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.

An Executive Creative Director is a dynamic agency leader who drives a creative vision across multiple teams to create and produce award-winning solutions for clients. ECDs lead portfolios of client business, build and lead multidisciplinary teams, and routinely interact with key senior clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

An ECD is a senior leader in the agency, responsible for elevating the work developed by their teams. The ECD should always back their team.

• Attract, develop and retain top creative talent
• Inspire all levels of creative leadership
• Partner with strategy lead to develop unified creative briefs
• Provide high-level concept guidance to optimize creative work produced by their teams
• Promote and facilitate a culture of collaboration between agency and clients
• Foster ongoing improvements in creative processes and methodologies
• Ensure creative objectives and approaches align with both agency and client goals
• Lead creative for new business as well as pitch new business
• Inspire and motivate the team creatively — make it about them, never about yourself
• Motivate reluctant clients to embrace better work than requested
• Determine staffing plan and overall reporting structure for the team
• Conduct ongoing performance reviews of the team and provide team members with opportunities to grow and thrive creatively
• Lead pro bono projects

Required Skills & Experience

An ECD has a lot of responsibility, garnered by many years of experience preparing for this role. Creating new value for businesses and customers requires mastery of many fields and the knowledge to deliver results.

• 15 years of experience in advertising or marketing
• Extensive team leadership experience
• Strong ability to grow client relationships
• Expert in design or writing skills
• Advanced presentation/pitching new business experience
• Advanced communication and collaboration skills
• Advanced understanding of marketing, advertising and technology
• Ideally, an ECD has a bachelor’s in design, advertising, journalism or a related field, and/or attended portfolio school

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $ to $ . 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 here for more details.

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

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