Role Overview: 

The Director of Strategy plays a pivotal role within the VML Brand Strategy team, leading the development and execution of innovative brand strategies for key clients. This individual will help lead a newly secured global portfolio of CPG brands. This role requires a strategic thinker with a proven ability to translate complex business challenges into actionable marketing solutions that deliver measurable results. The Director will lead strategic engagements from inception to completion, fostering strong client relationships, collaborating with internal teams, and driving business growth for VML and its clients. This individual will be a key contributor to the new business process, including strategy development, client engagement, and onboarding. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Product 

• Strategic Leadership: 
  • Develop the strategic approach and outcomes to effectively solve client challenges, ensuring alignment with business objectives and market factors, leveraging VML's strategic processes and resources. 

• Strategic Craft: 
  • Develop compelling insights, strategic frameworks, and clear, concise narratives, translating complex data into actionable opportunities. 

• Research & Analysis: 
  • Proficiently use various research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and actively leverage VML's tools and resources, while proactively exploring new ones. Identify significant research findings and synthesize them into actionable analyses, insights, and strategies that inform impactful creative solutions. 

• Strategic Activation: 
  • Translate approved strategies into compelling and effective activations, ensuring seamless execution across all channels. 

• 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. 

Strategic Process 

• Business Development: 
  • Identify and communicate opportunities to grow client business. Play a key role in new business pitches, including developing pitch strategy and presenting to prospective clients. 

• Project Scoping & Management: 
  • Collaborate with Strategy and Client Leadership teams to ensure appropriate project scoping, managing resources and budgets effectively. 

• Awards & Recognition: 
  • Contribute to the writing of WARC 100 Award entries, showcasing the impact and effectiveness of client and team 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. 

 People Management  

• Client Collaboration: 
  • Proactively engage with clients at all levels to understand their business challenges and opportunities, build strong relationships, and collaborate on developing winning strategies. 

• Internal Collaboration: 
  • Maintain strong and productive collaboration with internal teams, ensuring seamless communication, efficient workflow, and the delivery of high-quality work that enhances client offerings. 

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: 
  • Motivates and empowers individual team members, fostering a collaborative environment, encouraging them to exceed expectations. 

 Desired Skills and Experiences: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of relevant industry experience in brand strategy, preferably within an agency setting, with integrated experience across CX, social, and retail.
• CPG experience is essential, with beauty/skincare/feminine care experience being a strong plus.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute effectively within global integrated agency teams.
• Experience working with a variety of clients across different industries.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing and emerging technologies, including AI.
• Expertise in brand positioning, messaging, and narrative development.
• Track record of successfully building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities.
• A passion for innovation and a commitment to staying ahead of industry trends. 

 Additional Considerations: 

• Experience with specific industry verticals (e.g., CPG, Financial Services, Healthcare).
• Active participation in industry organizations and events.
• Personal interest in the CPG category (or relevant categories).