Business Director

Company description

in the UK

Spark Foundry, the Acceleration Agency

We help brands to identify, learn and respond to opportunities faster than the competition

Every client has an area of their business they need to accelerate, from short-term goals to long-term transformation

We’ve proven our approach during the most difficult year on record

Now we’re using it to provide a launchpad for their future

Come be an accelerator with us

How we accelerate Planning: an approach that works in practice rather than theory, arming planners with the ability to create cutting edge campaigns Intelligence: a suite of tools that give definitive answers to big questions, and uncovers actionable insights about real people Trading: a model built on flexibility and trusted relationships, underpinned with bold guarantees Relationships: a culture of asking challenging questions to better understand the brief – we are not a ‘yes’ agency People: a strong history of recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds and accelerating their careers Our Commitment We are diverse though our experience, people and the clients we look after - and we celebrate that diversity

Our people hold us accountable to our beliefs and via regular surveys and our grass roots D&I team, The Collective, and internal next generation board, Firestarters, we hold regular events and work continually towards generating ideas, initiatives and educating our people to ensure we are a diverse and inclusive agency

As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Spark Foundry is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion

Overview We are hiring a Planning Business Director to lead planning across one of our most high‑profile UK client partnerships, Haleon, on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract

This role plays a central part in bringing together strategy, media, creativity and data to deliver work that drives meaningful business outcomes

You’ll take ownership of direction, raise the bar for planning quality and help shape how we work across the UK and Ireland

If you enjoy connecting people, ideas and impact, this is a role where your influence will be visible and valued

What you’ll be doing Owning the overall planning direction for the UK Haleon business, ensuring work clearly aligns to business and marketing priorities Acting as a trusted senior partner to Haleon stakeholders, offering clear thinking, challenge and strategic guidance Leading key planning moments such as annual planning and QBRs, focusing on insight, clarity and momentum Bringing together teams across planning, media, digital, commerce, investment and strategy to deliver joined‑up solutions Maintaining high standards of planning quality, stepping in to unblock challenges and manage risk when needed Improving ways of working through collaboration, test‑and‑learn thinking and continuous improvement Connecting strong UK planning into NEU and global conversations so ideas travel further and land with impact Skills we’re looking for Strong experience in planning or media strategy, working across brand and performance activity Confidence managing complexity, with the ability to balance multiple brands, stakeholders and priorities A collaborative leadership approach that provides clarity, direction and support to teams The ability to communicate ideas clearly and influence at a senior client and internal level Commercial awareness, with a clear link between planning decisions and business outcomes Curiosity and adaptability, with a solutions‑focused mindset A genuine commitment to inclusive, open and collaborative ways of working Additional information Spark Foundry offers a wide range of

to support our employees

Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core

such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave

You’ll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including: 📖 Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive

and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups)

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week

At Spark Foundry, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process

If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know

We’ll work with you to ensure the process works for you

Sharing this information will never impact your application

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included. #LI-KE1