Senior CRM Strategist - Hudson Rouge

VML South Africa; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Strategist to drive innovative strategies for a luxury automotive brand. This role blends creativity with analytical thinking, requiring collaboration with creative and data teams to craft compelling strategies that resonate across digital and experiential campaigns. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in loyalty program development and consumer behavior analysis, with a passion for storytelling through data. Join a dynamic team committed to excellence and creativity, where your contributions will shape the future of luxury marketing.

Benefits

Competitive Benefits Package

Inclusion and Belonging Initiatives

Career Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years in loyalty and retention program development.
• Experience with automotive or luxury brands is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of strategies to enhance customer loyalty.
• Analyze data to inform strategies and uncover growth opportunities.

Skills

Loyalty Program Development

Consumer Behavior Analysis

Market Insight

Collaboration Skills

Presentation Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or Related Field

Tools

CRM Platforms

Digital Marketing Tools

Job description

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 IS HUDSON ROUGE?

Hudson Rouge (a VML company) is a luxury boutique marketing and communications agency that works solely on luxury brands and is the exclusive agency of record for the Lincoln Automotive business across all channels. We combine brand strategy, media strategy, activation, digital, social, earned media, production and analytics to provide exquisitely crafted creativity. We are a small group of people spread across several offices — New York, Detroit, Shanghai, Toronto, and Mexico City — and we care for each other as much as we care for our clients. We are an agency that prides itself on doing the un-usual, and we also look for unusual talent: people who are excited about doing their best work and want to grow with us. We are an agency that prides itself on the highest levels of craft and concept.

About the job

Reporting in the CSO, the Senior Strategist will support the strategic charge for one of the most recognizable automotive brands in the world. This role requires a mix of creativity, analytical thinking, and market insight. You’ll collaborate with our talented creative, account, and data teams to ensure strategies are rooted in cultural relevance and consumer behavior. Your goal? Craft compelling strategies that drive innovation, differentiate the brand, and resonate across every touchpoint—from digital to experiential campaigns.

What You'll Do

• Owner Strategy: Lead the development of Owner strategies that builds loyalty and retention among owners of the client’s automotive brand.
• Customer Journey Mapping: Partner with analytic teams to map consumer journey, and identify key touchpoints we can intersect with in meaningful ways along their path.
• CRM and 1:1: Develop and optimize membership reward programs and incentives, conceptually packaging them together in a suite of owner benefits (ie service, CPO, APP etc) via direct marketing.
• Market & Consumer Insights: Analyze data, research trends, and extract insights to inform strategy and uncover new growth opportunities.
• Client Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with clients, serving as a trusted advisor to translate their business objectives into actionable strategies.
• Thought Leadership: Stay ahead of industry and cultural trends, bringing new perspectives to the table and contributing to the agency's strategic vision.
• Performance Measurement: Develop KPIs, monitor campaign performance, and iterate on strategies to drive measurable business impact.

What We're Looking For

• 3-5+ years of experience in Owner, loyalty and retention program building and optimization (agency or client-side experience).
• Automotive, luxury, or premium brand experience is highly desirable.
• A deep understanding of consumer behavior, cultural trends, and digital ecosystems.
• Proven ability to transform data and insights into compelling brand narratives.
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence creative ideas and build client trust.
• Excellent presentation skills—you can tell a great story and back it up with logic and insight.
• Familiarity with CRM, digital platforms, and multi-channel campaigns.

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

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.