Group Director, Engagement Strategy (Health)
Wundermanthompson · Chicago, Illinois, United States; Kansas City, Missouri, United States; New York, New York, United States · Posted Jul 6, 2026
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Who We Are
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 agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com .
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…