VML, part of WPP, 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.
About WPP
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.
Overview
As a Senior Technical / Solutions Architect within the VML EMEA Enablement Team, you will be a pivotal figure in shaping the technical direction and delivery of strategic solutions for our diverse client portfolio. You will bridge the gap between client vision, business requirements, and technical execution, leading the entire solutions lifecycle from initial engagement and scoping through to design, development support, and successful deployment. This role demands a strong blend of technical expertise, client-facing acumen, and leadership, driving innovation and fostering a culture of excellence within our development teams.
Key responsibilities
Client Engagement & Strategy:
- Engage with existing and prospective clients to deeply understand their business challenges and strategic objectives.
- Lead technical client engagements, from initial scoping and requirements gathering to crafting comprehensive solution proposals and detailed solution design documentation.
- Collaborate closely with Client Leads and Business Development teams to gain a holistic understanding of client expectations, business constraints, and opportunities.
Solution Design & Delivery Oversight:
- Define project scope, technical specifications, and architectural frameworks for software solutions of medium to high complexity.
- Present solutions directly to clients, providing clear feedback, ensuring solution alignment with business goals, and communicating project updates.
- Prepare and deliver reports, presentations, and demonstrations to keep clients informed on project progress, integration points, deployment strategies, and any technical considerations or challenges.
Technical Leadership & Team Support:
- Act as a primary technical liaison between clients and development teams, translating business needs into technical requirements and vice versa.
- Provide expert technical solution recommendations and support the operational delivery of solutions across various platforms.
- Drive process excellence and technical innovation, particularly in the seamless handover of technical solutions and documentation to development teams.
- Actively engage with developers, consultants, and project managers to ensure successful execution of engagements.
Technical Specialisation & Project Involvement:
- Contribute to and lead efforts in:
- Solution design and architecture (medium to high complexity).
- Defining and adhering to data and technology governance principles.
- Advanced scripting and query development.
- Developing robust data mapping and extract strategies.
- Designing and optimising relational data models and data schemas.
- Providing high-level technical support for complex client requests.
- Participating in and leading advanced technical projects.
- Designing and implementing integrations between marketing and data platforms.
- Developing web services and API solutions.
- Leading custom reporting and custom application development projects.
- HTML creation for webpages and emails.
- Webpage builds using the jQuery framework.
- Leverage native scripting languages to solve requirements in the most effective, optimal, and scalable manner.
Mentorship & Continuous Improvement:
- Actively mentor and facilitate knowledge transfer within the broader developer team, fostering growth and technical excellence.
- Stay abreast of new technologies, industry trends, and emerging best practices, assessing their applicability and championing their introduction to the development team and wider organisation where beneficial.
Required Skills & Experience
Extensive Marketing Technology Expertise:
Extensive hands-on experience with marketing technology stacks covering marketing data, production, content management, planning, implementation, and various channel use (e.g., email, web, mobile, CRM, Audience Management, and Analytics). Proficiency with popular enterprise technology stacks including, but not limited to, Google (e.g., GCP, GA4), Adobe (e.g., Experience Cloud, AEM), Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce Data Cloud, Salesforce Personalisation, AWS, and Snowflake.
Core Marketing Functional Experience: Demonstrated expertise in:
- Customer Data Platforms (CDP)
- Personalisation strategies and implementation
- Direct Digital marketing channels (Mobile, Email, SMS, MMS & Push)
- CMS & Content arbitration/automation
- Web Analytics and data interpretation
- Strategic & Client-Facing Acumen: Exceptional ability to understand unique business requirements of customers across multiple industries and translate these needs into a compelling technical vision and roadmap, effectively presenting solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Solution Engineering Leadership: A proven track record in leading the design and delivery of complex technical solutions, from concept to deployment.
- Middleware & Integration Architecture: Ability to architect and develop robust middleware solutions for integrating various technology stacks and platforms, including API design and development.
- Data Expertise: Strong experience with SQL, relational databases (e.g., MSSQL, MySQL), advanced scripting for data manipulation, and comprehensive data modelling.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Experience in leading and managing technical or development teams.
- Process & Methodologies: Experience working effectively within a Project Management Office (PMO) framework and applying best practice development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum).
- Communication & Collaboration: Solid oral and written interpersonal communication skills, strong relationship-building abilities, and proven capability to work effectively as part of a cross-functional team in varied, fast-paced environments.
- Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines effectively in a dynamic, high-pressure environment.
- Continuous Learning & Passion: An inquisitive, practical, and passionate approach to technology, with a commitment to continuous learning, sharing knowledge, and staying abreast of industry trends.
- Travel: Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for client engagements or team meetings within the EMEA region.
- Experience Threshold: Some experience in hands-on marketing technology or solutions architecture experience.
Preferred Skills & Experience (Beneficial)
Candidates demonstrating some or all the following will be at an advantage:
- Academic Background:Bachelor's degree in information systems or computer science, or a closely related technical field.
- Advanced CDP & CRM Knowledge:Deeper experience with CDP & CRM platforms, including an understanding of complex data models, database marketing principles, and customer/product lifecycle management strategies.
- Certifications:Relevant Data or Architecture certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Salesforce Certified Technical Architect, Google Cloud Architect, Azure Solutions Architect).
- Development Experience:Knowledge or hands-on experience with software development in mobile (iOS or Android) or web development (e.g., PHP, ASP.NET Core, Python).
- Industry Experience: Previous experience working within the Automotive industry.
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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