Media Planning Director

Media Planning Director We hire based on mindset first. It is the biggest factor of success in our business. We believe you can grow that mindset in any walk of life and career background. We’re looking for you to demonstrate a strong growth mindset, and show us how you can fulfill the role by bringing your unique skill set and experience. If you don't have direct industry experience but have the right mindset and transferable skills to excel, we want to hear from you. Tell us how you could make the impact we’re looking for! Role Purpose The Media Planning Director is the bridge between big-picture strategy and real-world results. You will translate strategic thinking into integrated, outcome-led investment plans that help our clients grow. By connecting high-level direction with practical, performance-driven budget allocation, you ensure every pound spent is commercially robust and grounded in marketing effectiveness. Your Impact Strategic Translation: You turn complex strategic thinking and business objectives into clear, structured, and compelling investment narratives that stakeholders—from marketing teams to C-Suite and private equity—can get behind. Commercial Growth: You drive successful new business wins and organic growth by creating investment plans that are persuasive, measurement-informed, and grounded in audience insight. Effectiveness Leadership: You ensure marketing effectiveness isn't an afterthought by embedding measurement frameworks and incrementality testing into the heart of every plan. Market Advantage: You unlock competitive edges for our clients by building deep relationships with "Alpha Partners" to access early innovations, new formats, and smarter trading dynamics. Collective Excellence: You raise the bar for the entire agency by developing best-practice templates and coaching others to pitch investment plans to an elite standard . What Success Looks Like in 6 Months Trusted Partner: You have built strong, collaborative relationships across Media, Creative, and Data teams, becoming a go-to partner for turning strategy into action. Systemic Consistency: You have established centralised, consistent operational systems and templates for investment planning across the business. Impactful Wins: Your investment plans have directly contributed to at least one significant new business win or a major organic growth milestone for an existing client. Co-Intelligence: You are working co-intelligently with our HI / AI workforce, using tools like Media Optimiser and RISE to sharpen audience strategy and channel prioritisation. Capabilities You’ll Bring Strategic Logic: The ability to articulate the "why" behind budget allocation with authority and clarity. Analytical Confidence: Comfort working with budgets, forecasting models, and ROI dynamics without losing sight of the strategic perspective. Data Led Decision Making: A knack for turning data from tools (like YouGov or Nielsen) and research into decisive, actionable investment opportunities. Influential Communication: The ability to simplify the complex and persuade diverse audiences, adapting your narrative to suit the room. Outcome-Obsession: A natural focus on marketing effectiveness, attribution, and growth goals. Your Outputs & Results Investment Frameworks: Highly structured, commercially sound investment plans for pitches and client growth. Measurement Blueprints: Integrated measurement and measurement frameworks aligned specifically to client growth objectives. Standardised Toolkits: Best-practice investment planning templates used consistently across the agency. Knowledge Sharing: Regular coaching sessions and upskilling materials for the Client Leadership team. Proven Success: A portfolio of case studies and award-worthy work where your plans delivered measurable impact. Role Details Your coach: Managing Partner - Media Strategy You will lead: n/a (Focus on cross-functional influence and coaching) Location: Manchester & Hybrid / Remote First Hours / Days: Full Time (5 days per week) Specifics for this role: Occasional travel to meet partners or attend pitches may be required. Estimated Start Date: 01/07/2026 The standards we all hold each other to: Demonstrate and be committed to growing the Open Partners mindset Live our values: Smarter: Aim high, train hard, embrace next Faster: Learn fast, adapt fast, act fast Better: Think, say and do what’s best Our Approach to Hiring We hire based on mindset first. It is the biggest factor of success in our business. We’re looking for those who see the world a little differently, who will force us to think in new ways, who might even make us feel a little uncomfortable. We’re looking for people who inspire us, who question the norm and have the entrepreneurial spirit. If you don't have direct industry experience but have the right mindset and transferable skills to excel, we want to hear from you. Tell us how you could make the impact we’re looking for! Department Planning Role Investment Planning Partner Locations Manchester About Open Partners Open Partners was founded in 2017 to be The Agency of Next . Designed to be constantly focussed on the future, we think ahead for our clients, quickly pivoting them to new areas of opportunity as they arise. Delivering marketing transformations for over 50 clients, Open Partners’ integrated Media, Data and Creative capabilities drive more accountable and effective returns for international performance advertisers. We strive to always be smarter, faster, and better - all the while upholding the very highest standards of commercial and operational integrity.