Planning Director - 1 Year FTC

About Us GOOD is a purpose‑driven strategy and creative agency working with brands and charities to build a better world through ideas that create real, measurable impact. We combine sharp strategic thinking with bold, culturally aware creativity to help organisations stand for something meaningful and show up in ways that genuinely make a difference.

Role Summary We are seeking an experienced Planning Director to join us from 1st September on a one‑year fixed‑term contract to cover maternity leave. 

The Planning Director is a senior role within our strategy team and will offer strategic leadership across our charity, business and public sector clients, using communications as a force for GOOD.

This is a commercially highly important role, working closely with the agency’s senior management team. Crucial to this role is winning new business for the agency, spotting opportunities within our existing client base and helping to shape the agency’s offer.

This Director will possess brilliant communication skills, a strong point of view and gravitas to be in the room where important strategic conversations are happening and demonstrate experience and flair to influence and challenge.

They should have a finger on the pulse, with trends both in UK and worldwide and will be a trusted GOOD ambassador and Client partner. Whilst their focus is commercial brands, they will, as required, contribute strategy and insight (higher up the funnel) to Charity and Not for Profits. They will possess commercial sector knowledge, be creative, ROI and Impact driven. Being a self-starter, entrepreneurial and resourceful in meeting the growing and changing needs of clients.

They should have experience working on social issues, though we’re open to whether this experience is predominantly in the charity, business or public sector – or ideally a combination of all of the above.

They should be able to ascertain the problems keeping Clients awake at night, and they'll help solve those very problems with efficient and effective strategy leading to award-winning creative and communication solutions. But most importantly, to deliver real world impact.

They must be at ease with handling and interpreting data and intelligence. Be adept at utilising various types of research for evidential substantiation. Come with an impressive ability to synthesise and crystallise information into a strong audience insight that feels innovative and disruptive. They'll know what it takes to drive earned, not just paid media, hard, within messaging and comms planning phases.

They’ll understand, and be sensitive to, the creative process - knowing how to push and pull creativity to answer a brief, drawing the very best out of creative talent, defending, challenging and honing work. Reporting on learnings and performance, post campaign, to take forward, next time.

Key Responsibilities Insight & Strategy:   Effective diagnosis of Client problems with strategic nous to know the strategic approach needed to solve it.  Applying the right diagnostic tools during intelligence phase for audience, Brand/Charity, Culture, issue to be solved - leading to differentiated learning and insights.  Strong ability to distil and crystalise learnings into deep audience first, data-driven insights and integrated, strategic narratives.  Can write a killer brief that’s going to get creative excited, leading to fresh, disruptive, and impactful work.  Understands and can deliver a strong red thread to run through a strategic story - from intelligence, strategy, into comms planning and creative.  Is up to date with innovative research techniques, trends etc to integrate into the planning process.  Is a champion and ambassador of Integration at GOOD New Business Development: Helps GOOD hone its product and service offer, answering key problems for clients in the charity and commercial sector, opening new income streams for the agency and working closely with Marketing & New Business.  Will create strategic content and door opening narratives for bespoke new client approaches, working on pitches and converting wins.  Can write a pitch-winning deck in the time available across a broad range of briefs: purpose, brand, product, other tactical.  Can influence clients and building strong relationships in the pitch process.  Can define and produce proprietary thinking, research, blog posts and deliver event content that help clients answer their biggest challenges.

Championing Effectiveness:  Works alongside clients and colleagues to build a culture of impact, marketing effectiveness and measurement.  Turns successful work into effectiveness case studies that win awards, based on solid marketing theory and models.  Can analyse portfolios and integrated campaigns, advising on transformation / innovation needed for future growth

Client Development:  Ensures healthy client relationships, particularly with our key retained clients.  Can proactively outreach to develop new relationships and can grow organic business.  Leads the management of portfolios, including running quarterly and annual planning meetings.  Works with client services to identity key growth opportunities with existing clients, successfully selling additional projects.  Team and Agency Culture:  Contributes to the agency and team’s culture, sharing knowledge and inspiration.  Manages stakeholders at all levels of seniority, to ensure alignment and integration. Helps people feel like they have agency and involvement in the planning process.  Trains and develops staff and carries out essential pastoral care such as appraisals etc and implements necessary talent management protocols i.e. recruitment, career planning, reviews, grievances, with support of the HR team.

Benefits Salary range: between £70,000 - £80,000 (depending on experience). Hybrid Working - Office days between Tuesday to Thursday 25 days paid holiday per calendar year plus public holidays Office closure between Christmas and New Year, 3 days in total 1 day off for your birthday Holiday Buy scheme Enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave Personal Development – work related & non-work related training Cycle to work & Season ticket loans Employee Ownership – Part ownership of the business Tax free annual bonus Medical Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme Charitable Giving Scheme