Director, External Communications

Responsibilities

• Own and execute Merkle's Americas external communications strategy, developing a proactive PR agenda aligned to business priorities, market positioning, and the broader dentsu communications framework.
• Identify and prioritize external communications opportunities across Merkle's solutions, industries, clients, and partnerships, collaborating with marketing and business leaders to bring them to market.
• Coordinate with dentsu Communications on messaging, approvals, and reputation management, and collaborate with global communications and Analyst Relations teams to maintain alignment.
• Build and leverage relationships with influential journalists, editors, and publications covering customer experience, digital transformation, enterprise technology, AI, and related industries.
• Develop and pitch timely stories, executive perspectives, and company announcements to secure meaningful earned media coverage.
• Lead media engagement for company news, launches, and client successes, including press materials, interview coordination, and spokesperson preparation.
• Shape external narratives from Merkle's research, expertise, and business priorities in partnership with Thought Leadership and Content Strategy teams.
• Author and ghostwrite executive bylines, opinion pieces, contributed articles, and commentary, translating complex topics into compelling perspectives for business audiences.
• Build executive visibility through media interviews, speaking opportunities, and thought leadership placements.
• Manage the day-to-day PR program, coordinating editorial resources, and prioritizing initiatives and investments.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in public relations or external communications, preferably within B2B technology, consulting, or professional services.
• Proven ability to develop and execute proactive PR strategies, supported by established media relationships across business, technology, and marketing publications.
• Exceptional editorial judgment, writing, and ghostwriting capabilities, including executive bylines, opinion pieces, and contributed content.
• Experience advising senior executives and translating complex business and technology topics into compelling external narratives.
• Strong executive presence and ability to lead initiatives, manage competing priorities, and collaborate across matrixed organizations.

Preferred

• Experience developing PR initiatives involving enterprise clients, strategic partnerships, and industry events.
• Experience supporting corporate reputation, issues management, or crisis communications in coordination with corporate communications teams.
• Experience working across regional and global communications teams and measuring earned media effectiveness.

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, and
• Paid parental leave.
• Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.
• For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.