Connections Planning Group Director

Explore your future with WPP Media. If this role isn’t 100% aligned, apply anyway and we’ll add you to a specific Talent Pool so we can collaborate on future available positions across our brands.

 

Step into a pivotal leadership role and orchestrate the future of media connections, turning powerful insights into extraordinary campaigns for the world's leading brands.

 

Open Era by WPP Media

Join a Team Shaping the Future of World-Class Marketing

Open Era is a world-class partnership between WPP Media and Suncorp, one of Australia’s largest and most iconic insurance groups. This bespoke agency model brings together the best minds, tools, and technologies to shape the next chapter of growth - powered by openness, intelligence, and orchestration.

We’re building a team that thrives on:

• Openness: To change, to collaboration, to accountability.
• World-Class Standards: Delivering the best work from Australia, for Suncorp.
• True Partnership: Working with transparency and healthy tension - we challenge for better every time.
• Growth Mindset: Focused on outcomes, performance, and policy impact.
• Future Focus: Never complacent, always evolving to meet what’s next.

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Why Join Open Era?

You’ll be part of a dedicated, unified team structured to flex with Suncorp’s diverse brand portfolio, including household names like AAMI, GIO, Suncorp, Shannons, Apia, and Vero. These brands are not only leaders in insurance - they’re leaders in creativity, ingenuity, and customer connection.

Working on Suncorp means:

• High-impact creativity: From sport and entertainment partnerships to bold brand storytelling, Suncorp pushes the boundaries of what insurance marketing can be.
• Performance and brand media excellence: A dual focus on driving ROI and building long-term brand equity.
• Customer experience at the core: Every touchpoint matters - across owned, earned, paid, and shared media.
• Integrated media innovation: Collaborating across data, tech, and content to deliver seamless, effective campaigns.

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Embedded Expertise Across the Team

• Data & Analytics – Translating complexity into clarity.
• Technology & AI – Accelerating ambition through innovation.
• OESP Connections Planning - architecting brand ecosystems to deliver brand and performance goals.
• Performance Planning – Driving measurable results and strategic growth.
• Media Activation - sweating every detail of a media execution to optimise for the growth potential.
• Sports & Entertainment – Shaping how Suncorp brands connect with Australians through iconic moments in sport and entertainment.

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This is your chance to be part a model that’s not just fit for today - but resilient for the future. If you’re open to growth, open to challenge, and open to shaping what’s next, Open Era is where you belong.

 

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.

 

The Role

Location: Sydney

The connections planning team at Open Era bridges the gap between our strategy and investment teams. Our role is to turn insightful strategies into actionable media plans that deliver growth for Suncorp. Connections planners think big picture, collaborating with multiple teams, stakeholders and agencies to ensure campaigns are fully integrated.

• Be the Strategic Mastermind: Translate brilliant strategy into market-leading, actionable media plans, bridging the gap between big-picture thinking and flawless execution for iconic brands.
• Lead the Agency Village: Lead integrated campaigns by collaborating with creative, digital, PR, and other agency partners to deliver seamless and holistic solutions across every consumer touchpoint.
• Drive the Planning Craft: Evolve and improve the agency's planning product, weaving in the latest marketing science, data, and technology to create future-fit campaigns that deliver measurable results.
• Mentor the Next Generation: As a senior leader, you'll guide and develop a team of bright planners, fostering a cohesive, supportive, and high-achieving team culture where everyone can thrive.
• Become a Trusted Client Partner: Build and maintain strong relationships with senior marketing clients, acting as their go-to expert for navigating the media landscape and delivering innovative solutions to their biggest challenges.

 

Ideal Skills and Experience

A big-picture strategist with a gift for collaboration and a passion for mentoring talent will excel in this dynamic and influential role. We’re also looking for;

• A Seasoned Media Planner: You have multiple proven years of deep experience in the media planning craft, with an expert ability to use data, tools, and theory to create compelling recommendations.
• An Integrated Thinker: You have a proven track record of leading complex, multi-stakeholder media campaigns and understand how to make brand and performance channels work together effectively.
• A Data-Driven Storyteller: You're well-versed in applying data, eCommerce strategies, and marketing science to solve client problems and create disruptive, innovative solutions.
• An Inspiring and Collaborative Leader: You excel at leading client communications, managing key stakeholders, and motivating your team to achieve their individual and collective goals.
• A Curious and Proactive Innovator: You possess a deep knowledge of the media landscape and are always looking for new ways to connect data and technology into the planning process for your clients.

 

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to 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.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

 

What We Offer 

We offer a competitive salary package, with 20 days holiday increasing with service to a maximum of 25 days, with the option to purchase extra leave of up to 4 weeks per year. We also offer a flexible working environment, paid parental leave, flexible public holidays, birthday leave and early finishes during the summer months. These are just some of the great perks you can utilise.

Based on the south side of the bridge in Barangaroo, our office has beautiful views of Sydney Harbour and is a great space to hang out with colleagues and friends!

We have a culture of learning where we invest in your career growth and development through a range of learning and development opportunities. We offer a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and collaboration and we provide mental wellness support via our Employee Assistance Program.

 

Our Commitment 

We want you to have the best opportunity to show us your skills and talents, please let us know if there is anything we can do to make the application/interview process work for you. Should you require any adjustments throughout the process, please collaborate with our hiring team who will be happy to assist.  

 

Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often don't apply for roles if they don't meet all the criteria. Here, we strongly encourage you to apply if you’re interested: we'd love to know how you can positively impact our team with your experience! We believe that diversity is vital and positively influences the environment in which we operate. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment that is free of discrimination, harassment or bullying. Race, colour, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions, we encourage all applicants. 

 

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