Director, Global Employee and Executive Communications

At our Company, we use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. The Director, Global Employee and Executive Communications is a strategic communications leader who translates enterprise-wide initiatives into compelling communications and partners with senior leaders to drive adoption, engagement, and cultural change. This role oversees all aspects of executive communications and thought leadership, serving as a trusted advisor to colleagues across Global Communications and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop highly integrated culture and engagement strategies that motivate and inspire employees.
• Ensure consistent, high-impact messaging frameworks adaptable for multiple channels and stakeholders.
• Create 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.
• Develop and implement internal and executive communication strategies for senior leaders to strengthen the company’s reputation and brand among employees and key stakeholders.
• Ensure employees receive timely, relevant, and consistent communications across channels.
• Provide advice, training, and support for internal and external engagements, ensuring senior leaders use consistent messaging aligned with company strategy.
• Prepare senior leaders for opportunities, including development of briefing materials, messaging, media training, and on-site support.
• Support the implementation of change management strategies as needed.
• Provide crisis and issues management support.
• Manage approvals of communications requests for senior leaders.
• Set measurable and achievable goals for internal and executive communication strategies, track progress, and report value.
• Measure success for culture and engagement initiatives and recommend improvements.
• Leverage internal and external insights to inform overall communication strategy.

Requirements

• 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 thinker with 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.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including 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 the ability to anticipate needs of 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 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 the healthcare industry, including large Fortune 500 companies.
• Experience at a PR agency or equivalent.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $173,200.00 - $272,600.00. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on 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.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including:

• 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.