Group Director Strategy (Health)

Company: VML South Africa
Location: New York
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

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.WHERE YOU SHINEAs Group Strategy Director (Brand) you will partner with a renowned CPG giant to develop a portfolio of brands aimed at professionals in the dermo-cosmetic category (think dermatologist and aestheticians) primarily, and potentially other portfolios that include well known dental and veterinarian driven brands. So, you will be at the forefront of dermo-cosmetics trends, anticipate opportunities and obsessively look for innovative ways to connect with your audiences. We are looking for someone who is passionate about the space, can collaborate to solve business challenges and knows how to leverage science/data and emotion to ensure relevance.What you'll do:

• Guide client team via strategic points of view/roadmaps to build their brands in an always evolving, cluttered category
• Proactively mine industry trends, cultural and audience insights to fuel breakthrough ideas.
• Challenge category cliches to ensure clear, resonant, and actionable brand and campaign strategies
• Oversee and/or execute brief development in collaboration with internal partners (Creative, Account, Engagement, Social)
• Help develop actionable segmentations to identify most valuable Professional audience (s), coms plans and messaging framework leading up to compelling narratives
• Lead innovative activations to engage audiences in unexpected but effective ways
• Co-lead development of social platforms and KOL/DOL programs
• Propose/sell-in/ lead high-impact strategic workshops. Ensure excellence in logistics, creativity of approach, and optimization potentialWhat you'll need:
  • 10-15+ years of experience in overall strategic planning and brand-building, having worked across complex brand portfolios in OTC/ personal care- skin health experience a plus
  • Experience promoting to professionals/ HCPs such as dermatologists, aestheticians, cosmetic nurses, dentists, dental assistants, etc.
  • 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.
  • As a critical and analytical thinker, innovator, and visionary, you will play a crucial role in inspiring creativity and guiding the team toward success.
  • Managerial experience (leading & building a team)
  • Qualitative and quantitative research proficiency
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Brand Launch experience is preferred
  • Capable of independently drafting a creative brief based on client needs
  • Minimum of a bachelor's degree and a multidisciplinary background, including developing business strategy, marketing strategy, consumer insight, behavior change and/or account planningWhat 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.#vmlhealthcareersVML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.
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Keywords: VML South Africa, Union City , Group Director Strategy (Health), Executive , New York, New Jersey