Influencer Manager

Influence Manager

Company: VML

Working Model: Hybrid working

Location: Sea Containers office, London, SE1

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey building connected brands that drive growth for our clients. We do this by leveraging our 3 core practices; Brand experience, Customer experience and Commerce. Within these practices we offer expertise across communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

The Role: Influence Manager

We’re seeking an experienced Influencer Manager to ideate, develop, and execute cutting-edge influencer strategies and campaigns that align with client business objectives and resonate authentically with target audiences. You'll be the go-to expert for all things influencer, from identifying the perfect partners to measuring campaign success.

You’ll be an adept strategist, capable of translating brand goals into compelling influencer narratives, negotiating partnerships, and managing campaigns from conception to reporting. If you’re passionate about the evolving world of influencer marketing, and have a keen eye for authentic content…get in touch.

This role sits as part of an exciting, growing team that offer our clients the full range of social expertise, from social strategists, content creators, social media managers, social data scientists,, and of course…influencer managers..

You’ll be given the opportunity to work on some of the world’s largest and most iconic brands, and a front seat in shaping what the future of Influence looks like.

What you'll be doing 

• Influencer Strategy & Development: Lead the development and execution of comprehensive influencer marketing strategies, from initial client kick-off and brand audits to compiling outstanding questions and creating custom strategy shells. Ensure strategies align with brand objectives, target audience insights, and overall social strategy for our clients, including defining the overall campaign approach and budget flighting.
• Campaign Management: Oversee the end-to-end planning, execution, and optimization of influencer campaigns across various platforms. This includes developing detailed list pull briefs outlining key messaging, brand aesthetic, campaign goals, influencer strategy (demos, categories, tiers, criteria), and leading the development of paid plans by sourcing the right partners. Ensure seamless delivery, adherence to timelines and budgets, and assisting in the development of rescope proposals.
• Influencer Sourcing & Relationship Management: Identify, vet, and onboard diverse influencers and creators who authentically align with client brand values and campaign goals. Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with influencers and talent agencies, including leading the negotiation of high-reach paid partnerships in an efficient and effective manner, utilizing data to inform decisions, and ensuring rates are cross-checked with internal resources.
• Content & Briefing: Develop clear, inspiring, and legally compliant creative briefs for influencers. This involves leading the development of pitch templates and briefs that cover key messaging points, verbal and visual considerations, and clear do's/don'ts that will guide content creation. Ensure content meets brand guidelines and campaign objectives. You'll also be responsible for the review and approval of pitch and briefing materials (e.g., talk tracks & briefs).
• Performance & Reporting: Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance against agreed-upon KPIs. This includes managing and completing all reporting, leading data analysis to derive insights, learnings, and recommendations. You will oversee the development of weekly post-highlights, monthly reporting, and monthly recaps, providing actionable insights and recommendations for optimization to clients and internal teams.
• Client & Internal Collaboration: Work closely with clients, social strategists, content creators, social media managers, and account teams to integrate influencer activity into broader marketing initiatives. Lead weekly status calls with clients, review and compile recaps and next-step emails with senior management and clients, and act as a day-to-day point of contact for client communication, including campaign updates, inbound requests, and sharing of best practices to build strong relationships and identify opportunities.
• Trend Spotting: Stay ahead of the curve on emerging influencer trends, platforms, tools, and best practices, proactively bringing new ideas and opportunities to VML and our clients, and researching and sharing industry trends.
• Budget Management & Legal: Manage campaign budgets effectively, ensuring maximum ROI and transparent financial reporting. Facilitate contract drafting and redlines with legal support, and ensure all relevant legal and regulatory guidelines within influencer marketing (e.g., ASA guidelines, disclosure requirements) are adhered to.

What we're looking for

• Have a proven track record of developing and implementing successful influencer marketing strategies and campaigns for big brands.
• Possess a deep understanding of the influencer ecosystem, including various platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), content formats, audience demographics, and what constitutes a successful paid partnership.
• Be a highly collaborative team player, capable of building strong relationships with clients, internal teams, influencers, and external partners.
• Be a creative thinker with the ability to translate strategic objectives into compelling influencer content ideas.
• Have strong negotiation and exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively.
• Be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and managing multiple projects simultaneously, demonstrating excellent self and time-management skills.
• Be passionate about ‘what’s next’ in the influencer space, constantly seeking innovative approaches and being willing to dive headfirst into tasks.
• Be data-driven and results-oriented, adept at using analytics to measure campaign effectiveness and optimize performance.
• Have a strong understanding of relevant legal and regulatory guidelines within influencer marketing (e.g., ASA guidelines, disclosure requirements).
• Demonstrate strong organisational and project management skills.

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