Implementation Lead

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Job Title: Account Manager/Implementation Lead

Company: WPP Media South Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Reports To: Client Partner

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.

Objectives of the Role

The purpose of an Implementation Planner is to translate a client brief into a detailed media flow. The role is to translate strategy to plan and to activation.

A significant part of this role will be building and developing strong working relationships with both the client and the creative agencies which will enable the production of defined media flows.

Responsibilities

Strategic Skills

• To be able to interpret a client brief and provide tactical strategic advice on brand communications by applying EssenceMediacom best approaches

• Advise the client on optimal media plans

• Help to improve interfaces between planning and strategy

• Assist in preparing regular media reviews. (Competitor analysis and media environment scans)

• Work together with the BUD to integrate our Planning & strategy approach to drive more effective and efficient solutions to clients

• Assist in the preparation of central strategic work, e.g. availabilities, rates

Client Account and Stakeholder Management Skills

• Improve interfaces between planning and strategy

• Keep up to date with media changes and alert the team of potential advantages/new opportunities for presentation to Client

• Prepare and update the media flow plans and advise BUD/Client of changes that occur on time and space that has been bought.

• Checking and ensuring media planning is reflective of the media strategy at all times

• Internally communicate and contribute to brainstorming to help generate ideas with the team

• Relationship building and negotiation for leveraging costs, discounts and added value incentives with media vendors (Securing the best discount, added value incentive or sponsorship deals from vendors)

• Maintain sound relationships & communications between EssenceMediaCom departments, their relevant creative/brand agencies, Clients and media vendors, where necessary

• Timeously highlighting any budgetary deviations

• Check commitment tracking of Budgets for Client with media vendors

• Attend regular status meetings both internally and with the clients; contributing to client business reviews

• Act as the client point of contact in relation to implementation planning. This will include responding to client queries and proactive client management

Operating and Technical Skills