Junior Strategist

VCCP is the global challenger network for challenger brands. With more than 1,500 people across 13 offices in North America, EMEA and APAC, we challenge convention to deliver value for the world’s most ambitious organisations.

We believe transformation happens when everything works together. That’s why we bring specialists from every discipline - strategy, AI, data, media, digital, experience, branding, creativity, production, PR, CX, CRM, employee engagement and beyond - into one fully integrated network.

We were founded on the principles of simplicity, collaboration and un-preciousness, and we’ve grown by staying true to them. Today, our clients include some of the world’s most recognisable and progressive brands, such as Virgin Media O2, Barclays, Cadbury, Compare the Market, Domino’s, White Claw, easyJet, Primark and Co-op.

VCCP has topped the AAR’s annual new business ranking in 13 of the last 14 years and holds multiple Agency of the Year titles. Across every company and every capability, we share the same ambition: to challenge ourselves, challenge our clients and challenge the industry for the better.

The role: 

We’re looking for a motivated, ambitious and curious individual to join VCCP’s Planning department. The candidate will support more senior planners on a range of projects, from upstream brand development and integrated campaigns to more tactical trading and retail activations. We’re looking for a lean-forward personality, i.e, someone who demonstrates strong agency and enthusiasm for solving problems. They don’t necessarily need to come from an agency background or have any traditional strategy experience. This will be a fantastic learning opportunity with lots of support, but we’re also looking for someone who can be proactive and take ownership of smaller projects. We’re looking for a real team player who will be additive to our culture.

Who are we looking for?

• Someone who has hustle and a hunger to learn


• Strategy/consulting/business experience. They may or may not be coming from an ad agency background, but comfort with data and excellent attention to detail is a must


• Someone tech-savvy with AI fluency and a positive outlook on how technology can be used to build future-facing brands – people who have studied STEM subjects, Economics, Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, etc, are of particular interest


• Someone with a deep curiosity about people and their behaviour


• Someone excited about creativity and the opportunity to build some of the UK’s biggest brands, with a strong POV on what it takes to make great work


• Someone articulate and able to build clear narratives, who would be comfortable presenting in front of clients from day one

What would your day-to-day look like?

• Working with some of the UK’s biggest brands to solve creative and commercial problems


• Keeping a pulse on internet culture, tech trends, and media shifts to ensure our work always feels fresh and culturally relevant


• Working on pitches and new business, helping brands find new opportunities for growth


• Diving into trend reports, synthetic research, social media listening, and qualitative/quantitative data to figure out what makes consumers tick and how they interact with brands


• Becoming the expert on tools like Mintel, TGI, and Meltwater, as well as working with AI tools to find new, innovative ways to solve problems


• Collaborating with senior strategists to turn complex client problems into simple, inspiring, and actionable briefs for our creative teams


• Putting together research decks, competitor reviews, mood boards, and other presentations to spark big ideas and tell compelling stories


• Actively participating in client meetings and creative reviews

Benefits

Contractual benefits:

• 25 days holiday


• Private Medical Healthcare


• Pension


• Life Assurance


• Income Protection


• Work mobile phone


• Enhanced maternity/paternity (after qualifying period)

Non-contractual benefits:

• Half a day working before a bank holiday – work permitting


• Payday pizza


• Fresh fruit daily


• Fully stocked drinks fridges


• Employee assistance programme


• Gourmet Society & Tastecards


• Health Screening


• Holiday Purchase Scheme


• RAC Vehicle Breakdown Cover


• Free annual eye test


• Curious sessions and other information-sharing sessions


• Give as you earn (a tax-free benefit)


• Cycle to work scheme - after successful completion of the probationary period


• Corporate Gym Membership - after successful completion of the probationary period


• Season ticket loan – after successful completion of probationary period

Vccp DE&I statment 

We believe that DE&I is about creating a strong culture of inclusion within our agency, where everyone can thrive and be their authentic self. VCCP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or ethnicity. If you require any adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know via [email protected].

Criminal records information 

As part of our onboarding process, you will be required to complete a Criminal Records Declaration regarding any unspent convictions. For roles in finance, HR, Legal, IT or senior management, we may be required to verify your declaration with a basic DBS check, as well as an Adverse Finance and ID check.