Senior Strategist

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 Live At VML Live , we believe brands don’t just belong in ad breaks—they belong in culture. We exist to create moments that matter in the real world. By uniting brand ambition with genuine fan passion, we turn sponsorships and commercial rights into living, breathing cultural phenomena. Whether it’s global sports tournaments, music festivals, gaming universes, or grassroots movements, we ensure our clients show up where audiences are genuinely invested. The Opportunity A brand’s partnership rights are only as powerful as the way they are activated. Too many sponsorships end at logo placement; at VML Live, that’s where our work begins. As a Senior Strategist (Sport & Entertainment) , you will sit at the vital intersection of brand strategy, commercial rights, and multi-channel comms planning . Your mission is to take partnership assets—new or legacy—and translate them into culturally resonant, high-impact activation strategies that excite fans and move the commercial needle. You will own strategic relationships across flagship accounts, guide creative teams with inspiring, actionable briefs, and spearhead pitches that showcase VML Live’s specialist edge to prospective clients across the globe. What You’ll Do • Architect End-to-End Activation Plans: Translate brand ambitions, fan insights, and complex rights packages into integrated, channel-ready activation frameworks spanning experiential, digital, social, PR, content, and paid media. • Unlock Value Beyond Visibility: Ensure every asset, contractual right, and IP opportunity is leveraged creatively and commercially—moving clients from passive sponsor to active cultural participant. • Be the Strategic Catalyst for Creative: Partner closely with creative teams, providing sharp, fertile briefs and frameworks that empower them to develop bold work with speed, focus, and clarity. • Lead Pitches & Drive Growth: Play a pivotal role in new business and competitive pitches, crafting compelling narratives that demonstrate how partnership activation drives measurable business outcomes. • Collaborate Across the Network: Champion integrated thinking by seamlessly connecting with teams across VML Live, broader VML, and WPP sister agencies. • Prove What Works: Partner with data and effectiveness teams to build robust measurement frameworks, proving ROI and turning campaign learnings into future strategic advantage. Who You Are • A Cultural & Fan native: You understand fandom, subcultures, and audience behaviors in sport, music, gaming, or entertainment, and know how brands can show up authentically without gatecrashing. • An Integrated Strategist: You have proven experience bridging brand strategy, partnership activation, and comms/channel planning within an agency, rights holder, or brand environment. • A Master Storyteller: You know how to structure an argument, articulate a vision, and deliver presentations tha