Director, Insights & Analytics

Job Description

The Director, Insights & Analytics is responsible for leveraging data-driven insights and advanced analytics to shape communication strategies, enhance stakeholder engagement and support the company's overall business objectives.

From our company's owned channel platform data to social conversations outside the company, there are many data sources that inform the strategy and execution of corporate communications. The Director, Insights & Analytics will work closely with IT, the company’s social media Center of Excellence and data teams across the organization to support corporate communications leadership in decision-making and strategy development. This role will be pivotal in refining how our company measures the effectiveness of our communications efforts.

Scope of work and core responsibilities include:

• Lead the development of communication strategies grounded in data insights, ensuring all corporate messaging and engagement initiatives align with business goals and resonate with key stakeholders.

• Design and implement advanced analytics frameworks to evaluate the performance of corporate communications activities, including media relations, digital content, internal communications and public affairs.

• Conduct deep-dive analysis of stakeholder data to uncover insights about target audiences, including healthcare providers, regulators, media, employees and investors, shaping targeted messaging and outreach strategies.

• Guide vision and structure of enterprise social intelligence operations, serving as lead contact for all social intelligence needs. 

• Stay up to date on the use of social intelligence and market intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry. 

• Oversee daily analysis of trending social topics that relate to the company and business.

• Guide vision and structure of channel management and optimization, production and publishing, analytics and measurement, technology and web governance across the enterprise.

• Oversee the development of a metrics plan for each channel and actively monitor, synthesize data into insights and make recommendations to optimize content and channels.

• Oversee channel strategy and management in collaboration with a cross-functional team across the enterprise.

• Coordinate with content strategy teams on communication performance metrics and lead plans to optimize owned and earned media.

• Develop and oversee the execution of measurement frameworks to assess the effectiveness of communication campaigns, including brand sentiment analysis, media monitoring, message resonance and engagement metrics.

• Partner with teams across communications, marketing, strategy, competitive intelligence, legal and digital to ensure the consistent integration of analytics into broader business and communication strategies.

• Identify and implement cutting-edge analytics tools and platforms to enhance reporting accuracy and efficiency, keeping abreast of trends in data science and communication technology.

• Present actionable insights and findings to senior leadership, offering clear recommendations to optimize corporate communications and influence decision-making at the highest levels of the organization.

• Leverage real-time data and insights to support crisis communication efforts, ensuring rapid, data-informed decision-making in high-stakes situations.

Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, data science or a related field; master’s degree or MBA preferred.

• 8+ years of experience in data analytics, insights or related fields, with at least 4 years in a leadership role, ideally in the pharmaceutical, healthcare or life sciences sector.

• Proven experience applying data-driven insights to corporate communications, public relations or stakeholder engagement initiatives.

• Proficiency with analytics and data visualization tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI and social listening platforms).

• Strong understanding of media monitoring, brand health tracking and communication campaign measurement techniques.

• Excellent leadership, team management and project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to inspire and lead teams through change.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to distill complex data into clear, actionable insights for executive audiences.

• Strategic thinker with a deep understanding of how data informs communication strategies in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Highly collaborative with a track record of working cross-functionally and influencing senior leadership.

• Strong analytical focus with a passion for exploring emerging trends in analytics and communications.

• Curious and experimental mindset. 

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with Talk Walker platform  

• Detailed knowledge of paid social media 

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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 click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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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