Vice President - Strategy & Planning

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, 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.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Planning:

• Setting strategic goals and ensuring alignment with overall agency objectives.

• Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer and Office Head in shaping the agency's overall strategic direction.

• Conduct thorough market research and analysis to uncover insights that inform the development of effective advertising strategies.

• Campaign Development:

• Deep dive into analysis of Category, Competition, Consumer, Culture & Brand to come up with & articulate unique, differentiated insights.

• Create an integrated strategy platform for campaigns/pitches that will serve as an ideal springboard for creative team.

• Lead the development of strategic briefs that guide creative teams in the ideation and execution of impactful campaigns.

• Ensure that strategic plans align with client objectives, target audience insights, and market trends.

• Data and Analytics:

• Utilize data-driven insights to inform strategic recommendations and optimize campaign performance.

• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and new tools that can enhance the effectiveness of account planning processes.

• Client Collaboration & Presentations:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, understanding their business goals, challenges, and market dynamics.

• Present strategic plans and insights in a compelling and persuasive manner.

• Lead strategic discussions with clients, providing insights and recommendations that drive effective advertising strategies.

• Effectively communicate the rationale behind strategic recommendations and demonstrate how they align with clients' business goals.

• People Management:

• Partner and collaborate with other teams, including Creative, Account Management, and Media, to ensure seamless integration of strategic plans.

Skills and Competencies

• Graduate/Post-Graduate in Marketing, Advertising, Business, or a related field with 12+ years of experience in strategic planning within a mainline advertising agency.

• Proficiency in utilizing data and analytics to drive insights and decision-making.

• In-depth understanding of market research, consumer behavior, and advertising trends.

• Strong leadership, interpersonal and people management skills.

• Ability to think creatively and strategically to solve complex business challenges.

• Executive level presentation

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit  www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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