VML
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:
VML is a seeking a Senior Strategist to join our team. We are looking for a strategic thinker who can bridge the worlds of brand positioning and cultural insight. This role is part brand architect, part cultural anthropologist-someone who understands how to define what a brand stands for and how to ensure it thrives in the shifting cultural landscape.
In this role, you will uncover human truths, decode cultural trends and translate them into actionable strategies that inspire creative work, strengthen brand equity and connect meaningfully with audiences.
You'll collaborate closely with creatives, account teams, analysts and clients to bring insights to life through clear strategic points of view, platform-native thinking and performance-informed content strategies. You'll be a key partner to the Brand Strategy team, Creative team and maintain a close working relationship with the Connections (Social) team to ensure ideas are grounded in culture and behavior. This role reports into the Brand Strategy Lead and requires someone who can see both the big picture and write briefs that can lead to a social strong pulse, specifically on culture.
What you'll do: Develop clear, distinctive brand positioning, purpose and messaging frameworks and crafting compelling briefs based on consumer insights and cultural trends. Track and interpret cultural trends, subcultures and movements to identify opportunities for brand relevance. Conduct cultural audits and trend mapping to inform brand voice, partnerships and storytelling. Continuously monitoring brand social channels and relevant online conversations to identify engagement opportunities to insert the brand in social conversations. Leveraging data platforms (e.g. social listening, audience builders) and intelligence tools to translating data and research into actionable insights Synthesize audience insights into clear narratives that guide decision-making. Advise clients and internal teams on cultural sensitivity, authenticity and innovation in messaging and activation. Partner with account, creative and social teams to translate strategy into campaigns, content and experiences that are on-brand and culturally relevant. Analyzing and understanding consumer behavior, social media comments and differentiating user behavior across different platforms. Mentor junior strategists and contribute to the agency's thought leadership on culture and brand. Bring curiosity, flexibility and initiative to everything you touch. You're here to help shape how brands show up in culture. What You'll Need:
Minimum 5 years' experience in a brand and cultural strategy role in an agency environment Strong understanding of brand architecture, positioning and go-to-market strategy Proven ability to identify and interpret cultural signals across industries and platforms Experience using cultural and behavioral insights to inform content strategy and brand storytelling Skilled in building decks, presenting strategic work and translating insights into clear recommendations for clients and internal teams Ability to adapt and be flexible, whether with new tools, platforms, processes, etc. Excellent storytelling, writing and presentation skills Strong communication and critical thinking skills Curious, proactive mindset with a knack for connecting dots others miss Passion for culture, creativity and continuous learning Comfortable working across multiple workstreams in a fast-paced, collaborative environment CPG experience a plus 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.
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.
$60,000-$140,000 USD
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. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.
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:
VML is a seeking a Senior Strategist to join our team. We are looking for a strategic thinker who can bridge the worlds of brand positioning and cultural insight. This role is part brand architect, part cultural anthropologist-someone who understands how to define what a brand stands for and how to ensure it thrives in the shifting cultural landscape.
In this role, you will uncover human truths, decode cultural trends and translate them into actionable strategies that inspire creative work, strengthen brand equity and connect meaningfully with audiences.
You'll collaborate closely with creatives, account teams, analysts and clients to bring insights to life through clear strategic points of view, platform-native thinking and performance-informed content strategies. You'll be a key partner to the Brand Strategy team, Creative team and maintain a close working relationship with the Connections (Social) team to ensure ideas are grounded in culture and behavior. This role reports into the Brand Strategy Lead and requires someone who can see both the big picture and write briefs that can lead to a social strong pulse, specifically on culture.
What you'll do: Develop clear, distinctive brand positioning, purpose and messaging frameworks and crafting compelling briefs based on consumer insights and cultural trends. Track and interpret cultural trends, subcultures and movements to identify opportunities for brand relevance. Conduct cultural audits and trend mapping to inform brand voice, partnerships and storytelling. Continuously monitoring brand social channels and relevant online conversations to identify engagement opportunities to insert the brand in social conversations. Leveraging data platforms (e.g. social listening, audience builders) and intelligence tools to translating data and research into actionable insights Synthesize audience insights into clear narratives that guide decision-making. Advise clients and internal teams on cultural sensitivity, authenticity and innovation in messaging and activation. Partner with account, creative and social teams to translate strategy into campaigns, content and experiences that are on-brand and culturally relevant. Analyzing and understanding consumer behavior, social media comments and differentiating user behavior across different platforms. Mentor junior strategists and contribute to the agency's thought leadership on culture and brand. Bring curiosity, flexibility and initiative to everything you touch. You're here to help shape how brands show up in culture. What You'll Need:
Minimum 5 years' experience in a brand and cultural strategy role in an agency environment Strong understanding of brand architecture, positioning and go-to-market strategy Proven ability to identify and interpret cultural signals across industries and platforms Experience using cultural and behavioral insights to inform content strategy and brand storytelling Skilled in building decks, presenting strategic work and translating insights into clear recommendations for clients and internal teams Ability to adapt and be flexible, whether with new tools, platforms, processes, etc. Excellent storytelling, writing and presentation skills Strong communication and critical thinking skills Curious, proactive mindset with a knack for connecting dots others miss Passion for culture, creativity and continuous learning Comfortable working across multiple workstreams in a fast-paced, collaborative environment CPG experience a plus 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.
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.
$60,000-$140,000 USD
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. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.