Planning Manager; Studio - In-house Agency

A bit about the role

The Planning Manager is responsible for the operational management and coordination required to deliver a clear, governed and actionable quarterly consumer plan that ensures individual propositions campaigns don't compete for the same "airtime" or audience attention, maintaining a balanced and coherent brand presence.

Reporting into the Marketing Strategy Manager, this role ensures that planning decisions are translated into structured meetings, documentation, communications, and governance processes. The Planning Manager works closely with retail and digital channel teams, product team and PR & comms teams, external agency partners, and assurance functions to ensure clarity, compliance and alignment across all elements of the consumer plan.

The role is supported by VCCP and H&S planning teams, ensuring access to best-in-class planning expertise while embedding strong in-house capability.

The Planning Team plays a central role in coordinating priorities, governance and delivery across Studio 59. The Planning Manager supports the effective operationalisation of the consumer plan, ensuring planning processes, forums and communications run smoothly and consistently.

• Supports all internal meetings required to reach an agreed quarterly consumer plan, including clear terms of reference, attendees, meeting roles, diary planning, minutes, actions and follow-up
• Ensure clear and consistent communication of planning decisions to all required internal colleagues and agency partners (Studio 59 and external)
• Own diary planning, agendas, minutes, actions and follow-up to ensure momentum and clarity

• Ensure the consumer plan is aligned to all assurance processes, bid requirements and relevant documentation required to support approval and delivery
• Manage required planning documentation, approvals and records associated with the consumer plan
• Support quarterly PO sign-off processes and associated governance forums

• Ensure clear, consistent communication of planning decisions to internal colleagues and agency partners
• Coordinate regular updates with internal agency teams and external agencies
• Ensure all stakeholders are aware of key milestones, dependencies and delivery expectations

• Work closely with VCCP and H&S planning teams to support planning development
• Ensure external planning inputs are integrated effectively into internal planning processes
• Act as a coordination point between internal teams and external agency partners

• Support the Head of Planning in managing the quarterly planning cycle and rolling consumer plan
• Provide operational support to enable smooth planning forums and decision-making
• Contribute to continuous improvement of planning ways of working and governance

• Experience in a planning, operations, project management or coordination role within a marketing or agency environment
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail
• Experience managing meetings, governance processes and documentation
• Ability to work confidently with senior stakeholders and agency partners
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Comfortable managing multiple work streams and deadlines
• Experience working within governed or regulated environments is desirable

To be successful in this role, you will:

• Enable smooth, well-governed delivery of the quarterly consumer plan
• Ensure planning forums are well-run, effective and decision-focused
• Maintain clear documentation, communication and follow-through across planning activity
• Support strong alignment between internal teams and agency partners
• Build confidence in planning governance and operational discipline

• Company Bonus Scheme
• Matched pension contributions up to 8.5%
• 26 days annual leave + 2 Life Days (and bank holidays)
• Single Private Health Cover
• Complimentary Private Medical
• Income Protection
• Flexible Benefits - EV Scheme, Money Coach, Will Writing, Mortgage Advice, Dental and Eye Care Schemes.
• Enhanced Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoption)
• Wellness Allowance £500
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted Health Assessments
• Matched Funding

We are a Disability Confident Leader which means we've taken proactive steps to ensure our workplace is accessible and inclusive for disabled and neurodivergent colleagues and candidates. As part of this we offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential requirements of the job.