Job Description

Overview

The Director, Global Employee and Executive Communications, is responsible for developing and executing communication strategies and tactics that effectively engage and inspire employees at all levels of the company.

The ideal candidate is a strategic communications leader who can translate enterprise-wide initiatives into compelling communications and partner with senior leaders to drive adoption, engagement and cultural change. This leader will oversee all aspects of executive communications and thought leadership, including internal and external communications. Executive communications support should be strategic, proactive and inspiring, while advancing business priorities. This leader will serve as a trusted advisor and collaborate closelywith colleagues across Global Communications and cross-functional partners, including but not limited to Strategy, Talent and Learning and Development, to align priorities and deliver integrated communications.

This position requires a dynamic and creative leader with exceptional writing skills, strategic thinking and a deep understanding of leadership communications in a fast-paced, evolving business environment. This Director will be a self-starter with sound judgment, strong decision-making skills and high emotional intelligence.

This individual will report to the Associate Vice President, Global Employee and Executive Communications.

Scope of work and core responsibilities

Culture and engagement strategy

• Develop highly integrated culture and engagement strategies that motivate and inspire employees

• Ensure consistent, high-impact messaging frameworks—adaptable and fit for purpose for multiple channels and stakeholders

• Develop engaging, visually compelling communications materials, including intranet content, briefing materials, presentations, speeches and enterprise-wide communications

• Develop and maintain communications templates, toolkits and resources for communicators and senior leaders

• Support the implementation of change communications as needed

• Manage day-to-day deliverables with flawless execution

Leadership communications

• Develop and implement internal and executive communication strategies for senior leaders that strengthen the company’s reputation and brand among employees and key stakeholders, while aligning with the overall business strategy

• Ensure employees receive timely, relevant and consistent communications across channels

• Provide advice, training and support for internal and external engagements, ensuring senior leaders are using consistent messaging that aligns with the overall company communication strategy

• Prepare senior leaders for opportunities, including development of briefing materials and messaging, media training, on-site support, etc.

• Support the implementation of change management strategies as needed

• Provide crisis and issues management support as needed

• Manage approvals of communications requests for senior leaders

Measurement

• Set measurable and achievable goals for execution of internal and executive communication strategies and ensure progress is tracked, reported and value is evidenced

• Measure success for culture and engagement initiatives, and recommend steps for improvement

• Leverage internal and external insights to inform overall communication strategy

Required qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of communication experience in external, corporate, executive and change communications, as well as employee engagement

• Minimum 3-5 years of supervisory experience and/or successfully leading complex, matrixed teams

• Creative and bold (yet balanced) thinker; not afraid to think outside the box and has demonstrated ability to execute and bring big ideas to life

• Proven experience confidently interacting with and counseling corporate executives and key internal partners with best in-class communication practices, ensuring messaging is consistent across the organization

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including success managing major projects and enterprise-wide initiatives

• Strong storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, engaging content for a range of audiences and channels (e.g., media, .com, social, intranet)

• Strong writing, editing and communications skills in multiple media, including speeches, email, video scripts, editorial and social content

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams

• Organized with high attention to detail

• Exceptional business acumen with agility in a fast-paced environment

• Proactive with ability to “see” around corners and anticipate needs of our executives

• Ability to bring outside-in thinking and share best practices with the team

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software

• Fluency and use of GenAI in their day-to-day work, including reimagining communications activities and/or processes leveraging AI and agents

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in employee and internal communications, change communications, public relations, external engagement and corporate reputation

• Experience in healthcare industry, including large Fortune 500 companies

• Experience at a PR agency or equivalent welcome

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply

Current Contingent Workers apply

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

The salary range for this role is

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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 .

You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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. 

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Relocation:

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