Strategy Director

Chicago, IL, United States

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for a creatively driven integrated Strategy Director to work across a portfolio of well-known CPG brands to inspire creatives to drive transformational work. This is a fantastic opportunity to partner with clients known for their commitment to embrace innovative, purpose driven and inclusive work. The Strategy Director will champion working with cross functional teams to guide strategy across US work. The Strategy Director will leverage intelligence insights to tell impactful stories from the earliest research stage through creative development, communication planning and campaign evaluation. At the core of this role is the ability to glean and share human insights, a voracious curiosity, a collaborative nature, and the ability to inspire strong, impactful communications.

A note about workstyle: VML would like candidates for this position to be comfortable going into our New York office 3 days a week at a regular cadence of Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

What you'll be doing:

Partner with account leadership to support the overall management of client business relationships including strategy development, creation of briefs, briefing teams, campaign performance monitoring and ongoing client communications.

Lead integrated agency team in day-to-day creation and management of campaigns, driving a high performing, cross-functional team to deliver work that drives efficiencies in content across touchpoints and exceeds client targets.

Possess an inherent interest in consumer behavior and examine the way that brands communicate in order to find the intersection of brands, culture, and creativity.

Collect, analyze, and interpret information from a variety of sources: market data, quantitative research data, cultural and social trends monitoring, qualitative interviews/conversations, observational research.

Work with the creative and account management team to ensure all client deliverables are flawlessly executed and on strategy.

Encourage proactivity, creativity and collaboration between the strategy and creative teams to ensure the sharing of work and innovative thinking.

Use your experience and knowledge to inspire and motivate the team.

Orchestrate brand planning, strategic planning, and analytical activity in concert with the creative and account management teams to establish disruptive ideas.

Truly collaborate with groups of clients, account managers and creative in the development of inspiring creative briefs that translate insights into innovative and strategic campaign strategies.

What You'll Need:

A minimum of 7+ years in brand strategy/planning, marketing consulting or advertising.

The ability to think on your feet and an eagerness to explore all available resources to think outside the box.

Zealous passion for rolling up your sleeves to bring ideas to life with cross-functional teams.

Strong interpersonal/communication skills; you will be face-to-face with various departments and client teams at their busiest moments.

Must have a pulse on cultural and social trends with the ability to translate these trends into insights and creative opportunities.

An expertise in data sources, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and a keen eye of when and how to apply them to client challenges.

The ability to thrive in a highly collaborative and diverse team. Must be able to lead and work in an integrated team environment and be comfortable collaborating with teams from different regions and different agencies.

A self-starter approach and true sense of ownership regarding work at each point of delivery.

Excel in leading and owning the development of client presentations and leading client meetings.

What we offer:

Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.

Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.

Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

$75,000-$180,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization-creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers-who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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