Associate Social Director, Creator & Influencer Strategy

About VML

VML 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.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit  www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

What we are looking for

We are seeking an Associate Director, Creator & Influencer Strategy to help lead and evolve creator‑driven work for one of VML’s largest and most culturally relevant brands. This role sits at the intersection of brand strategy, creator partnerships, and social‑first content systems — with responsibility for shaping how creators are used across awareness, consideration, and performance.

This is a strategic role for someone who understands that creator marketing is no longer about one‑off influencer activations, but about building scalable, always‑on creator ecosystems that feed both organic social and paid media.

This role plays a critical part in shaping how modern brands show up through creators — not just as spokespeople, but as an always‑on network of voices that drive relevance, content velocity, and measurable impact. You’ll help move creator work from campaign thinking to system thinking, and influence how creator marketing is built, evaluated, and scaled across the organization.

What you’ll do

• Creator & Influencer Strategy Leadership - Lead the development of creator and influencer strategies, in close collaboration with the social strategy and account leads, that ladder to brand, business, and media objectives. Design always‑on creator ecosystems, including creator roles, tiers, content territories, and performance pathways. Translate cultural and platform insights into actionable creator briefs and frameworks.

• Program Design & Activation Oversight - Oversee creator‑led initiatives across organic social, paid amplification (whitelisting / partnership ads), and campaign moments. Partner closely with creative, social, and paid media teams to ensure creator content is designed for both storytelling and performance. Guide creator selection strategy, talent mix, and long‑term partnership models.

• Measurement & Optimization - Define success frameworks for creator work, including organic and paid performance indicators (e.g. CPM, CPV, engagement, creative effectiveness). Use performance data and cultural signals to refine creator strategy, content direction, and investment over time. Help teams and clients understand how creator performance feeds broader brand and media outcomes.

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration - Act as the creator subject‑matter expert within integrated teams spanning strategy, creative, social, media, and analytics. Partner with operations, business affairs, and influencer management teams to ensure creator programs are scalable, compliant, and efficient. Support senior leadership in shaping points of view, presentations, and strategic narratives around creator marketing.

• Team Leadership & Development - Mentor and guide junior strategists and creator team members. Help elevate creator fluency across broader social and brand teams through collaboration and knowledge‑sharing.

Who you are

• You’re a culturally fluent strategist with deep creator and influencer expertise who can move fluidly between big‑picture thinking and real‑world execution.

• You understand creators as both storytellers and production partners, and you know how to design programs that work for brands, creators, and platforms.

• You’re comfortable leading complex programs, partnering with creative and media teams, and acting as a trusted client advisor — especially when it comes to modern creator models, performance amplification, and measurement.

• Comfortable operating in fast‑moving, culturally driven categories.

What you bring

• 7–10+ years of experience in social, creator, or influencer marketing, with a strong emphasis on strategy.

• Proven experience leading creator‑driven programs for large, high‑profile brands.

• Deep knowledge on the latest content styles and social trends

• Deep understanding of creator marketing models, including paid partnerships, long‑term ambassadors, UGC, and whitelisting/partnership ads.

• Strong grasp of how creator content performs differently across organic social and paid media environments.

• Experience working within integrated agency teams and navigating complex client organizations.

• Confidence presenting strategic recommendations to senior client stakeholders.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Nice to have:

• Experience designing always‑on or annualized creator programs.

• Familiarity with creator measurement frameworks and media‑adjacent performance metrics.

• Passion for fashion, basketball, hip hop and/or QSRs to support in client’s communities

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that 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, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

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.

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$60,000—$140,000 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.

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