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Group Director Strategy - CX (Health)

Wunderman Thompson

$100,000 - $230,000 / year

Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesFull-timeOn-siteExpert

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Description

Who We Are

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.

About VML Health:

 VML HEALTH is a global healthcare agency that partners with healthcare clients across a broad definition of health, from high science to wellness and everything in between. It operates fluidly within the VML agency, as a core group of health specialists (a ‘vertical’) that has the benefit of autonomy in management, but with support of non-health expertise. 

At the heart of health is the story of life – all the highs and lows, ambitions, and possibilities. But facing a health challenge can suddenly pull people away from these stories, knocking them off course.

Our purpose is to bridge this gap, bringing people closer to life and all its meaning. We gain a deeper understanding of Healthcare Professionals’ and patients’ needs, behaviors and lived experiences through what we call ‘radical empathy’.

VML Health creates connected brands that get to the heart, bringing people closer to the lives they want to live.  Get to the heart. Connect for life.

What We Are Looking For:

A strategic and driven Group Director of Engagement Strategy to lead and inspire our team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in healthcare marketing, a passion for CX, and a deep understanding of omnichannel strategy. We seek a leader who can build strong client relationships, manage complex projects, and mentor junior strategists to reach their full potential.

 What You'll Do:

  • Develop a deep understanding of our clients’ customers’ wants, needs, and behaviors across the full customer journey.
  • Oversee the development and orchestration of engagement and omnichannel strategy, connecting strategic goals to engagement priorities and channel-specific strategies (e.g., social, CRM, website, paid media, apps, rep-delivered, and more).
  • Provide guidance and support to Associate Directors and Directors in strategy development.
  • Collaborate effectively with other strategists, Client Engagement, Medical, and Creative disciplines on business, brand, and communications strategies.
  • Engage with and help manage senior client relationships as a key strategic and business partner.
  • Set expectations for how the segment/audience profile fits into the project and how it helps set the stage.
  • Oversee strategic development on at least one major client and/or oversee multiple clients.
  • Recognize how to motivate junior strategists, understanding their learning needs and areas of contribution.
  • Provide key support and partnership in leading key strategy deliverables, guiding the strategic direction related to our clients’ brand development and marketing approach.
  • Continuously seek to improve client work, actively analyzing client challenges and opportunities.
  • Challenge the team to uncover innovative tools and ideas and pursue growth opportunities.
  • Demonstrate and inspire the team to take risks and challenge convention.
  • Lead workshop planning and proposals, developing measurement strategies, analytics approaches, CX planning, tactical exercises, content generation, and presentation strategies.
  • Lead and support strategy development on new business pitches.

 Who You Are:

  • A critical and analytical thinker, innovator, and visionary who inspires creativity.
  • Passionate, familiar, and curious about the CX practice.
  • 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.
  • An excellent communicator, both written and verbal.
  • A strong leader and mentor.

 What You'll Need:

  • 7-13 years of experience in market research, strategic planning, and customer experience (CX), with a demonstrated focus on the healthcare industry.
  • Proven experience in managing and mentoring teams, with a focus on developing and fostering talent.
  • A deep understanding of omnichannel strategy and the ability to connect strategic goals to engagement priorities across various channels.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and address complex business challenges.
  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong client relationships at the senior level.
  • Experience in developing and delivering compelling presentations and proposals to clients and prospects.
  • A strong understanding of the healthcare industry, including HCP and DTC marketing dynamics.
  • A collaborative and team-oriented approach to work, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
  • A proactive and self-motivated work style, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

 What We Offer:

  • Passionate, driven people: We champion a culture of people who do extraordinary work.
  • Consciously cultivated culture: We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
  • Competitive benefits: What we offer full-time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
  • Growth-minded opportunities: We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, a growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

#vmlhealthcareers

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

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$100,000—$230,000 USD

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. 

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

Benefits

  • Growth-minded opportunities: We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, a growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

About this role

This role leads customer experience strategy for VML Health's healthcare clients, requiring someone with 7-13 years of experience in strategic planning and CX, with demonstrated expertise in healthcare marketing. You'll develop omnichannel engagement strategies that connect client business goals across channels like social, CRM, paid media, and digital platforms, while managing senior client relationships as a strategic partner. The position involves overseeing strategy work on major accounts, leading workshops and new business pitches, and collaborating across internal disciplines including medical, creative, and client engagement teams.

The Group Director reports to senior leadership and mentors Associate Directors and Directors on the strategy team, so strong leadership and coaching skills are essential. You'll need to balance analytical rigor—identifying client challenges, measuring strategy effectiveness, and driving innovation—with the ability to inspire creative risk-taking and challenge conventional thinking. Success here depends on deep immersion in clients' healthcare businesses, comfort with both HCP and DTC marketing dynamics, and the ability to synthesize complex customer journey insights into actionable strategic direction.

This is an in-office role in Kansas City with a salary range of $100,000–$230,000. It suits experienced healthcare strategists ready to move into a leadership position where they can shape client work, develop talent, and drive business growth through customer-centered strategy.

How this employer is doing

average

  • H1B: Sponsors Visas
  • Leadership Change
  • Recent Acquisition
  • Sponsors Visas

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Pay for this role

$100,000 to $230,000 per year

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