Specialist Global Communications

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation

Compassionate and sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking a Communications Specialist to support global communications and branding for our Animal Health division.

This role joins the Global Animal Health Communications team to advance earned and owned media, strengthen our market presence, and support business growth. You will manage editorial calendars, produce content across channels, coordinate PR efforts, and create regular performance reports to drive growth and impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing or a related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in public relations, communications, marketing, or related field; pharmaceutical, healthcare or science-based industry experience a plus.
• Knowledge and understanding of communications practices, tools and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Own media: Manage the editorial calendar for the Animal Health division’s owned media channel and produce content (articles, videos, infographics).
• Media relations: monitor coverage, support external PR campaigns, identify story pitches and manage media lists.
• Project management: coordinate campaigns across internal/external comms and social media; create regular performance reports.

Skills

Brand Management

Content Creation

Copywriting

Media Relations

Digital Marketing Communications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/public relations/marketing

Tools

WordPress for Business

Google Analytics

Muck Rack

AI tools

Job description

Overview:

We are seeking a Communications Specialist to support global communications and branding for our company Animal Health division. This role will be part of the Global Animal Health Communications team and will support our earned and owned media efforts that enhance our company Animal Health’s market presence, drive our global brand story and support business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Owned Media:

• Manage the editorial calendar for the Animal Health division’s owned media channel.
• Produce content for our owned media channel, including articles, videos, infographics, etc.
• Master the web content management system to support the publishing and maintenance of content within the owned media channel to ensure proper image use and linking, and optimized tagging and messaging for search and generative engines.

Media Relations:

• Build and execute a regular, comprehensive media monitoring and reporting stream that keeps the global communications team aware of actionable animal health industry news and trends, and our company Animal Health media coverage.
• Support external public relations and earned media campaigns (story development, content creation, project management, etc.).
• Identify potential media stories and pitch opportunities.
• Build and manage media lists in support of earned media campaigns.

Project Management, reporting and analytics:

• Help the Global Animal Health communications team coordinate and manage programs and campaigns across internal communications, external communications, and social media.
• Create regular performance reports for owned and earned media activities that highlight the successes of work while helping us identify opportunities for continued growth and impact.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing or a related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in public relations, communications, marketing, or related field; pharmaceutical, healthcare or science-based industry experience a plus.
• Knowledge and understanding of communications practices, tools and techniques.
• Proficient in web analytics, including reporting, platform use (i.e. Google Analytics), SEO and GEO.
• Proficient in the use of media monitoring platforms (i.e. Muck Rack), web content management systems (i.e. WordPress for Business), and AI tools and agents.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to work collaboratively and with a positive and proactive attitude.
• Creative thinker with strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Ability to translate complex topics into clear, engaging, user-friendly language.
• Comfort working in matrixed environments and managing multiple priorities.
• Organized with attention to detail.
• Experience designing slides or creating simple visual communication assets a plus.

Required Skills:

• Brand Management
• Brand Management
• Business Communications
• Communication Analytics
• Communication Management
• Communications Programs
• Content Creation
• Content Management
• Copywriting
• Crisis Communication Management
• Digital Marketing Communications
• Event Management
• External Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Internal Communications
• Journalism
• List Building
• Mailing List Management
• Marketing Calendars
• Media Communications
• Media Placement
• Media Relations
• Multichannel Communications
• Research Development
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• + 7 more

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$79,200.00 - $124,700.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

• medical
• dental
• vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date:

10/29/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.