About this role
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.
We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.
Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.
For more information, visit WPP.com.
JOB OVERVIEW
The Business Consulting Director is a senior consulting leader responsible for leading global branding and global marketing consulting for Japan's leading B2B corporations. As a core member of VOJ's Business Consulting practice, you will own the full engagement lifecycle — from originating new client relationships and structuring complex business challenges, to developing strategy and directing creative development — ensuring that brand thinking translates into tangible business value on a global stage. Working in English with overseas offices and global client stakeholders, you will design and facilitate cross-functional workshops, lead multiple engagements in parallel, and serve as the bridge between client leadership and our creative teams. This role combines consulting rigor, a deep understanding of global B2B business, and a genuine appreciation for creativity, contributing directly to the global brand value and business growth of our clients.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Business Development & Client Growth
- New Client Acquisition: Proactively identify, approach, and develop new client opportunities, leading the strategic development of proposals and pitches for major Japanese B2B corporations.
- Proposal Development: Create compelling, well-structured proposals and planning documents that clearly articulate client challenges, recommended approaches, and expected business outcomes.
- Trusted Client Partnership: Build deep, trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, positioning VOJ as a long-term business partner in their global brand and marketing agenda.
- Global Branding & Marketing Consulting
- Issue Structuring: Diagnose and structure clients' business and brand challenges, translating complex, multi-stakeholder situations into clear problem definitions and priorities.
- Strategy Development: Lead the development of global brand strategies, positioning, and marketing strategies that support clients' international business growth.
- B2B Business Insight: Apply a strong understanding of global B2B business models, buying processes, and decision-making to ensure recommendations drive measurable business value.
III. Workshop Facilitation & Stakeholder Alignment
- Workshop Design & Facilitation: Plan and facilitate high-impact client workshops that bring together multiple departments, driving alignment, consensus, and co-creation of solutions.
- Cross-Departmental Coordination: Align diverse client stakeholders and internal agency teams around shared objectives, managing differing interests and building momentum toward decisions.
- Global Communication: Communicate effectively in English with overseas offices, global clients, and the wider network, including meetings, presentations, and English-language proposals.
- Creative Direction & Integrated Delivery
- Creative Briefing: Write clear, incisive creative briefs that translate consulting outputs into inspiring direction for creative teams.
- Creative Collaboration: Engage actively in discussions with creative teams, providing strategic input to idea development and evaluating creative work with constructive feedback.
- Strategic Consistency: Ensure that creative and communication output remains grounded in the agreed brand and marketing strategy and business objectives from concept through execution.
- Engagement Management & Practice Contribution
- Multi-Project Leadership: Lead multiple consulting engagements in parallel, managing scope, timelines, resources, and quality to maximize client value.
- AI-Enabled Ways of Working: Actively leverage generative AI and other AI tools to enhance the speed, depth, and quality of research, analysis, and deliverables.
- Practice Development: Contribute to the growth of the Business Consulting practice by sharing knowledge, refining consulting methodologies, and supporting colleagues.
SKILLS and QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: 10+ years of relevant experience in brand consulting, marketing strategy, or a related field, including hands-on experience in global B2B business.
- Branding & Marketing Knowledge: Solid foundational knowledge of marketing and branding principles, and the ability to apply them to complex B2B business challenges.
- Business-Level English: Ability to lead meetings and presentations, read English-language materials, and write proposals in English.
- Workshop Facilitation: Proven ability to facilitate workshops involving multiple departments and stakeholders, driving productive discussion and alignment.
- Creative Understanding: A sound understanding of creativity, with the ability to write creative briefs and to evaluate and give feedback on creative ideas.
- Multi-Tasking: Ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
- Digital & AI Proficiency: Practical, day-to-day proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word, and the ability to make effective use of generative AI and other AI tools in daily work.
- Preferred Background: Experience at a global agency, brand consulting firm, or consulting firm, or in a B2B company (e.g., marketing, brand, or corporate planning functions). Basic knowledge of and experience with CRM is a plus.
- Personal Attributes: A constant drive to take on new challenges; a passion for engaging deeply with clients' business issues and solving them through the power of brand and creativity; and self-driven leadership in a fast-changing environment.
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.
WPP 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.