Senior Strategist – Freelancer

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Who we’re looking for:

VML Lisbon is looking for a Senior Freelance Strategist for a minimum of 4 months.

• Solid experience in developing brand strategies. With an excellent ability to tell stories, generate insights, and have a passion for delivering excellent work.
• An integrated vision of communication. Able to develop strategies across all channels, including digital.
• Proven ability to develop insight-driven campaigns. Able to synthesize and translate abstract and complex concepts and content into simple and innovative solutions that create clear opportunities to build strong omnichannel experiences for the client.
• Vision and ability to execute. Enjoys driving a vision and bringing it to life, diving into the details.
• Empathy and curiosity for the consumer. A consumer advocate, with an insatiable curiosity about their motivations and needs, able to understand their entire journey.
• Passion for creating exceptional experiences. Delivering omnichannel experiences throughout the consumer journey lifecycle, with a focus on driving client business.
• Analytical and creative ability. Able to analyze a situation, break it down, and find the solution.
• Inspired by trends. Aware of new consumer trends applied to brands and businesses and emerging technologies, while maintaining a focus on solving brand needs.

What you’ll do:

• Development of Communication Strategies
• Clear and inspiring creative briefs, with a comprehensive point of view for current clients and new business.
• Work with the Head of Strategy in developing briefs and proposals for new business.
• Collaborate with the creative team to develop concepts.
• Establishing metrics and analyzing results.
• Writing proposals in collaboration with project management teams and other specialties.
• Collaborate across disciplines and hierarchies.
• Manage projects within established deadlines.

Who you are:

• Creative and systematic thinker. Knows how to use both the analytical and creative sides of the brain to find the perfect balance to develop effective and engaging strategies.
• Excellent communicator. Good presentation skills.
• Detail-oriented. Developing points of view on brands, inspiring innovation, and driving decisions and results. Also able to discover, synthesize, and explain what is complex in a clear, simple, and practical way.
• Relentlessly curious. An avid reader and thinker. Always looking for new information to formulate hypotheses and reinforce the agency’s recommendations with data, perspectives, and convincing evidence.
• Optimistic and resilient. Comfortable being flexible to find unique ways to solve problems. Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and manages multiple projects at the same time.
• No ego. We all take on the roles that need to be taken on – that’s the mindset that makes the team successful.

What you’ll need:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience developing communication strategies for brands in a progressive and creative agency environment.
• Creating and delivering brand strategies and integrated campaigns is fundamental to the role (including traditional media, digital, and social media). Strong knowledge of the modern digital ecosystem across paid, owned, and earned channels.
• Applications that do not meet the above criteria will not be considered.

The position is based in the Lisbon office and, although it is possible to work remotely part of the week, we have learned that face-to-face collaboration is strongly correlated with successful results. Therefore, it is necessary to be present in our office for a good part of the time.

# LI-EMEA

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization-creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers-who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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