Initiative is Nike and Jordan Brand's media agency of record across EMEA, leading integrated media strategy, planning, activation, measurement, and data and technology services across 34 markets.

Working on Nike is a unique opportunity to shape communications for one of the world's most iconic brands. The Initiative EMEA team is made up of talented specialists from across the media landscape, united by a shared ambition to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that connect brand and performance and create meaningful business impact.

As a Communications Planning Manager, you will play a pivotal role in developing integrated communications strategies and leading campaign delivery across EMEA. You will be responsible for building strategic comms plans, managing day-to-day client relationships, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring campaigns are delivered seamlessly across multiple markets.

Success in this role requires strong experience in integrated, multi-channel planning. You will work in close partnership with specialist teams across TV, Digital, Out of Home (OOH), Partnerships, Print and Radio to develop cohesive communications plans that leverage the strengths of every channel and deliver best-in-class outcomes for Nike.

Key Responsibilities

Client Management

• Act as one of the client's primary day-to-day contacts, providing timely, accurate responses and coordinating deliverables across specialist teams.
• Build strong relationships with client stakeholders and partner agencies, ensuring all communications are managed efficiently and no request goes unnoticed.
• Lead weekly status meetings with clients and internal teams, providing clear updates on project progress, timelines and next steps.
• Deliver high-quality recommendations and strategic inputs that support the client's communications objectives and business growth.
• Partner with internal discipline leads to understand creative requirements, manage asset delivery timelines and ensure campaigns remain on track.

Integrated Planning

• Support integrated campaign planning and delivery from briefing through execution, including timeline management, deck development, campaign logistics and communications planning across TV, Digital, Out of Home (OOH), Partnerships, Print and Radio.
• Work closely with the Associate Director / Director to refine and implement partnership / creator strategies, ensuring they align with overall media strategy and campaign objectives. Develop detailed project plans to turn ideas into successful campaigns.
• Take ownership of smaller briefs and local activations, coordinating with specialist teams to deliver seamless, multi-channel communications solutions.
• Participate in client briefings, translating client objectives into clear actions and communicating requirements to Client Advice leadership, Strategy, Communications Design and Partnership teams.
• Act as the internal client advocate, ensuring recommendations, planning and execution consistently reflect client priorities and commercial objectives.
• Collaborate with Associate Directors, Directors and specialist teams to develop RFPs, evaluate responses and create best-in-class communications plans.
• Develop integrated communications ecosystems that extend beyond paid media through the inclusion and measurement of owned, earned and shared channels.
• Own the aggregation of media plans, coordinating client approvals, purchase orders and campaign sign-off processes.
• Manage campaign budgets, forecasts and investment tracking across markets, ensuring financial accuracy throughout campaign delivery.
• Coordinate production workstreams, asset delivery and campaign logistics while working closely with channel specialists, operations, production agencies and City teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Contribute to ad hoc projects, including Strategic Business Reviews (SBRs), as required.

Industry & Innovation

• Contribute regularly to ideation team sessions, generating creative & compelling connections idea.
• Keep a finger on the pulse of what’s new in media, researching new channels opportunities and feeding ideas into planning.
  
  

Desired Skills & Experience

• Bachelor degree in related field or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in an integrated planning, communications or media role within an agency, publisher, vendor or related communications environment.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end media planning process, from briefing and strategy development through to activation, optimisation and campaign delivery.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders and workstreams simultaneously across fast-paced, complex environments.
• Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to build trusted partnerships and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with confidence presenting recommendations to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly organised with strong project management, prioritisation and attention to detail, while remaining calm under pressure.
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to influence across teams, bringing specialist disciplines together to deliver integrated communications solutions.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing junior team members is desirable.
• Relevant category or audience experience is advantageous.
• Required PC proficiency and solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)