Senior Strategist

About the Position

VML UK is seeking a Senior Strategist to join our team in London. In this role, you will develop strategic solutions for major automotive accounts across Europe. This is a hybrid working position at our Sea Containers office in London, SE1.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic thinking across projects and workstreams, from understanding the brief through to creative development, client sell-in, and measuring effectiveness.
• Turn business, customer, cultural, and behavioral information into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
• Develop compelling strategic and creative briefs that give creative teams a clear direction and space to do their best work across CRM, digital, social, search, and dealership assets.
• Support end-to-end CRM communications across Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, including automated and triggered reminders, seasonal promotional campaigns, and ad-hoc owner messaging.
• Develop consideration and conversion activations for individual vehicle nameplates across UK and European markets, ensuring communications ladder seamlessly into wider global brand positioning.
• Contribute to the development of digital servicing journeys, helping increase consideration for official servicing through effective content and customer experience.
• Apply an understanding of modern search behavior, including Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and LLM-ready content, to relevant communications and digital experiences.
• Work closely with Client Services, Creative, Data, and Media partners to develop connected and effective solutions.
• Build strong working relationships with clients and become a trusted and credible strategic partner.
• Present strategic thinking and recommendations clearly and confidently to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Use data, research, and customer understanding to inform recommendations and strengthen the work.
• Challenge briefs and thinking constructively when there is an opportunity to make the work better.
• Contribute to pitches, proactive strategic projects, quarterly thought leadership, and opportunities to grow existing and new client relationships.
• Support more junior members of the strategy team, sharing knowledge and helping raise the quality of strategic output.
• Bring curiosity and new thinking into the team, keeping up with changes in culture, technology, customer behavior, and the wider industry.

Requirements

• Proven experience working as a Strategist or Senior Strategist within an agency environment. Automotive, mobility, or Pan-European client experience would be a strong advantage.
• Experience developing strategic thinking from brief through to creative development and delivery.
• Strong understanding of customer behavior, customer journeys, and how different communications and experiences work together.
• Experience across some combination of brand, communications, CRM/lifecycle marketing, digital, social, search, or customer experience.
• Confidence presenting strategic thinking and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.
• The ability to interpret data and research and turn it into meaningful insight.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex information clear and compelling.
• Experience working collaboratively with Creative, Client Services, Data, Media, or other specialist teams.
• Experience contributing to pitches and/or proactive strategic projects would be beneficial.
• Experience supporting or mentoring more junior team members would be advantageous.
• An understanding of modern search trends, AI, LLMs, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) would be beneficial.

Nice to Have

• Automotive Experience
• Modern Search Trends
• AI and LLMs
• Generative Engine Optimisation

We Offer

• The opportunity to work on high-profile clients and commercially meaningful challenges.
• The chance to work alongside talented people across Strategy, Creative, Client Services, and specialist disciplines.
• A genuinely collaborative environment where different perspectives are encouraged.
• The opportunity to work across a broad range of strategic challenges and develop your experience.
• A culture that values good thinking, curiosity, collaboration, and people who aren't afraid to challenge the status quo.
• Strong learning, development, and career progression opportunities.
• A competitive package, hybrid working, and access to the full suite of company and group benefits.

About the Company

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.

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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