Managing Director Strategy

$125,000 - $295,000/Yr

Vml - Seattle, WA

Full-time - Senior

Seattle, WA

10,001+ employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Managing Director of Strategy at VML is a senior leadership role focused on driving strategic initiatives and delivering impactful experiences for clients. This position requires a deep understanding of the intersection of people, culture, technology, and business, and involves leading a team to translate research and insights into actionable strategies. The role emphasizes collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that creative work aligns with strategic goals and meets client expectations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and deliver quality research, translating it into solid insights.
• Proactively recommend insight mining plans to craft strategy for clients/pitches.
• Ensure a solid final product is delivered; challenge the team's analytical thinking to ensure clear, compelling, and actionable analysis for clients or pitches.
• Guide junior strategists in developing skills in analysis and insight mining.
• Train strategists on positioning fundamentals and how to synthesize research into meaningful insights.
• Oversee and guide brief development in collaboration with internal partners (Creative, Client Engagement); Secure CSO and client approval.
• Partner with Creative Directors to ensure that all creative work for the account aligns with the strategy and reflects our best possible work—bold, differentiated, and compelling.
• Inspire and challenge the team to take creative risks.
• Ensure the final creative shown to clients aligns with the creative brief.
• Partner with clients to drive business and strategy; propose/sell-in of high-impact, profitable workshops.
• Ensure excellence in logistics, creativity of approach, and client satisfaction.

Requirements

• 10-15+ years' experience in overall strategic planning and brand-building, having worked across complex brand portfolios.
• A breadth of global experience, retail with QSR a plus.
• Managerial experience (previous experience leading & building a team).
• Able to develop strong client relationships and trust based on deep immersion in the client's business.
• Highly collaborative and able to work effectively across internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A multidisciplinary background in developing a marketing strategy, consumer insights, and brand planning.
• A proven track record of influencing award-winning creative work.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching