At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct research and analysis to support innovative commercial strategies in healthcare.
- Company: Join VML, a leading creative agency known for its impactful work with top global brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on creativity and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare by transforming complex data into actionable insights.
- Qualifications: Degree in Life Sciences or related field; analytical skills and teamwork are essential.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
VML, part of WPP, 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 human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's.
The Global Strategy Team within VML Health is home to a diverse collective of bold, curious strategic thinkers. Operating within an agile model, we partner seamlessly with clients and collaborate as part of integrated agency teams. We are united by Radical Empathy, immersing ourselves in the lives and beliefs of the people we serve to uncover the unspoken tensions where the most powerful insights begin.
This role sits within our Commercial Strategy team, based within the VML Health EU Hub. Our Commercial Strategy team helps to shape how an asset, franchise, or portfolio creates sustainable competitive advantage—through early alignment on scientific narrative, unmet need, evidence and differentiation strategy, competitive foresight, and category context.
We take a consultative approach to support clients through strategic programs with a particular focus on early commercialization, market readiness, category leadership and patient engagement and advocacy. Grounded in early cross-functional working, integration of the patient voice, and expert partnership, the team works with a variety of global clients, involving close collaboration with our creative, engagement, medical education and marketing teams to deliver creative solutions.
We are looking for a Commercial Strategist to provide rigorous research, analysis, and project support to enable high-quality delivery of Commercial Strategy engagements and new business pitches. This role helps transform complex scientific, clinical, and market information into clear strategic implications and client-ready outputs. The Commercial Strategist will contribute across core Commercial Strategy workstreams, including unmet need and market assessment, competitive foresight, secondary research and insight synthesis, primary research (e.g., interviews, advisory boards, workshops), strategic scientific narrative and value architecture, evidence generation and differentiation, and market readiness/activation planning.
Requirements:
- Strong analytical capability and comfort working with scientific/clinical information in a commercialization context
- Ability to synthesize complexity into clear insights, implications, and well-structured content
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong planning and organization skills; able to manage multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment
- Collaborative team player with an ownership mindset; dependable and detail-oriented
- Professionalism in client communication and external stakeholder interactions
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)
Experience:
- Experience in healthcare, life sciences, consulting, agency strategy, pharma/biotech, medical communications, clinical research, or scientific academia
- Demonstrated experience producing high-quality research outputs and translating findings into actionable recommendations
- Exposure to multi-stakeholder healthcare environments is a plus
- Experience supporting workshops, interviews, advisory boards, or similar collaborative working sessions is desirable
Knowledge and skills:
- Understanding of core commercialization concepts
- Ability to apply an adoption/value lens
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work with ambiguity
- Ability to apply structured thinking to build coherent strategic outputs
- Strong attention to detail
- Practical project support skills
Personal characteristics:
- Proactive, curious, and learning-oriented
- Comfortable taking direction, asking smart questions, and iterating quickly
- High standards for quality and clarity
- Flexible and resilient in a fast-moving environment
Qualifications:
- Degree-level qualification (Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, or similar). Advanced degree is a plus but not required.
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.
Commercial Strategist employer: VML South Africa
VML is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, empowering employees to lead innovative social strategies for top-tier brands. With a strong emphasis on professional growth and development, team members are encouraged to expand their skills and capabilities in a supportive environment, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the fast-paced world of social media.
