VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
Senior Strategist, (Passport Brand Design)
Overview
We are seeking a talented Senior Strategist to support a leader brand in a regulated industry. This person will bring strong Brand Strategy and Creative Strategy experience as well as experience in the activation of those strategies across the audience journey. (If you are predominantly another kind of strategist, e.g., CX, content, please be aware that we are prioritizing Brand Strategy and Creative Strategy candidates.)
Role
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with advertising agency experience who can move confidently and comfortably between big-picture brand thinking and hands-on campaign development. They should be able to immerse themselves in the business; partner with Creative teams; collaborate closely with Creative, Account and CX teams; and communicate clearly and compellingly with clients.
Responsibilities
Help define the strategic and creative problems to be solved / opportunities to be seized
Understand the business, brand and audience goals and KPIs
Design and conduct research to analyze category, culture, brand, product and audiences
Optional but preferred: The core priority is consumer experience. A nice-to-have is work with health-care professionals (HCPs), especially pharmacists
Develop audience insights, including tensions to be resolved and needs to be met
Demonstrate fluency with different types of research (e.g., quant, qual, social listening) and data (e.g., MRI)
Write Creative Briefs and Activation Briefs that inform and inspire Creative teams
Work with Creative teams to ensure Brave Ideas, Beautifully Crafted
Determine audience journeys, including key channels across mass, digital, physical, retail and POS, content, social working in concert with CX experts, clients, and client media agency
Understand regulatory environments in client partnership to ensure responsible work
Participate in client meetings, present strategic work, build trusted client relationships
Work closely with Account and Creative teams
Requirements
Priority: Brand Strategy and / or Creative Strategy
Must-have: Consumer experience. Nice-to-have: HCP experience
5+ years experience
Agency experience
Demonstrated ability to develop insights, ideas, campaigns, activations — successful candidates will be able to share an existing sample of past work
Clear, concise, compelling communication skills, both written and oral
Experience in a regulated industry such as nicotine, healthcare/pharma, financial services, alcohol, gaming, or similar is preferred. Must be comfortable supporting a nicotine account.
Experience across the channels and touchpoints noted
Proven ability to work directly with clients
Location
Canada-based candidates only, with preferences for Montreal (first preference) and Toronto (second preference). This role follows a hybrid schedule with an expectation of working onsite approximately three days per week.
The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between the values at the bottom of this posting. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.
-$65,000—$115,000 CADWe 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.
When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.