Managing Partner - Planning & Media

BRAND: Starcom
Job Function: Client Management
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience Level: Management
Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company description

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our 'Power of One' business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.

We place a huge focus on our People and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential, and we encourage everyone to make "Brave Plays" in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign's Best Places to Work for five years in a row, Media Week's Agency of the Year 2025 and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.

Overview

We're looking for a confident, high-energy leader to oversee one of our most strategically significant partnerships, a global technology and retail brand that operates at incredible scale and pace.

You'll lead a talented team of planners and specialists, driving innovation, collaboration, and award-winning work across channels. This is a flagship leadership role for someone who thrives in complexity, enjoys shaping strategy, and knows how to inspire high-performing teams to deliver exceptional results.

If you're the kind of leader who brings energy, clarity, and calm under pressure, this is the opportunity for you.

Responsibilities

What will you be doing?

• Lead from the front: Guide a senior, multi-disciplinary team delivering high-impact campaigns that drive measurable growth and industry recognition.
• Champion innovation: Push creative and strategic boundaries, ensuring work that sets the benchmark for excellence in media and performance.
• Be a trusted partner: Build strong, collaborative relationships with senior client stakeholders, anticipating needs and adding value beyond the brief.
• Drive integration: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with sister agencies across creative, digital, and data to deliver truly connected brand experiences.
• Shape the future: Lead thought leadership, support award entries, and play a key role in the agency's wider growth and reputation agenda.

Qualifications

What are we looking for?

• A confident, commercially-minded leader with deep experience across brand and performance planning.
• Strong people manager who thrives on developing and motivating senior talent.
• Trusted advisor with a proven record of building lasting client relationships.
• Strategic and solutions-focused, able to simplify complexity and bring teams together around a clear vision.
• Passionate about great work, innovation, and driving performance at scale.

Why you'll love it here at Starcom

You'll learn twice as much, twice as fast, surrounded by smart, driven people who care about doing great work and making a tangible impact. If you're ready to lead one of the most exciting global accounts in the market and shape what comes next for an iconic brand, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now to take your next big step in agency leadership.

Additional information

Starcom has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans, we also offer;

• WORK YOUR WORLD opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• REFLECTION DAYS - Two additional days of paid leave to step away from your usual day-to-day work and create time to focus on your well-being and self-care.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity. Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING, BANK HOLIDAY SWAP & BIRTHDAY DAY OFF You are entitled to an additional day off for your birthday, from your first day of employment.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full-time employees being office-based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page , which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAGs (Employee Action Groups).

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