Associate Director, Engagement Strategy

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. 

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Associate Director, Engagement Strategy to lead and inspire our team. This role requires a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape, experience in HCP and DTC marketing, and a passion for crafting meaningful customer experiences. You will be a key strategic partner for our clients, translating insights into impactful strategies and tactics.

 

What You'll Do

• Develop a deep understanding of our clients’ customers’ wants, needs, and behaviors across the full customer journey.
• Lead the development and orchestration of engagement and omnichannel strategy, connecting strategic goals to engagement priorities and channel-specific strategies (e.g., social, CRM, website, paid media, apps, rep-delivered and more).
• Translate insights into actionable strategies and tactics.
• Collaborate effectively with strategists, client engagement, medical, and creative teams on business, brand, and communications strategies.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships as a key strategic and business partner.
• Utilize various analytical frameworks and methodologies to analyze data and translate it into concise narratives.
• Manage smaller client engagements and support senior leadership on larger accounts.
• Mentor junior strategists, providing guidance and feedback for professional growth.
• Guide the strategic direction of client work related to brand development and marketing approach.
• Continuously seek to improve client work and actively analyze client challenges and opportunities.
• Encourage the team to explore innovative tools and ideas and pursue growth opportunities.
• Partner with Directors on workshop planning, proposals, measurement strategy, analytics approaches, CX planning, tactical exercises, content generation, and presentation strategies.
• Participate in new business pitches, including market research.

Who You Are

• A critical and analytical thinker, innovator, and visionary who inspires creativity.
• Passionate, familiar, and curious about customer experience (CX).
• Adept at developing strong client relationships based on a deep understanding of their business.
• Highly collaborative and able to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• An excellent communicator, both written and verbal.
• A champion of VML's core values: Connect Meaningfully, Inspire Creatively, Include Purposefully, and Approach Positively.

What You'll Need

• 3-7 years of experience in research and strategic planning.
• HCP and DTC marketing agency experience.
• A Bachelor's degree in a related field. A multidisciplinary background is a plus, encompassing business strategy, marketing strategy, consumer insight, and/or account planning.
• MBA preferred.

 

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.

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