Role Overview:

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. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Product 

• 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. 

Strategic Process 

• 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 

People Management 

• Client Relationship Management: 
  • Cultivate and maintain strong, long-term client relationships at all levels, fostering trust and driving repeat business. 

• Team Leadership & Motivation:
  • Lead and inspire a team of creatives, strategists, and other partners, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. 
  • Keep teams focused, on task, and enthusiastic about their contributions to complex initiatives.
  • Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to team members, fostering their professional development and encouraging them to exceed expectations. 

Desired Skills and Experiences: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in brand strategy, advertising, or marketing consulting, ideally with integrated experience across CX, social, and retail.
• CPG experience is essential, with beauty/skincare/feminine care experience being a strong plus.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful brand strategies.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage senior clients in high-level business discussions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word).
• Experience with industry-standard research tools and methodologies.
• Deep understanding of digital marketing and emerging technologies, including AI.
• Experience working with a variety of clients across different industries. 

Additional Considerations: 

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
• Experience working in a global agency environment.
• Existing relationships with senior-level clients.