Manager, Planning

Business Overview:
UM is a global media agency committed to Futureproofing our clients' businesses.  We leverage the transformational power of rich business analytics and real-time intelligence to maximize growth and activate the full consumer journey across content and connections. As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 3,000 people innovating on a roster of global clients including Accenture, American Express, GoPro, Johnson & Johnson, Levi Strauss & Co, CVS, Sony, and General Mills. UM is globally headquartered in New York, with North American offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Birmingham, Detroit, Montreal, and Toronto.  

At UM, we know our employees are our greatest asset. We are committed to fostering a culture rooted in Diversity, Equity & Belonging, where everyone feels they belong, and their contributions are valued. We prioritize personal and professional growth, encourage an entrepreneurial spirit to pursue passion projects, and celebrate our people and community with moments of joy and spontaneity. Our leadership is dedicated to building a culture of care that permeates every element of the company from work flexibility to career planning to regular talent reviews, and more. Our DNA, for UM, helps guide us in all that we do:  

• Fearless: We bring our authentic selves to work and put our whole selves into the work 
• Optimistic: We approach challenges with empathy and curiosity, infusing joy into everything we do 
• Relentless: We’re unwavering in our pursuit of the right solution, eager to reimagine what’s possible 
• Unified: We band together to accomplish what we could not otherwise do alone 
• Masterful: We’re constantly growing in our craft, setting new standards for our industry and our world 

We are proud to be named an AdAge Best Place to Work several times over, a Top Workplace in the US by Great Places to Work, a top 10 FORTUNE 2022 Best Workplaces in Advertising & Marketing and She Runs It’s 2021 Outstanding Company for Working Mothers. But feedback is most meaningful when it comes from our own people: over 90% of our employees say the agency is a great place to work and 95% say they are proud to work at UM.

Position Overview

As Manager, Planning, you’ll support the vision and strategic plan for the account, ensuring success across Work Quality, Client Relationships, Financials, and Team Health. You’ll play a key role in planning and executing media strategies integral to their business success and launch industry-leading work that propels the business forward.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic cross-channel communications plans for client assignments in conjunction with internal agency specialty teams
• Supervise development and implementation of targeted, innovative media solutions consistent with media strategies
• Leverage performance and measurement insights to inform plan recommendations and optimizations
• Create external briefing documents aligned with plan parameters, objectives and strategies
• Using syndicated research, pull and compile category trends, audience consumption, partner data and competitive activity, to derive strategic trends and insights to inform partner consideration set and channel mix
• Develop relationships and meet with media partners to share client objectives and priorities and stay up to date on latest offerings
• Keep on top of everchanging media landscape to identify relevant opportunities/solutions and develop POVs
• Leverage planning best practices, media acumen, and understanding of client business to steward planning recommendations and conversations
• Prepare and deliver dynamic presentations to showcase how recommendation meets client brief, objectives, and measurement expectations

Required Skills and Experience

• Confident presentation skills in internal and client meetings
• Mastery of syndicated research sources, planning tools, and media math
• Solutions driven with strong trouble shooting skills
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Well organized and manages timelines with others
• Strong knowledge of industry trends and planning/measurement models
• Understanding of marketing and communications process
• Ability to work autonomously and in a group
• UM does not require candidates to have a college degree

Desired Skills and Experience  

• 3-5 years of experience in media planning with knowledge of across various channels, national/local scope (to be customized by hiring team)
• Skilled knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)