Vice President, Social Strategy at Burson in Los Angeles, CA

Who we are:

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More about the role

The Social team develops culture-driven, integrated strategies that help Burson's clients connect with audiences in relevant, modern ways across platforms. The team is focused on translating brand objectives into social-first thinking that is informed by culture, grounded in data, and designed to create meaningful engagement and business impact.

We are looking for a VP Social Strategist to join our Consumer & Brand Practice and help shape the next evolution of social capability for a growing roster of culturally relevant brands. You will be embedded within the Consumer team, with strong partnership across social, influencer, creative, strategy and account leadership.

This role can be based in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

What you'll do:

• Leading the development of social-first strategic thinking for consumer brands, ensuring programs are rooted in culture, audience behavior and platform dynamics.

• Working in collaboration with account, creative, influencer and digital teams to build integrated plans that connect earned, social, and creator cultural relevance.

• Partnering with client teams to identify opportunities for social-led growth across existing and emerging business, with a focus on work that can flex across multiple accounts and sectors.

• Consistently bringing new/fresh/bold strategies that move beyond content calendars to brand voice and relevance, with equal comfort shaping the strategic foundation and guiding execution through to launch and optimization.

• Passion for and understanding of social culture, emerging platforms, audience behavior and digital communities, and how they can be leveraged as part of our clients' strategies.

• Push boundaries and never accept the status quo when it comes to social programs, brand campaigns or integrated marketing initiatives, while helping evolve Burson's social capabilities within the U.S. & Americas.

• Existing knowledge of the social, digital and creator ecosystem, with the ability to identify the right partners, collaborators and platforms to support business goals.

• An understanding of how to plan, develop and measure social strategies throughout the full process, with a solid grasp of audience insights, content ecosystems, community engagement, trend analysis, paid amplification and performance measurement.

• Managing client relationships, alongside our client leads, and being a trusted partner to them when it comes to social strategy, audience engagement and platform evolution.

• Proactively identify new tools, trends and opportunities in the social, influencer and digital spaces.

• Accurately develop and manage scopes, workflows and strategic inputs aligned to broader team and client needs.

• Driving consistency in the way social KPIs, learning agendas and measurement approaches are applied and continuously improved.

• Acting as an agency champion and ambassador, helping attract and develop modern, hybrid talent through interviews, onboarding, mentorship and team collaboration.

Experience that contributes to success:

• 10+ years of experience in social, digital, integrated strategy or related communications disciplines; agency experience is ideal

• A portfolio of case studies you've led within the Consumer & Brand space that demonstrate culturally relevant, insight-led social thinking for major brands.

• Deep expertise in social strategy, including platform roles, audience behavior, cultural trends, content ecosystems and integrated planning

• Experience developing work that connects social, earned, influencer and broader brand communications

• Ability to assess a client's overall marketing mix and identify where social strategy can drive stronger business and brand outcomes

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills along with strong attention to detail

• Desire to work in a diverse and inclusive organization as an active participant in culture initiatives, training opportunities and employee resource groups

• Curious, creative and proactive

• Team player and collaborator

• A clear communicator

• Strong project management skills

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines

Burson is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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.

#LI-MG1

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: https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome. The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range between:

$75,000—$180,000 USD

You belong at Burson:

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

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 around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

When you click the "Submit Application" button below, this will send any information you add below to Burson. 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.