Planning Manager (MS/WM), Japan

About the Position

WPP Media | Planning Manager (MS/WM), Japan

Tokyo, Japan

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions, and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise. Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging, and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.

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Description

WPP Media | Local Planning Manager

You will lead local media planning for a well-known global brand, working closely with the client planning lead and cross-functional teams to develop and deliver integrated media strategies for the local market.

You will be a strategic thinker with strong communication skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. As a Local Planning Manager, you will own the local planning process end-to-end, ensuring media strategies are aligned with business objectives, market realities, and campaign performance goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of local media plans and recommendations aligned with client business objectives, brand priorities, and market needs.
• Understand the client’s products, marketing goals, target audiences, and competitive landscape to translate them into actionable media strategies.
• Develop accurate forecasts, media plans, budget allocations, and scenario simulations with minimal supervision.
• Drive local planning discussions and provide strategic input into campaign architecture, channel mix, audience strategy, and timing.
• Manage client communications related to planning, campaign performance, and strategic recommendations in a timely and professional manner.
• Partner closely with Client Services, regional/global teams, and operations teams to ensure campaign setup, execution, and optimization are aligned and timely.
• Oversee campaign setup and trafficking requirements to ensure accuracy, consistency, and readiness for launch.
• Proactively identify issues, risks, and optimization opportunities across campaigns, creatives, and platform performance.
• Build, review, and present performance reports using various tools, reconciling data from third-party reports and internal system reports.
• Create clear, insightful, and visually compelling reporting outputs, including charts, dashboards, and presentations.
• Provide recommendations based on campaign data, trends, and learnings to improve performance and inform future planning.
• Support billing, reporting, governance, and operational processes as part of end-to-end campaign execution.
• Mentor and guide junior team members, supporting capability development and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Contribute to quarterly planning reviews, business updates, and strategic proposals.
• Test, learn, and share media innovations, new advertising tactics, and best practices with local, regional, and global teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Business-level English and native-level Japanese.
• 5+ years of experience in digital media planning, integrated media, and/or ad operations.
• Strong understanding of media strategy, campaign planning, trafficking processes, and performance reporting.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and MS PowerPoint; comfortable working with pivot tables and large data sets.
• Experience with data visualization and reporting tools such as Data Studio, Supermetrics, or similar platforms is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and communicate effectively across functions and seniority levels.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to manage time and priorities effectively.
• Quick learner with a proactive mindset and willingness to adopt new tools and technologies.
• Passionate about digital media communications, technology, and industry trends.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent listening skills and the ability to adapt to different partner styles.
• Experience mentoring or managing junior team members is a plus.

We Offer

We blur work and play, and you get all the perks of a global company. You will get to work with a dynamic group of entrepreneurs, collaborating across time zones to make a difference in the way the world experiences media. We love what we do, and we think you will too.

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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About the Company

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions, and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.

We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise. Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging, and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.

For more information, visit WPP.com.