division, delivering all communications for Amazon.com, including large tentpole campaigns such as for Black Friday and Prime Day. OpenDoor is XCM's media partner everywhere in the world except North America and Latin America. XCM is the largest business division within Amazon and the WPP OpenDoor team supports them in its biggest growth region, Europe.You will act as a trusted advisor to senior clients, providing strategic guidance and influencing their thinking on media plans and investment, always aligning with their business objectives. You will also champion a culture of innovation and excellence within the team, driving continuous improvement and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.RESPONSIBILITIESMedia planning vision and leadership:
  • Develop and champion the OpenDoor XCM EU planning vision, ensuring it aligns with Amazon's customer-centric approach and WPP's overall strategic objectives.
  • Drive innovation in media planning, exploring new channels, technologies, and approaches to maximize campaign effectiveness.
  • Oversee the development and execution of comprehensive media plans across all channels (digital and traditional), ensuring they are data-driven, innovative, and aligned with best practices.
  • Possess a strong understanding off marketing/media mix modelling utilization, including a deep understanding of concepts such as decay curves/ad stock, sufficiency curves and diminishing marginal returns.
  • Expert on the Purchase Journey thinking and planning philosophy across all client work. Including being an expert in a broad set of internal tools, as well as external tools to build a deep understanding of the consumer, the client's business and its specific opportunities.
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the European media market landscape, trends, media owners, and emerging opportunities.
  • Ownership of translating the strategic approach into planning practices for specific client briefs and pitches.
Client Relationship & Consultancy:
  • Act as a consultant with both clients and internal teams to improve the work and develop the thought leadership of yourself and others.
  • Operate as a senior client contact for comms and craft planning, whilst ensuring that teams are delivering on a day to day basis.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders at Amazon, understanding their business objectives and providing strategic guidance on media planning.
  • Proactively identify opportunities to improve client satisfaction and drive business growth.
  • Influence senior client stakeholders on media planning strategy and investment decisions.
Campaign management & effective communication:
  • Oversee campaign management, ensuring quality control and output is of the highest standard. Act as point of escalation for issues.
  • Successful E2E management of Multi-Market campaigns (brief, RTB, execution and reporting).
  • Develop a skilled understand of commercial practises and of the wider agency.
Comms planning and storytelling:
  • Own planning presentations including defining the inputs needed and working with the wider teams to compile work and meet deadlines.
  • Lead brainstorm and idea creation for campaigns. A passion for innovation and challenging the status quo with a positive, constructive approach.
  • Start to independently problem solve, including integrating and questioning data and insights and find solutions based on knowledge and experience.
  • Drive adoption and best pratice utilisation of WPP Open and other cutting-edge tools to standardize best in class planning, ensure leading organization and track campaign performance / identification of optimization opportunities.
  • Assist in the development and execution of data-driven marketing campaigns across the Amazon business, bridging Amazon and WPP technologies and capabilities as required.
Team Management:
  • Lead Regional Planning team of 20+ people
  • Lead and mentor a team of media planners, providing guidance, support, and development opportunities.
  • Set the direction for training and development initiatives within the planning team, ensuring that team members have the skills and knowledge to excel.
  • Raise the floor - by identifying where the requirements (and potential skills gaps) are and working with heads of dept. to develop and deliver training solutions across the agency (e.g. Media Smarts, planning meetings, cross functional sessions)
  • Raise the ceiling - by identifying where new solutions and products could be delivered and working with heads of dept. to create the roadmap for them.
  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, encouraging knowledge sharing and innovation.
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Extensive experience in media planning, with a proven track record of success in developing and executing effective campaigns.
  • Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing media planning teams, including setting strategic direction, fostering a collaborative environment, and mentoring team members at all levels.
  • Advanced understanding of media channels (digital and traditional), channel ecosystems and planning best practices, with regional, multi-market European expertise.
  • Strong knowledge of the client sector/industry which is shared to build strategies and plans.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor a team.
  • Comfortable presenting both directly from platform (OS, Architect etc) and developing a story from data but delivered outside of the platform (Telmar etc).
  • Can confidently answer client questions and liaise with internal teams on best solutions to use. [Uses critical questioning and maintains a broad perspective when analysing information to gain a deeper understanding of the problem and wider impact.
  • Consistently delivers communications to influence and educate all levels of seniority, appropriately judging the demands of the situation.
BONUS POINTS
  • Extensive retail client experience
  • Familiarity with Amazons way of working (e.g. narratives over powerpoint) and their leadership principles
  • Familiarity with Amazon Ads
  • Understanding of Amazon's ecosystem
  • Designs differentiated communications (content focus, style, presentation etc) for various internal and external audiences.
  • Applies knowledge of client, audience, channel, market and category to effectively deliver compelling multi-media plans. Translates learnings and trends to create marketing communication strategies that are effective with clear measurement. Application of purchase journey thinking and visualization of how the media plan works channels.
  • Provide actionable insights during mid and post-campaign reports to improve in-flight optimizations and future campaign brief recommendations.
BENEFITS OF OPENDOOR
  • Unparalleled Access: Gain direct experience working with one of the world's most innovative and influential companies.
  • Mentorship & Training: Receive guidance from experienced professionals at both WPP and Amazon.
  • Cutting-Edge Technology: Utilize industry-leading tools and platforms, including WPP Open.
  • Data-Driven Environment: Develop your analytical skills and contribute to data-driven decision making.
  • Global Impact: Be part of a team that is shaping the future of marketing on a global scale.
HOW TO APPLYInterested candidates are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter to [email protected] by [application deadline].We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.Amazon x WPP Confidential 1

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