Director, External Communications

Job Description:

About the Role

Merkle is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of External Communications to lead our public relations and earned media strategy across the Americas, strengthening Merkle's reputation and positioning as a leader in business transformation.

The ideal candidate understands the intersection of business transformation, technology, and customer experience—and has the editorial judgment, media relationships, and writing ability to make Merkle relevant in those conversations. This leader can shape the strategy, develop compelling narratives, advise executives, and personally execute high-impact communications.

The Director reports to the VP, Marketing Strategy, with a dotted-line relationship to the VP, Communications, dentsu Americas.

Key Responsibilities

External Communications Strategy & Reputation

• 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.

Media Relations & Earned Visibility

• 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.

Editorial Leadership & Executive Communications

• 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.

Performance & Prioritization

• Manage the day-to-day PR program, coordinating editorial resources, and prioritizing initiatives and investments.

• Measure effectiveness through quality of earned coverage, share of voice, message pull-through, and executive visibility, using insights to refine the program.

Required Qualifications

• 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 Qualifications

• 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.

Additional Information:

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles and Detroit). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

The annual salary range for this position is $113,000-$148,000. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. Additionally, this position is eligible for discretionary incentive compensation. 

Benefits available with this position include:  

• 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. 

To begin the application process, please click on the “Apply” button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps. 

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