Responsibilities

• The Director, External Communications will lead Merkle’s communications strategy and tell strategic, high-quality stories that position us as business transformation consultancy leaders.
• Our ideal teammate is someone with an innate ability to identify, articulate and execute inspiring stories that weave together multiple narratives: capabilities, clients, partnerships, and thought leadership.
• This role reports to the Senior Director, Marketing Strategy, with a dotted line to the VP, Communications, dentsu Americas.
• It requires an effective balance of strategy and execution, strong relationship-building skills, deep understanding of Merkle’s solutions, and storytelling skill.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, executive presence and cross-functional collaboration skills are a must.
• Strategic planning of external communications and media engagement strategies designed to enhance Merkle’s reputation, drive positioning and lift brand efficacy with key external stakeholders, including press, clients and industry partners.
• Drive communications strategy and activation with key alliance partners (e.g., Adobe, Salesforce, Braze) to position joint work, IP, events, and GTM plans.
• Partner with clients on proactive and reactive communications strategies related to campaign launches, new business wins, corporate positioning and thought leadership opportunities.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience
• Ability to take story ideas from concept to launch – creating themes that can beweaved through public relations, social, digital, executive speaking engagements, and more
• Established relationships with a broad range of media and outlets
• Ability to bring clarity to ambiguous situations and act decisively
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Preferred

• Experience leading communications for professional services firms
• Experience managing crisis communications, with a track record of successfully mitigating high-profile business and consumer issues with press, employees, and key stakeholders

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401k
• Flexible paid time off
• At least 15 paid holidays per year
• Paid sick and safe leave
• Paid parental leave