Director, External Communications & Thought Leadership

Merkle Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Disability insurance

Flexible paid time off

Job summary

Merkle Inc. is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of External Communications to lead our public relations and earned media strategy across the Americas.

The role strengthens Merkle’s reputation and positioning as a leader in business transformation. The ideal candidate blends business transformation, technology, and customer experience with editorial judgment, media relationships, and strong writing ability.

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.

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

Skills

Public relations leadership

B2B technology experience

Editorial judgment

Executive ghostwriting

Media relations

Strategy development

Thought leadership

Crisis communications

Job description

Merkle Inc. is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of External Communications to lead our public relations and earned media strategy across the Americas.

The role strengthens Merkle’s reputation and positioning as a leader in business transformation. The ideal candidate blends business transformation, technology, and customer experience with editorial judgment, media relationships, and strong writing ability.