Senior Strategist

VML; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

VML seeks a Senior Experience Strategist to drive human-centered research and actionable insights within BX teams. You’ll synthesize environmental trends and user data, shaping value propositions and strategic rigor for client brands.

A multidisciplinary background fuels your capability to navigate complex problems and illuminate opportunities. You’ll work across workshops with clients and colleagues, translating insights into strategic direction, measurement plans, and innovative experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and multidisciplinary background in related fields.
• Interest in brand experience, product management, business strategy, and innovation.
• 3–5 years of applicable experience.

Responsibilities

• Execute environmental and trend analyses and translate into insights.
• Plan, execute, and synthesize various types of research.
• Analyze data and user analytics to derive actionable recommendations.
• Consider human needs, business strategy, and competition to identify value propositions.
• Drive prioritization to identify high-value opportunities.
• Help craft measurement plans to assess impact over time.
• Lead workshops with clients to push strategic discussions.
• Collaborate with brand strategy leads, BX teammates, and account leadership.
• Contribute to VML experience strategy and IP thought leadership.

Skills

Problem solving

Critical thinking

Creativity

Design thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, strategic planning, business strategy, psychology, sociology, or anthropology

Job description

Who We Are

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brandsthat drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100.VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn.

VML is in search of a Senior Strategist

As a Senior Experience Strategist, you will be a key contributor to a human-centered approach that translates human empathy and an understanding of the world into meaningful and impactful experiences. Working as an integral part of the brand strategy and experience (BX) teams, you will be a primary driver of research (primary and secondary) and synthesizing into actionable insights. You will play a critical role as a core team member, contributing across all phases of a BX project, leading defined workstreams and contributing to team problem-solving and communication responsibilities.

What you’ll do:

• Independently execute environmental and trend analyses, and translate into insights
• Plan, execute, and synthesize various types of research
• Dive deeply into data and user analytics to understand behaviors and results, and develop actionable recommendations
• Understand and consider the interconnectedness of human needs, business strategy, and competitive landscape to determine unique value propositions and business-critical must-wins
• Drive prioritization efforts to identify highest-value opportunities
• Help craft measurement plans to understand impact of solutions and drive optimization over time
• Participate in and facilitate workshops with clients to help push strategic discussions and alignment
• Partner with brand strategy leads, BX teammates and account leadership to deliver on all client needs
• Contribute to the VML experience strategy and BX thought leadership and IP

Who you are:

• Strong problem solving and troubleshooting skills; superior critical thinking skills
• An innovator and visionary with a creative imagination and a way of working that inspires creativity
• A demonstrated passion, familiarity, and curiosity with design thinking methodology
• A demonstrated passion for creating solutions that deliver and capture value for an organization, its customers, and its employees
• Ability to communicate effectively, aggregating information into an intuitive, easy-to understand flow (both orally and written)

What you’ll need:

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree and a multidisciplinary background, preferably in a related major such as marketing, advertising, strategic planning, business strategy, psychology, sociology, or anthropologyor equivalent experience
• Interest in brand experience, product management, business strategy, and innovation
• 3-5 years applicable experience

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.

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$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.