Senior Social Commerce Strategist (Permanent)

London, United Kingdom

About the Position

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that 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 #WeAreVML.

Responsibilities

• Commercial Strategy & Value Creation

  • Build and own the commercial case for social commerce investment.
  • Set and pressure-test the numbers behind the plan.
  • Advise clients on where budget works hardest.
  • Protect client margin as volume scales.

• Strategic Leadership

  • Develop social commerce strategies aligned to client business objectives.
  • Design the operating model that makes the strategy deliverable.
  • Own the go-to-market gate.
  • Build strategies that unify paid, organic, creator, and affiliate activity.

• Client & Business Leadership

  • Act as trusted strategic advisor to senior client stakeholders.
  • Interrogate and shape briefs, define scope and approach.
  • Identify and shape opportunities to extend the work.
  • Build and deliver arguments that land in the room.
  • Develop points of view, frameworks, and IP that position VML as the leading end-to-end social commerce partner.

• Team & Delivery Leadership

  • Line-manage and develop a small team of strategists.
  • Lead multi-discipline pods across creative, media, data, technology, and delivery.
  • Lead projects end to end – on time, on budget, and to the standard we want to be judged by.
  • Willingness to work at client locations and travel to key markets as the work requires.

Requirements

• Substantial experience in social, digital, or commerce strategy – typically 7+ years, with meaningful time spent on social commerce specifically, agency, or brand side.
• Genuine commercial fluency: comfortable building and defending a channel P&L, unit economics, and a forecast.
• Demonstrable experience setting KPIs and being held to them.
• Deep, current expertise across social platforms and their commerce ecosystems, with hands-on TikTok Shop experience strongly preferred, alongside Meta.
• Experience designing operating models and launching or scaling a social commerce programme.
• Experience line-managing or formally mentoring strategists.
• Track record with global brands and senior client stakeholders.
• Experience in consumer packaged goods or a related sector is highly desirable.
• Strong measurement and analytical instincts.
• Excellent presentation and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to digest, interpret, and respond to briefs at pace.
• Consultative, pragmatic, and creative mindset.
• Customer-first mindset.
• Degree qualified, ideally in Marketing, Business, Economics, Communications, or a related field.
• Passionate about social, commerce, and the possibilities of reinventing how people discover and buy.

Nice to Have

• Experience with retail media and marketplace channels.
• Experience with social listening and analytics platforms.
• Experience with social advertising and commerce platforms and affiliate or creator management tooling.
• Working knowledge of ecommerce and fulfilment infrastructure.
• Experience with influencer and creator marketing.
• Understanding of search, SEO, and emerging AI-led discovery and agentic commerce.
• Experience with structured test-and-learn programmes, A/B testing, and optimisation.
• Multi-market or multi-language experience across EMEA.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a senior team.

We Offer

• Competitive benefits package including a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, opportunities to buy and sell holidays, family-friendly policies, discounts with hundreds of retailers, and much more.
• Culture that thrives on core values: Heart, Brains, and Courage.
• Opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world.
• Prioritization of career development and skill growth.

About the Company

At WPP Enterprise Solutions, we design, build, and operate the growth systems that competitive businesses rely on. In a world where AI is reshaping how companies drive growth, we lead clients in business transformation and marketing modernisation, connecting strategy directly to execution.

Our 12,000 experts in engineering and platforms, commerce, consulting, content transformation, CRM, and CX, work within a unified global operating unit across 40+ markets. WPP Enterprise Solutions works alongside best-in-class partners including Adobe, AWS, Braze, Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Shopify, as well as innovators in AI, to deliver growth solutions tailored to the needs of our clients’ businesses.

To find out more, visit enterprisesolutions.wpp.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

WPP Enterprise Solutions 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.

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.

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