At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global brand strategy and inspire teams to achieve ambitious growth objectives.
- Company: VML, a top creative company known for innovative work with leading brands.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment that values creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of global brands and drive impactful strategies.
- Qualifications: 20+ years in strategic marketing with experience in global agency networks.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
VML 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 award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions. 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.
The Global Director of Strategy and Planning will be the strategic architect and visionary leader behind a fast-growing global brand. This individual will define, articulate, and champion the brand’s strategic vision — helping the brand achieve its ambitious growth objectives while, more importantly, defining what comes next. The role requires translating complex insights and business objectives into clear, inspiring narratives that drive creativity, consistency, and performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Brand Vision and Definition: Own and articulate the global brand vision, ensuring it remains clear, differentiated, and culturally relevant across markets. Set our “North Star”. Continually look to drive the brand forwards, ensuring we constantly innovate and evolve while maintaining brand equity. Maintain a “What’s Next” mentality. Synthesize, simplify, and storytell complex strategic and business information into compelling, actionable direction for clients and internal teams. Champion the adoption of AI tools and platforms to accelerate strategic development.
- Strategic Ownership: Define measurable strategic KPIs aligned with business outcomes and marketing performance. Ensure strategic focus and priorities are clear. Help the brand focus on what matters. Drive data-driven decision making to help prioritise and focus initiatives based on insights.
- Consumer Obsession: Be the voice of the consumer in the business. Understand who we are talking to, what drives them, and how we can tailor our approaches accordingly. Partner with the insights team to fully understand the business, performance, and consumer behaviours.
- Partnership & Collaboration: Act as a senior strategic partner to the client’s global leadership team, providing thought leadership and counsel at the highest level. Build deep, trusted relationships across client and agency leadership to enable alignment, collaboration, and innovation.
- Innovation & Thought Leadership: Be the champion of strategic innovation — exploring new ways to drive brand growth through creativity, data, and cultural intelligence. Lead thought leadership initiatives to position the brand at the forefront of industry thinking.
Key Qualifications & Experience:
- 20+ years of strategic experience in marketing, advertising, or communications, ideally within a global agency network.
- Proven experience leading global brand strategy for large, complex, multinational clients.
- Deep understanding of brand building, consumer insights, cultural trends, and integrated marketing planning.
- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to connect strategic vision to tangible business outcomes.
- Track record of leading and inspiring diverse global teams, balancing strategic direction with creative collaboration.
- Exceptional communicator and storyteller.
- Experience working within or alongside trade, category, and shopper marketing functions is highly advantageous.
- Comfortable operating in fast-paced, matrixed global environments with multiple stakeholders.
Leadership Attributes:
- Visionary: Able to define and inspire long-term brand direction and purpose.
- Integrator: Brings together diverse markets, disciplines, and perspectives under one coherent brand strategy.
- Collaborator: Builds trusted relationships across teams, geographies, and organisations.
- Innovator: Constantly seeks new and better ways to deliver strategic and creative excellence.
- Mentor: Develops talent and fosters a culture of curiosity, creativity, and continuous improvement.
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.
Head of Strategy employer: twentysix
CNS Media is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration within the marketing and media landscape. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer extensive professional development opportunities and a vibrant work culture that values creativity and teamwork. Located in a dynamic environment, our award-winning agency not only encourages ambitious growth plans but also provides a platform for meaningful contributions to the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategy
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like twentysix!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Head of Strategy position at twentysix via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at twentysix.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to twentysix’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at twentysix
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to twentysix. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at twentysix. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to twentysix.
