Group Director Strategy

About VML VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization.

In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55 markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit , and follow along on Instagram, Linked In, and X.

The Group Director, Strategy holds a pivotal leadership role within the VML Brand Strategy team. This individual will help lead a newly secured global portfolio of CPG brands, overseeing and delivering strategic approaches that result in innovative, effective brand strategies and significant business growth for our clients. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and strategic thinker with exceptional communication and leadership skills.

You will excel at evaluating complex data, synthesizing insights into compelling narratives, building strong client relationships, and navigating intricate business challenges. Your ability to inspire teams and foster a high-performance culture will be crucial for achieving excellent strategic and creative outcomes and ensuring client success. You will also be a key contributor to new business development, including pitching and onboarding clients.

• Strategic Craft: Develops compelling and insightful strategic frameworks, craft clear and concise strategic narratives, and translates complex data into actionable insights.
• Strategic Creation and Oversight: Lead the development and execution of strategic plans for a client and project portfolio, ensuring alignment with client objectives and leveraging VML’s strategic resources.
• Research Tools: Proficient in various research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative) and actively utilizes VML’s research tools and resources, while proactively exploring new ones.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Evaluate complex data and research findings to identify key insights, validate assumptions, and draw meaningful implications for brand strategy.
• AI Engineering & Prompting: Understands the capabilities and limitations of AI in marketing and brand strategy, explores and experiments with AI tools to enhance strategic development and execution.
• Innovation Framework Development: Develop and implement frameworks for innovation that guide the creation of new insights and ideas, fostering a culture of creativity and strategic thinking within the team.
• Presentation & Communication: Deliver impactful presentations, confidently addressing client questions and objections, and turning potential challenges into opportunities for deeper understanding and buy‑in.

• Business Development: Identify and communicate opportunities to grow client business, collaborating with the Client Leadership team to develop proposals and secure new projects.
• Project Scoping & Management: Work closely with the Client Leadership team to ensure appropriate scoping of projects, managing resources effectively and delivering projects on time and within budget.
• Awards & Recognition: Lead the write‑up of all WARC 100 award entries, showcasing the effectiveness and impact of VML’s strategic work.
• Measurement and Optimization: Utilize VML’s tools to measure and demonstrate the impact of strategy and work on client business outcomes. Act as a brand guardian, continuously optimizing strengths and mitigating challenges.

• Client Relationship Management: Cultivate and…