VML Catalyst Academy 2026 - Singapore

VML; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency is seeking participants for its APAC Catalyst Academy in Singapore. This 18-month paid program includes rotations across various departments such as Account Management, Creative, and Customer Experience. Candidates will collaborate with internal teams, manage client projects, and gain exposure to industry practices. This is an opportunity to grow foundational skills and develop creative ideas in a dynamic environment. Legal right to work in Singapore is required, and prior experience is not necessary.

Benefits

Paid training program

IPA Global Certification funding

Exposure to various departments

Work in a collaborative environment

Qualifications

• Legal right to work in Singapore required.
• No previous industry experience needed.
• Creativity and communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with teams to deliver agency solutions.
• Support various project executions and campaign management.
• Conduct market research and strategic brand positioning.

Skills

Collaboration

Fast-paced adaptability

Strategic planning

Creativity

Client communication

Job description

VML APAC Catalyst Academy (Location: VML Singapore)

Who We Are

At VML, Human First is our guiding creative philosophy: we create value for people first, knowing this drives authentic and sustainable brand impact. We are a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. We connect Brand Experience, Customer Experience, and Commerce to craft unified, emotionally resonant consumer journeys. Our 26,000 people across 50-plus markets are the heart of our company. Their perspectives, local expertise, and cultural insights drive creativity and innovation, making talent our most critical competitive advantage.

Are You Ready to Ignite Your Future?

At VML, we don't just adapt to the future – we shape it. And this is your opportunity to shape yours, with an 18‑month, paid rotation across Account Management, Planning, Creative Technology and Customer Experience. The Catalyst Academy is VML's flagship early‑career program, grooming our future leaders by creating opportunities for rotational learning, structured programming, development and exposure to clients and internal stakeholders and decision makers.

The Catalyst Academy

This 18‑month, fully paid, rotational program places participants in four different departments, enabling them to create meaningful experiences for consumers and customers in an all‑inclusive work environment. You will also have the opportunity to complete the fully paid for IPA Global Certification, consisting of self‑learning modules and a final exam.

What You Will Do

Account Executive – Core Responsibilities

• Collaborate with all the team and client, effectively deliver full agency capabilities and support our clients in meeting their business challenges and objectives.
• Understand the client brief, work alongside all departments within the agency such as Account Management, Creative, Experience (UIUX) and Strategy to ensure VML are always delivering the best solution, pulling in other members of the VML team as and when required.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment and juggle multiple projects is a must.
• Support the respective teams to effectively deliver full agency capabilities and support our clients in meeting their business challenges and objectives.
• Day to day support across the team including shadowing the senior team members to assist with the delivery of campaigns and projects.
• Creating and managing campaign reports which document campaign creative and results.
• Coordinate the execution of projects and provide general support to the team.
• Opportunity to run smaller campaigns of your own (with team support and guidance).
• Service introduction, contract negotiation, assisting in communication and clarifying issues between both parties.
• Project Management: Overseeing the execution of advertising campaigns, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meeting client expectations.
• Creative Briefing: Briefing the creative team on client requirements, providing direction, and ensuring creative concepts meet client expectations and brand guidelines.
• Communication and Coordination: Facilitating communication between internal teams such as creative, strategy, and production, as well as coordinating with external vendors and partners.
• New Business Development: Identifying opportunities for upselling or expanding services to existing clients, as well as participating in pitches and proposals to secure new business.

Junior Planner – Core Responsibilities

• Strategic planning: contribute to brand positioning, brand communications and creative campaign strategies, based on research using different research methodologies.
• Experience and service design: contribute to persona and customer journeys for new services and new experiences, infused by the brand and based on different design research and design thinking methodologies.
• Market research and analysis: Conduct regular trend, consumer, and market observations, and provide insights to support proposals based on different project needs.
• Brand positioning and messaging strategy: Identify the media and consumer touchpoints for target demographics, enhance the consumer journey, and provide recommendations.
• Advertising strategy development: Formulate comprehensive advertising strategies, including media selection, advertising formats, promotional activities, etc.
• Data analysis and performance evaluation: Evaluate advertising effectiveness through data analysis and provide improvement suggestions.
• Client communication and management: Work closely with clients to understand their needs and negotiate advertising strategies.
• Data‑drive communication: Contribute to touch point planning, performance marketing planning and data‑driven personalised communication journeys.
• Support communication strategies and campaign implementation across different channels.
• Contribute to brand positioning, competitor insights and creative strategy work.
• Work closely with different teams to provide strategic inputs, market surveys, research, etc.
• Understand and grow foundational skills across research, analysis and lateral thinking.

