Associate Design Director, Growth

Company: VML
Location: Kansas City
Posted on: March 31, 2026

Job Description:

Who We Are 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 Wendys. 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 Who We Are Looking For We are seeking a dynamic and creative Associate Design Director to lead design initiatives within our fast-paced Growth Team. This role is at the heart of our new business efforts, responsible for guiding the compelling visual narratives that win pitches for VML and our integrated WPP partners. As a hands-on design leader, you will be instrumental in translating strategic opportunities into visually stunning, 360-degree experiences, mentoring a talented team of creatives while driving our growth across North American and global opportunities. What Youll Do Lead the design and execution of all visual components for new business pitches, collaborating with strategists, writers, and account leads from initial concepts to final delivery. Oversee and contribute to the creation of compelling, high-impact presentation decks across Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides that tell a clear and persuasive story. Mentor and guide junior creatives, providing constructive feedback to foster their growth and ensure design excellence across all pitch materials. Conceptualize and direct the design of immersive room installations, printed collateral, microsites, and video assets that create memorable brand experiences. Champion design excellence and creative innovation within the Growth team, ensuring all work is strategically sound and visually impeccable. Who You Are A Strategic Leader: You are a hands-on leader who not only connects the dots between a business challenge and a creative solution but also inspires your team to see and execute that vision. An Effective Collaborator & Mentor: You build strong partnerships with a diverse team and have a passion for developing creative talent, guiding others to bring a unified vision to life under tight deadlines. A Proactive & Resilient Driver: You excel in a fast-paced, high-volume setting, embracing ambiguity and leading your team to drive bold ideas forward and win. What Youll Need Proven experience leading design in a high-volume environment, with a portfolio that showcases leadership on brand identity systems, presentation design, and production. Demonstrated experience in mentoring junior designers and providing clear, actionable creative direction. Expert-level proficiency in Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides is essential. Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate and defend design decisions to internal and external stakeholders. Experience across diverse categories (e.g., CPG, pharma, tech) is a plus. The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package $75,000—$180,000 USD We believe the best work happens when were together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. Thats 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.

Keywords: VML, Shawnee , Associate Design Director, Growth, PR / Public Relations , Kansas City, Kansas