📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Manager, WW Media Planning
🔹 Company: Apple
🔹 Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States
🔹 Job Type: On-site, Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 22, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading a global media planning team to develop and execute innovative, effective media campaigns across all channels
- Managing a multimillion dollar budget and optimizing media spend to achieve campaign goals
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners to align media strategies with broader marketing goals
- Staying ahead of emerging trends, behaviors, audiences, and ad technology in the rapidly evolving media landscape
- Driving data-driven insights and performance metrics to continuously optimize campaigns and inform strategic decision-making
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and deep expertise in media planning and advertising to drive successful global campaigns.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Oversee a team of planners and media partners in the ideation and execution of media plans focused on brand building and performance
✅ Manage a multimillion dollar budget while optimizing media spend to achieve campaign goals
✅ Build and maintain strong partnerships with global media agencies to ensure creative and effective campaigns
✅ Stay informed about new trends, behaviors, audiences, and ad technology to continuously innovate media strategies
✅ Collaborate with senior leadership to align media strategies with broader marketing goals
✅ Lead data-driven insights and performance metrics to optimize campaigns and drive strategic decision-making
✅ Brief and support global media teams in implementing local campaigns
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking, hands-on campaign management, and effective leadership to drive success in a dynamic, global environment.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: 16+ years of experience in media advertising, including 8+ years in direct people management
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in briefing and executing cross-channel media plans that drive performance
- Knowledge of media metrics and measurement opportunities
- Experience partnering cross-functionally with various teams and third-party vendors
- Experience managing large media budgets and negotiating favorable media placements
Preferred Skills:
- Deep expertise in the communication process and how different inputs and messaging impact the customer journey
- Proven experience in implementing A/B testing strategies for ad creatives, audiences, or platforms
- Extensive knowledge in media analytics and audience planning
- Ability to move between broad strategic alignment and deep specific approaches depending on the audience
- Current knowledge and experience in channel planning across all channels, especially digital and social
- Provide thought leadership in emerging media and technology
- International media planning or buying experience
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in media advertising, proven leadership skills, and a data-driven approach will be best suited for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $180,000 - $220,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a senior manager role in marketing with 10+ years of experience in the Silicon Valley area)
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) matching and employee stock purchase plan
- Generous time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
- On-site fitness centers, cafes, and other employee perks
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility to work additional hours as needed to meet deadlines or manage projects
ASSUMPTION: The provided salary range is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience, skills, and negotiation.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Apple operates in the highly competitive technology and electronics manufacturing industry, with a strong focus on innovation, design, and customer experience
Company Size: Apple is a large, publicly traded company with over 200,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects, but may also come with more structured processes and slower decision-making
Founded: Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. The company has since grown to become one of the world's leading technology companies, known for products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Company Description:
- Apple is committed to bringing the best user experience to its customers through innovative hardware, software, and services
- The company values simplicity, elegance, and intuitive design in all its products and services
- Apple is known for its strong brand, customer loyalty, and commitment to environmental sustainability
Company Specialties:
- Consumer electronics manufacturing
- Software development and design
- Retail and customer service
- Online services and content distribution
Company Website: https://www.apple.com/
ASSUMPTION: Working at Apple offers the opportunity to collaborate with talented individuals on groundbreaking products and services, but may also come with high expectations for performance and innovation.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is a senior management position, requiring a high level of expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership skills
Reporting Structure: The Senior Manager, WW Media Planning will report directly to the Director of Global Media Planning and will oversee a team of media planners and partners
Work Arrangement: This role is on-site, with the expectation of working from the Apple office in Sunnyvale, California. Some flexibility for remote work may be available, but the role requires regular on-site presence for collaboration and team management
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a director or vice president role within the media planning team or related functions
- Opportunities to work on high-profile campaigns and projects, gaining valuable experience and exposure
- Chance to develop leadership and management skills by mentoring and coaching team members
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within Apple's marketing organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Apple's Sunnyvale office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and innovation
Office Location(s): Sunnyvale, California
Geographic Context:
- The Silicon Valley area is known for its vibrant tech industry, offering ample opportunities for networking and professional growth
- The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm, dry summers
- Sunnyvale is a diverse, multicultural city with a variety of housing options, restaurants, and recreational activities
Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is typically Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility to work additional hours as needed to meet deadlines or manage projects
ASSUMPTION: Working in the Sunnyvale office offers the opportunity to collaborate with talented team members in a dynamic, innovative environment.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team to discuss qualifications and fit for the role
- In-depth behavioral and technical interviews with members of the media planning team and other stakeholders
- Case study or presentation to demonstrate problem-solving skills and strategic thinking
- Final interview with the hiring manager or a panel of senior leaders
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Leadership and management capabilities
- Expertise in media planning and advertising
- Data-driven decision-making and analytics skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Apple's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of Apple's brand and marketing strategies in your application materials
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- Research recent Apple marketing campaigns and be prepared to discuss your thoughts on their effectiveness and potential improvements
ATS Keywords: Media Planning, Media Advertising, Budget Management, Cross-Channel Campaigns, Media Metrics, Strategic Thinking, Leadership, Apple, Global Marketing
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role may be competitive, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their unique qualifications and fit for the position.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Media planning and buying platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads)
- Data visualization and analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Google Analytics)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
- Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Slack)
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have experience with relevant media planning and advertising tools, as well as a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Accessibility
- Education
- Environmental Stewardship
- Inclusion and Diversity
- Privacy
- Quality
- Sustainability
- Truth
- Accessibility
- Education
- Environmental Stewardship
- Inclusion and Diversity
- Privacy
- Quality
- Sustainability
- Truth
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Data-driven and analytical
- Innovative and creative
- Results-focused and accountable
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Apple's values in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in a project or campaign?
- How do you approach collaboration and teamwork, particularly when working with diverse stakeholders?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their alignment with Apple's values and work style in their application materials and interviews.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a large budget and optimizing media spend in a rapidly evolving media landscape
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners across different time zones
- Balancing strategic thinking with hands-on campaign management and team leadership
- Adapting to changes in Apple's marketing strategies and priorities
- Maintaining a strong work-life balance in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to address these potential challenges and demonstrate their ability to thrive in a demanding, high-pressure role.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike other media planning roles, this position focuses on global, cross-channel campaigns and requires a strong strategic mindset
- Apple's emphasis on innovation and design differentiates it from other technology companies, offering unique opportunities for creative problem-solving
- Career paths in media planning may vary depending on the organization's structure and priorities, but this role offers opportunities for growth within Apple's marketing organization
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should research similar roles at other companies to better understand the unique aspects of this opportunity at Apple.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a global media campaign to launch a new Apple product, optimizing media spend across multiple channels and regions
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of Apple's media performance and identifying opportunities for improvement and cost savings
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create and implement a targeted media strategy for a specific customer segment or market
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their relevant experience and accomplishments in media planning and advertising, highlighting their ability to drive results in a global, cross-channel context.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into Apple's overall marketing strategy, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics, and how this role will collaborate with other functions within the marketing organization?
- How does Apple approach data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization in media planning?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and growth within this role and the broader marketing organization?
- How does Apple support work-life balance, particularly for employees in senior management positions?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should prepare thoughtful, insightful questions that demonstrate their interest in the role and commitment to driving success at Apple.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, emphasizing your strategic thinking, leadership, and media planning expertise
- Prepare for behavioral and technical interview questions by reflecting on your past experiences and accomplishments, using the STAR method to structure your responses
- Research recent Apple marketing campaigns and be prepared to discuss your thoughts on their effectiveness and potential improvements
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR contact within one week of submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
