About the Position

Title: Strategist, Commercial Strategy

Reports to: Associate Director, Commercial Strategy

We are looking for a Commercial Strategist to provide rigorous research, analysis, and project support to enable high-quality delivery of Commercial Strategy engagements and new business pitches. Working under the guidance of the Commercial and Global Strategy Team leadership, this role helps transform complex scientific, clinical, and market information into clear strategic implications and client-ready outputs. This role also plays a key part in ensuring strong delivery excellence; owning workstream logistics, maintaining high-quality documentation, and supporting day-to-day client coordination to keep projects on track.

The Commercial Strategist will contribute across core Commercial Strategy workstreams, including unmet need and market assessment, competitive foresight, secondary research and insight synthesis, primary research (e.g., interviews, advisory boards, workshops), strategic scientific narrative and value architecture, evidence generation and differentiation, and market readiness/activation planning.

This role is based in our London office with close collaboration across our core hubs and strategic disciplines.

Requirements

Commercial Strategist should demonstrate strong foundational capabilities in strategy, research, and client delivery, including:

• Strong analytical capability and comfort working with scientific/clinical information in a commercialization context
• Ability to synthesize complexity into clear insights, implications, and well-structured content
• Strong written and verbal communication (including summarizing findings clearly for internal teams)
• Strong planning and organization skills; able to manage multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment
• Collaborative team player with an ownership mindset; dependable and detail-oriented
• Professionalism in client communication and external stakeholder interactions
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word)

Experience

• Experience in healthcare, life sciences, consulting, agency strategy, pharma/biotech, medical communications, clinical research, or scientific academia (level flexible; evidence of relevant skills is key)
• Demonstrated experience producing high-quality research outputs and translating findings into actionable recommendations
• Exposure to multi-stakeholder healthcare environments (e.g., clinicians, patients, payers, advocates, policymakers) is a plus
• Experience supporting workshops, interviews, advisory boards, or similar collaborative working sessions is desirable

Knowledge and skills

• Understanding of core commercialization concepts (e.g., competitive landscape, positioning/differentiation, evidence needs, stakeholder decision drivers)
• Ability to apply an adoption/value lens – connecting evidence, stakeholder needs, and market context to implications for uptake and differentiation
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work with ambiguity
• Ability to apply structured thinking (hypotheses, frameworks) to build coherent strategic outputs
• Strong attention to detail (data accuracy, referencing, and consistency)
• Practical project support skills (tracking actions, coordinating inputs, maintaining clean working files)

Personal characteristics

• Proactive, curious, and learning-oriented
• Comfortable taking direction, asking smart questions, and iterating quickly
• High standards for quality and clarity
• Flexible and resilient in a fast-moving environment

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification (Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, or similar). Advanced degree is a plus but not required.

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

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