Retail Media Strategist

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.

Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

The opportunity: We are searching for an enthusiastic Retail Media Strategist to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be working directly with top brands and play a vital role in developing and executing effective media strategies that drive customer engagement and revenue growth. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to create targeted media campaigns that resonate with the right audience. Your expertise in digital marketing, analytics, and consumer behaviour will be instrumental in optimising clients' retail media efforts, whether they are veteran retail media enthusiasts or looking to open their capabilities for the first time.

What you’ll be doing:

• Client Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, acting as a trusted advisor and providing strategic guidance on retail media in VML.
• Project Leadership: Lead retail media projects from inception to completion, ensuring that they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.
• Retail Media representation across WPP internally: Become a representative for retail media during internal pitching, scopes and proposals with prospect clientele.
• Media Strategy & Planning: Develop innovative and effective retail media strategies that align with the client's business objectives and marketing goals, with a strong focus on full-funnel performance. Ensure all relevant media channels, including social commerce, are strategically considered within the overall media plan to maximise reach and impact.
• Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams, including creative, strategy, and account management, to ensure seamless campaign execution.
• Innovation & Thought Leadership: Stay abreast of the latest retail media trends and technologies and proactively identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyse campaign performance data, identify trends, and generate insightful reports to inform client strategies.

What we want from you:

• Experience in media planning: Proven experience in media planning, digital marketing, or a related field within the retail industry.
• Client Facing Experience: Proven experience in client facing roles (Two years minimum).
• Strong Retail Media industry understanding: Having a strong understanding of retail media full funnel, opportunities, networks and platforms. UK most important and followed by France, Germany, Netherlands. Other regions still applicable.
• Strong understanding of Retail Media Networks: Strong understanding or experience (2 years) on CitrusAds and/or Criteo. Other Retail Media Networks also applicable.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and concisely.
• Problem-Solving: A proactive problem-solver who can identify challenges and develop effective solutions for clients today using the available resources within WPP.
• Team Player: Collaborative and enjoys working in a team environment.
• Passion for Learning: Eager to learn more about Retail Media full funnel and how it is actioned, launched and optimised.

If you know some of this, even better: Design or creative background is a bonus.

What we can offer you: Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are. We offer a great 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.

Our personality and behaviours: We believe that we are what we do, not just what we say. Our shared values and behaviours show how to bring the VML Enterprise Solutions culture to life through the actions we all take every day: Connect Meaningfully, Include Purposefully. Our brilliant, talented people are what makes VML Enterprise Solutions what we are. That’s why we look for people who go beyond and always push our thinking to be better than yesterday.

AT VML Enterprise Solutions, our Enterprise Solutions division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects and skilled developers and operators that together help some of the world’s leading organisations to deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide: marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B and social platforms. With over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centres across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from customer acquisition, through engagement, to conversion and loyalty, driving multi-channel growth for world-leading brands.

We work with some of the most exciting brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co. We’ve built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $29bn annually for our clients and work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, HCL, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools and Acquia. Our reputation is based on our people, and we believe we have some of the best in the business. As our business grows internationally, we’re looking for new people to join us on our journey to inspire and take a key role in shaping some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. Working as a team, no problem is insurmountable; we share in our client’s successes and believe that anyone can show creative bravery no matter what their role is in the team.

WPP (VML Enterprise Solutions) 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.