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Managing Director Strategy

VML
Detroit, MI
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.

Job Summary

A Managing Director, Martech at VML is a client-facing capability leader responsible for running and growing our CRM, marketing automation, and personalization business. This role requires a leader steeped in MarTech consulting and enablement who can engage directly with enterprise clients, pitch and win new business, deliver against complex programs, and lead an integrated capability in North America.

This position is pivotal to the agency as it ensures that CRM and marketing automation are delivered at enterprise scale with excellence—while embedding automation, AI, and agentic orchestration practices that future-proof our capabilities. It’s a chance to play a leadership role in one of the industry’s largest CRM and automation practices, while shaping the future of AI-enabled marketing.

Key Responsibilities

Individual

  • Client Delivery – Act as senior consultant and hands-on partner in client work, helping design and implement CRM, marketing automation, and personalization solutions.
  • Solution Architecture – Lead workshops and discovery sessions to map client needs, then design enterprise-ready solutions blending data, platforms, and automation.
  • Strategic Advisory – Partner with C-level client stakeholders to shape transformation roadmaps for CRM, personalization, and MarTech operations.
  • Pitch & Growth Leadership – Actively lead new business pursuits and proposals, bringing both strategic POV and technical depth.
  • Capability Enablement – Build frameworks, templates, and playbooks that ensure delivery is standardized, scalable, and agentic-ready.
  • Thought Leadership – Represent VML externally as a subject matter expert on CRM, MarTech, and the role of AI in modern marketing.

Management

  • Lead a Scaled Capability – Manage and inspire a team of professionals onshore, collaborating with nearshore and offshore delivery hubs.
  • Operational Excellence – Ensure delivery consistently meets or exceeds KPIs, SLAs, and margin goals while driving continuous improvement.
  • Talent Development – Mentor senior leaders and managers, fostering a strong pipeline of future talent and succession within CRM, Marketing Automation, and Personalization.
  • Cross-Agency Integration – Collaborate with other capabilities to embed automation, orchestration, and AI into client solutions.

Qualifications

  • Minimum 12+ years of experience in CRM, personalization, or marketing automation, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing scaled teams.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Technology, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
  • Deep expertise in MarTech consulting, enablement, and managed services delivery for enterprise clients.
  • Strong proficiency with enterprise platforms such as Salesforce, Adobe Experience Cloud, Marketo, and Braze.
  • Proven ability to lead client engagements directly, including consulting workshops, solution design, and delivery oversight.
  • Demonstrated success managing large global delivery organizations (teams of 50+), including onshore, nearshore, and offshore models.
  • Commercial acumen: Proven ability to collaborate with commercial teams on scoping, pricing, and value definition, ensuring delivery is aligned to financial goals and client expectations.
  • Experience embedding automation and AI/agentic workflows into CRM and personalization programs.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in a global agency, consultancy, or large enterprise environment.
  • Strong understanding of ROI modeling and efficiency levers, with accountability for execution and delivery excellence.
  • Recognized thought leader in CRM, marketing automation, or MarTech transformation.

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.

_: $125,000 USD - $295,000 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.

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

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.
Posted 2025-09-24

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