Copywriter

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

VML Melbourne seeks a hands-on Copywriter who can conceive and deliver remarkable solutions across integrated communications, social, digital experiences, and product and service design. You’ll work with cross-disciplinary teams, mentor juniors, and help build VML’s creative reputation while crafting beautifully constructed copy that engages audiences and travels across channels. Key priorities include understanding business problems through thoughtful briefs, presenting ideas with strong storytelling, delivering on time and within budgets, maintaining tone of voice, developing case studies, and supporting new business. The role embraces a hybrid model with four days in the office; show you can lead, collaborate, and drive profitable outcomes. Ensure your portfolio demonstrates leadership, process discipline, and award-worthy work.

About VML

VML 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.

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

Copywriters conceptualise and deliver remarkable solutions that solve business problems. They can work individually, as part of an established team or in a multi-disciplinary team constructed to meet the needs of a particular project. They conceptualise a multitude of solutions (including but not limited to integrated comms, social & content, digital experiences, platform builds, product & service designs) in response to briefs. They deliver them by creating beautifully constructed, engaging copy and collaborating with appropriate experts. Copywriters regularly seek guidance and mentorship from Senior Creatives as they develop their concepting, craft and consulting skills. They work with multiple clients and are often called upon to contribute to new business efforts. They are output agnostic and driven by delivering solutions that leverage human insight, data and technology.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Leadership

• Lead by example the VML behaviours, contribute to culture and enhance employee experience
• Foster cross discipline collaboration nationally to achieve VML objectives
• Support VML new business processes and efforts as required

People Leadership

• Invest in key relationships; promote collaboration and sharing of ideas to increase innovation and creative opportunity.
• Identify and raise any talent issues- help the CCO and creative directors set high standards and hold the team accountable for exceeding creative output and delivery expectations.
• Promote accountability and drive high performance by participating in and encouraging involvement in creatively led programs eg. Make and Passion.

Creative Output

• Align with and deliver the creative vision set by our Creative leaders.
• Meet and exceed the creative output and delivery expectations of VML clients. Consult, build relationships and influence them.
• Listen and ask the right questions to thoroughly understand the business problem and brief.
• Be output agnostic, conceptualise and deliver remarkable solutions in response to briefs. Leverage human insight, data and technology to innovate and avoid the familiar.
• Establish tone of voice or develop solutions that comply with those that exist.
• Write compelling, beautifully constructed copy that engages audiences and can be applied to multi- disciplinary solutions.
• Write with speed, consistency, accuracy and creative flair.
• Help the Creative leaders and creative directors build the creative reputation and profile of VML. Develop solutions that reflect our positioning (creative consultancy not legacy advertising agency) and are worthy of winning the industry Awards that business is strategically targeting.
• Develop compelling case studies that can be used to enter awards and support new business efforts
• Confidently and clearly present your ideas and solutions with strong storytelling skills to influence “buy in” both internally and from clients.
• Respond positively to internal and client feedback, re-work ideas, re-draft copy (whilst retaining creative integrity) to successfully address feedback and minimise rework.
• Brief ideas and assets to relevant disciplines, delivery teams and suppliers to execute. Oversee and be accountable for quality control and final delivery within agreed timelines and budgets.

Delivery & Operations

• Comply with all VML and client operational and approval processes
• Protect profitability by working to resource plans, allocated hours and deadlines.
• Escalate to ECD, Resource Director and Client Group Lead if a project is not on track (rounds of rework, hours, timelines) and you are unable to find a solution for getting it on track.
• Pursue the most effective, efficient, and profitable options to deliver solutions.
• Suggest improvements for systems and or processes that could improve quality of work or delivery.
• Ensure all files and assets are stored, are easily searchable, that versioning controls are in place, and we comply with security policies.

Finance

• Control and minimise direct costs to the business to protect profit.
• Understand which costs are billable (internal and external) and ensure they are recorded against the correct job numbers so they can be billed to clients.
• Regularly and accurately complete timesheets to ensure that clients are billed, and data correctly informs resource planning and remuneration negotiations.

Continuous Learning

• Develop and maintain knowledge of all VML creative disciplines and capabilities including any that do not leverage personal experience e.g. shopper marketing, user interactive design, and new and emerging technologies
• Pursue knowledge of new and emerging technologies, platforms, media, creative tools and business and consumer trends
• Develop best practise leadership, communication, consultancy, people, and financial management skills

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. 

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