Manager, Implementation Planning & Activation

Role Summary and Impact

Your Global Media Career, Centred in Malaysia. Join WPP Media’s Regional Operations Centre (ROC) in Kuala Lumpur, our dynamic hub for delivering world-class media operations and strategy to global clients.

 Here, you will not just support, but influence. Working on a portfolio of international accounts, you'll tackle the kind of complex, multi-market campaigns that define a career. You will be part of a high-energy, multicultural team, collaborating with WPP experts across the region and gaining direct exposure to global best practices in media, data, and technology.

 WPP Media is channelling significant investment into our people, processes, and AI capabilities right here in Malaysia. Joining the ROC at this foundational stage means you will be at the core of our regional growth. This is more than a job; it's a launchpad for your global career.

The Manager, Cross-Channel Implementation & Activation is a core delivery role responsible for shaping and executing best-in-class implementation plans and campaign activation across multiple channels and platforms. You own the quality, accuracy, and performance of campaign output across your client portfolio — from reviewing briefs and leading the planning process, through to campaign build oversight, QA sign-off, and final reporting.

You are the central point of accountability across the implementation and activation workflow, ensuring every stage — from brief to live to wrap — is delivered with precision, strategic alignment, and clear communication with the client servicing team. You work closely with your Senior Manager/Performance lead and develop and direct your Senior Executive to maintain standards and meet SLAs throughout.

Responsibilities

Brief Management & Planning

• Review incoming briefs from the client servicing team, address any gaps or questions, and confirm the brief is ready to move into planning.
• Lead and oversee the end-to-end media planning process — directing the Senior Executive, reviewing output at each stage, and ensuring strategic alignment throughout.
• Review completed media plans, confirm they are accurate and ready for distribution, and share with the client servicing team for client review.
• Receive consolidated client feedback from the client servicing team, direct plan revisions with the Senior Executive, and ensure the updated plan is returned promptly for client distribution.
• Receive and communicate plan approval confirmation from client servicing to the Senior Executive, ensuring the team is aligned and ready to move to build.

Campaign Build & Activation

• Receive campaign structure from the client servicing team, ensure the team is fully briefed, and confirm SLA timelines are understood and achievable.
• Stay informed of campaign build progress, proactively flagging any risks to delivery or timelines.
• Check budgets across all active campaigns to ensure full alignment with the approved media plan before going live.
• Conduct the final QA review and sign-off on all campaign builds before previews are shared with the client servicing team for client review.
• Receive client approval or feedback from client servicing, coordinate all required changes with the team, and confirm final campaign activation.

Optimisation & Performance

• Remain informed on pacing performance and any budget or delivery risks across active campaigns, taking action or escalating where necessary.
• Lead in-flight optimisation decisions — monitoring campaign performance, diagnosing issues, and directing the team to make adjustments that maximise delivery against client KPIs.
• Drive a culture of testing — identifying opportunities across audiences, formats, placements, and bidding strategies to continuously improve performance.

Reporting

• Conduct the final review and sign-off on all post-campaign and performance reports before they are shared externally.
• Ensure reports are accurate, insight-driven, and clearly articulate performance, learnings, and recommendations.
• Share approved reports with the client servicing team in a timely manner, in line with agreed reporting cadences.

Platform & Partner Expertise

• Maintain deep, up-to-date knowledge of platform capabilities, product updates, betas, and best practices across key channels — programmatic, paid social, paid search, and beyond.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media partners and publishers to stay ahead of innovation and surface opportunities for clients.
• Engage with WPP Media's internal product and technology teams to identify and apply proprietary solutions where relevant to client briefs.

People & Team Leadership

• Manage and develop the Senior Executive, providing clear direction, regular feedback, and stretch opportunities.
• Manage team workload across the full campaign lifecycle, ensuring quality, accuracy, and SLA compliance at every stage.
• Collaborate effectively with client servicing, planning, data, and specialist teams to ensure seamless end-to-end delivery.

Finance & Compliance

• Ensure all bookings, loadings, budget reconciliations, account queries, and monthly proforma checks are completed accurately and on time.
• Maintain oversight of financial compliance across all active accounts, escalating discrepancies promptly.

Skills and Experience

• 4–5 years of media agency experience with a strong focus on implementation planning and campaign activation.
• Proven ability to lead the end-to-end implementation planning process — from brief review through plan sign-off, build oversight, and final QA.
• Deep hands-on platform expertise across two or more channels —paid social (Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat), paid search (Google Ads, SA360), or programmatic (DV360, The Trade Desk).
• Experience working within a structured workflow involving client servicing, planning, and activation teams — comfortable owning your stage of the process and collaborating effectively across functions.
• Strong QA mindset — high attention to detail with a zero-tolerance approach to errors in plans, campaign builds, and reports before they reach clients.
• Confident managing and directing junior team members, with clear communication and a coaching approach.
• Analytical ability to monitor pacing, identify delivery risks, and make timely optimisation decisions.
• Well-organised with the ability to manage multiple campaigns, briefs, and team priorities simultaneously without compromising on quality.
• Proactive problem-solver who takes ownership and drives resolution.
• Genuine passion for platforms, ad tech, and the craft of implementation.

 

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising.  

 

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.  

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. 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 note that while our philosophy is the same across WPP, benefits may vary by office/country.

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