Strategy Director

Role Summary and Impact: This is an unparalleled opportunity to accelerate your career, empowering Colgate brand teams to lead, fostering robust collaboration with our hubs and growth markets, and spearheading true innovation in communications planning. You will be instrumental in leading the end-to-end BEP/IMC development process, overseeing the timely delivery of planning templates, content needs, and activation guidelines across EMEA. Job Summary: As a Strategy Director, you will serve as a strategic planning leader, responsible for implementing the development of audience and communications strategies within Colgate’s BEP/IMC framework for EMEA. You will translate detailed consumer insight work, market trends, and client business objectives into actionable, integrated comms and audience plans that leverage the full breadth of WPP Media's capabilities and the wider WPP network expertise (creative, production, specialists). This role demands confident client collaborative leadership, analytical prowess, presentation skills, and a relentless passion for pushing the boundaries of media effectiveness and customer experience.

Responsibilities

Drive the end-to-end development of comprehensive audience and communications strategies for Gold and Silver IMC projects and multi-market brands; Be a key player in strategic evolution, actively contributing to the 'Leading' and 'Collaborative' shifts; Contribute significantly to the strategic direction of BEP for the EMEA region; Leverage deep understanding of consumer behaviour and WPP's resources to drive profound audience understanding; Identify sources of growth and translate them into locally relevant audience strategies; Oversee the development of critical WPP comms-specific insight work for EMEA; Develop robust communications architectures and ecosystem maps; Lead content briefing alongside creative teams and ensure timely delivery of key comms planning elements; Oversee the integration of division-level initiatives into comprehensive comms plans; Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to clients; Manage the planning process end-to-end; Collaborate seamlessly with media buying, creative, data sciences, analytics, and specialist teams; Work closely with Channel specialists, including Retail/eCommerce, to develop integrated, omnichannel strategies; Stay at the forefront of evolving media landscapes, ad-tech, consumer behaviour shifts, and emerging platforms; Drive the evolution towards enhanced 'CX'; Guide, mentor, and inspire junior planners; Define clear KPIs and work with analytics teams to establish measurement frameworks; Contribute to internal and external thought leadership initiatives; Actively participate in new business pitches

Requirements

Progressive experience in media planning, communications planning, or strategic planning roles, with experience on multi market or global clients; Proven track record of developing and leading successful, integrated omnichannel communications strategies for major brands across multiple markets, with a strong emphasis on EMEA; Demonstrated experience in a leadership role (director level), managing and mentoring strategic planning teams; Strong background in digital media planning and strategy, with a solid understanding of traditional media; Expertise in audience segmentation, consumer journey mapping, behavioral economics, and demonstrated proficiency in leveraging WPP's Audience Catalogue and proprietary tools; Proficiency with media planning and research tools (e.g., Comscore, Nielsen, MRI, GWI), with a strong command of WPP proprietary tools like Connect+ (WPP Open); Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and compelling narratives; Exceptional presentation and communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to articulate complex strategies clearly to diverse audiences; Deep understanding of the ad-tech ecosystem, programmatic buying, social media platforms, emerging media channels, and the integration of Retail/eCommerce strategies; Proven familiarity with WPP's internal ecosystem (e.g., Ogilvy social strategy, OAC 1PD, and ACE team functionalities) is key; Strong project management and organizational skills, particularly in managing complex processes, timelines, and deliverables (e.g., ACPL templates, asset lists) within our operational framework; Highly collaborative, with a proven ability to work cross-functionally and build strong internal and external relationships across the WPP network (e.g., with WPPCP, WPP Media Digital, ACE team, Hubs); Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word); Right to work in the UK

Nice to have

Direct experience with Brand Ecosystem Planning (BEP) and Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) frameworks

Benefits

Competitive medical insurance; Group retirement plans; Vision insurance; Dental insurance; Significant paid time off; Preferential partner discounts; Employee mental health awareness days