European Senior Planning Manager

Agency :

Job Description :

Havas is one of the world's largest global communications groups, operating in over 100 countries. The Group is made up of two major divisions: Havas Creative Group and Havas Media Group.

All agencies within the Havas Group have a common mission: to unite brands and people through meaningful connections, driving business success. We are the fastest growing of the global networks and have a challenger brand mentality. We share one common purpose: to bring media and creative closer together for the benefit of our clients.  Within Havas Media Network specifically, our role is to create the best media experiences, capitalising upon the most meaningful media, to build more meaningful brands.

As others attempt, and struggle, to integrate and simplify their offer around client needs, Havas Group continue to pioneer an integrated model within our 'Village' construct, bringing together media, creative, data, strategy, Cx and research in one package.    This means we can field our very best people and change our shape according to the needs of each client and brief we work with.  Furthermore, we boast a unique and unparalleled entertainment offering through our partnership with Vivendi.

The Havas Media Global team is a dedicated group supporting global clients across strategy, insight, media, creative and digital. The culture of our team is best described as dynamic, entrepreneurial, and collaborative.

We are solely immersed in global assignments and have the experience and understanding to fulfil the needs and challenges of global clients. We believe in aligning team structures with those of our clients and are set up to meet the unique requirements of each, from centralised hub management to more coordinated or decentralised needs, adding value by leveraging central and local media expertise and the totality of our clients' media investments.

Job Summary

The European Senior Planning Manager must have deep understanding of media planning and trading, ideally with experience in a multi-national/cultural environment across different media types and across markets. Strong understanding of offline and online channels is crucial for this role.  Client management and market liaison are aspects of the role so confidence in these areas is important.  

The Senior Planning Manager manages communications projects, successfully navigating the client through their requirements to deliver outstanding results.  Partnering with Havas local markets to ensure consistency and efficiency in the delivery of multilocal campaigns for the regional client is part of the everyday tasks of the Senior Planning Manager.

The role also entails responsibility in the development and application of planning principles, innovation and media best practices, media performance support, reporting and brand partnerships. This will involve working directly with agency partners and internal specialist agency divisions. 

The Hub's day-to-day management of the clients European business is driven by an European Business Director managing a team of 8-9 people providing strategic, digital and operational leadership to the many European local Havas markets around the region. The Senior Planning Manager is a key member of this team working alongside Business, Strategy and Digital team leads. At the same time there is an expectation towards liaising and upskilling the media planning knowledge of Managers, Senior Exec's and Exec's on a day-to-day basis.

Within the Hub there's a lean over-arching management structure providing overall leadership but importantly also discipline leadership (e.g.. Strategy and Digital). 

Mission & Responsibilities 

• Champions media planning topics on Hub level
• Responsible for evaluation of European markets media plans activations
• Leadership in daily client relationship management for owned projects
• Develop s& stimulates local innovation + actively encourages the exchange of ideas & best practice across EU markets  
• Market liaison and management across Europe 
• Manages the preparation and delivery of planning updates and their implementation.
• Produces, coordinates and presents reports of different kind to the client  
• Understands central priorities and support the development of innovative local activation 
• Carefully manages relationships between the client and their creative agency, appreciating sensitivities and agendas 
• Adheres to brand client processes & supports network-wide understanding and compliance 
• Connects and supports the integrated regional team working end-to-end for the clients to provide clients efficient and valuable support and operations 
• Contributes to the client satisfaction (both client and creative agency) 
• Attends regular client meetings ensuring content delivered is to a high standard  
• Supports Management with reporting, overviews and meeting preparations

Soft Skills & Competencies 

• Excellent knowledge in media planning/buying principles, practices and performance across offline and online channels
• Good written and presentation skills in English 
• Confidently liaises with clients  
• Reacts appropriately to different cultural practices and nuances 
• Strong relationship building skills internally and with clients + media owners 
• Strives for real insight and opportunities 
• Effective under pressure and ability to meet tight deadlines   
• Team worker with proactive, open to take responsibilities approach 
• International/European experience if possible 
• Seeks to improve existing processes and systems with clear recommendations
• Hands-on pragmatic approach  
• Positive, approachable and with friendly attitude  
• Tech Savvy , Analytical

Previous Experience & Industry Background: 

• 6 years in a planning offline and/or online environment, ideally international experience of working with complex integrated marketing communication programmes, teams and project management 

Languages 

• English (fluent). Other European languages desirable 

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Contract Type :

Here at Havas across the group we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that have no bearing on an individual's ability to perform their job.