Digital Strategy Director (Health) in England

VML HEALTH is a leading global healthcare agency that partners with clients to build connected experiences across the healthcare ecosystem. A deep understanding of individual needs and behaviour, and how they are connected, allows us to create seamless experiences. We power connections beyond science into human behaviour. Overcoming beliefs and barriers to make life better for patients and healthcare communities is second nature to us.

Within VML HEALTH is the Global Strategy Team (GST), home to a diverse set of strategic thinkers. It represents the highest levels of strategic competency under an agile business model, working independently with clients or as part of an integrated agency team. The GST brings together four key disciplines to build brands and shape the healthcare environment from pipeline development through to loss of exclusivity: Medical Strategy, Engagement Strategy, Brand Strategy, and Medical Consulting. This role sits with the Engagement Strategy team and our European Hub.

About the Position

• Reports to: Head of Engagement Strategy
• Location: Can be based either in our London or Manchester office (hybrid)

This role requires someone with experience either working within a dedicated health agency or managing pharma clients.

Where you shine

As Senior Engagement Strategist, you will lead by understanding the root of client business challenges, framing problems in unexpected ways, and providing inspiration and clarity through thought leadership. Engagement strategy is core to the VML Health strategy capability, providing leadership across strategy, and innovation in customer engagement practices.

The Strategy Director operates independently, leveraging a team of junior engagement strategists to help drive projects, organic growth and new business. The Senior Engagement Strategist is expected to manage the discovery, synthesis, development and business impact of engagement strategies. You’ll be expected to inspire change through innate curiosity, a drive for impact, and an orientation that puts strategy into immediate action.

What your success will look like

Your Day-to-Day Impact

• Develop a deep understanding of our clients’ customers’ wants, needs, and behaviours across the full customer journey.
• Oversee the development and orchestration of engagement and omnichannel strategy – connection of strategic goals to engagement priorities to channel specific strategies (e.g. social, CRM, website, paid media, apps, rep-delivered and more).
• Set expectations for how the segment/audience profile fits into the project and how it helps set the stage.
• Strong understanding of various analytical frameworks and methodologies, and the ability to analyse and translate data into a concise story.
• Lead workshop planning and proposals, development of measurement strategy and analytics approaches, execution of engagement planning and tactical exercises, and content generation and presentation strategies.

Your role with clients

• Oversee strategic development on at least one major client and/or oversee multiple clients.
• Engage with and help manage senior client relationships as a key strategic and business partner.
• Lead and support engagement strategy development on new business pitches.
• Constantly seek to improve client work and actively analyse client’s challenges and opportunities.
• Provide key support and partnership in leading key strategy deliverables by guiding the strategic direction in relation to our clients’ brand development and marketing approach.

Your Role in Team Growth

• Provide guidance and support to Junior and Mid Engagement strategists in strategy development.
• Recognise how to motivate junior strategists – what they need to learn and where they can contribute.
• Challenge team to uncover innovative tools and ideas, and to pursue growth opportunities.
• Demonstrate and inspire team to take risks and challenge convention.
• Collaborate effectively with other strategists, Client Engagement, Medical, and Creative disciplines on business, brand and communications strategies.

Who you are and what you bring

• 7-13 years of experience in overall research and strategic planning experience.
• HCP and DTC marketing agency experience.
• Critical and analytical thinker, innovator and visionary that inspires creativity.
• Demonstrates passion, familiarity, and curiosity with the practice.
• Deep understanding of Global, Regional and local communication context, and strong experience in developing communication plans across these levels.
• A genuine passion for driving innovation within engagement strategy practices.
• Excellent collaboration skills across various business functions, from tech enablement, data, and digital and hybrid production.
• Able to develop strong client relationships and trust based on deep immersion in the client’s business.
• Highly collaborative and able to work effectively across internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a multidisciplinary background, including developing business strategy, marketing strategy, consumer insight, and/or account planning.