Junior Creative Technologist – Core Responsibilities

• Learn how to have a strategic approach to brand design and can execute ideas with great attention to detail and creativity.
• Work across a diverse range of categories, on a wide variety of design projects.
• Continually learning about people, design and technology, improving your design practice and growing as part of a team.
• Developing and contributing to exceptional work that exceeds client expectations.
• Get involved in workshops and ideation sessions, developing relationships, and working towards good outcomes.
• Support creation of innovative and imaginative art/copy content according to creative briefs and deadlines.
• Work with entire creative team to develop inspiring integrated campaign ideas.
• Perform ongoing research on current industry trends to maintain fresh and relevant perspective in all communications.
• Support the team to bridge the gap between creativity and technology to digitally optimise creative output.
• Thrive on exploration and experimentation, at the heart of co‑creating ideas and bringing them to life with a complimentary skill set spanning across all functions within the agency.
• Creative ideation / process, and beyond.
• Identify opportunities to enhance / reinforce existing ideas with the creative application of technology.

Customer Experience Executive – Core Responsibilities

• Experience and service design: Contribute to persona and customer journeys for new services and new experiences.
• Assist in the creation and refinement of customer personas, using research and stakeholder inputs.
• Support the mapping of end‑to‑end customer journeys for new services, products, and experiences.
• Contribute to identifying significant touchpoints and opportunities across customer journeys.
• Participate in workshops or brainstorming sessions to design improved or innovative service touchpoints.
• Document design outputs (journey maps, blueprints, experience flows) in a clear, structured manner.
• Data‑driven research: develop and interpret customer research and insights across the customer journey.
• Assist qualitative and quantitative data‑driven research, including surveys, interviews, desk research, and social listening.
• Analyze data to uncover trends and translate findings into actionable insights that guide experience improvements and communication strategies.
• Track customer satisfaction metrics and support reporting on CX performance and trends.
• Omnichannel, personalized journey thinking to deliver targeted messaging across the communication ecosystem.
• Support the design and evaluation of customer experiences across multiple touchpoints – web, app, retail, CRM, social, media, and service channels.
• Work with internal teams to ensure consistent experience delivery across the full communication ecosystem.
• Help monitor customer interactions across channels to identify friction points or inconsistencies.

Please apply if you have the legal right to work in Singapore (this is a fully on‑site job in our office in Singapore). The program participants are not offered accommodation or local travel arrangements/allowances (we do not require previous work industry experience or knowledge).

Along with your online application/resume, you must submit your video profile to us on [e-mail]. To be considered for the Catalyst Academy, we need both your resume and your video profile.

Video Profile Details

At VML, being Human First is our guiding creative philosophy. We believe the most powerful ideas – the ones that truly move people and businesses forward – are born from a deep and empathetic understanding of human needs, desires, and motivations. Our Human First approach means we create value for people first, knowing that this is the most authentic and sustainable way to create value for the brands we serve. And we live by our Core Values – Heart, Brains, and Courage. Know more about VML's Core Values HERE.

Create a compelling story as to who you are: how you resonate with VML's core values, why you decided to apply for the Catalyst Academy 2026, what really stood out for you and how that links to the future direction you want to head in (make the video a truly creative and authentic representation of who you are!).

What are we looking for?

• 90 seconds maximum
• Big ideas, not big budgets/productions, or big file sizes (record using only a mobile phone)
• We are looking for your ability to create a compelling story, demonstrate creativity and individuality, communication skills and outside the box thinking.
• We do not expect you to be an actor or seasoned speaker. If you struggle with presenting, you can be creative and think further than 'piece to camera' format. Be original and let your personality shine through.
• Submit the video in English (must)
• Submit the link of your video to [e-mail].

We are working to ensure the process is as accessible as possible. If you require any accommodations, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure you're comfortable and supported.

Thank you again for all the time and your interest in joining The APAC Catalyst Academy 2026! 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.