Director, External Communications Global Corporate Affairs

Merz North America•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

The Director of Global External Communications, Corporate Affairs is a leadership role, reporting directly to the head of Global Corporate Affairs. This person will help shape and execute Merz Aesthetics' global external communications strategy. They will lead external communications, earned media initiatives and reputation-building campaigns in alignment with key stakeholders across the business. A self-starter, this person will have worked in a global, above-brand environment in the past, with executive-ready polish, sound judgment, a quick grasp of complex issues and demonstrated success in media placement. Must be comfortable operating collaboratively as part of a team, as well as independently; identifying opportunities, taking initiative and demonstrating results.

Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) In journalism, communications, PR or related field
10+ years Relevant work experience with a focus on external communications and media relations
7+ years Project management experience leading cross-functional initiatives
7+ years Hands-on media relations experience, including proactive pitching and executive preparation
7+ years Managing multiple agencies and vendors
Executive presence and exceptional presentation skills
Ability to develop strategic perspectives on AI-driven changes in media, search, reputation and discoverability
Proven track record of delivering measurable results and achieving defined performance metrics
Ability to operate in complex situations and provide clear strategic direction
High attention to detail, urgency, and accountability; able to independently set, manage, and meet deadlines
Experience developing and managing sizable budgets
Proactive problem-solver with strong judgment; thrives in ambiguity and fast-moving environments
Demonstrated cross-functional collaboration; operates with openness, candor, and a global mindset
Digital acumen; comfortable with virtual collaboration and AI tools
Strong time management, resiliency, and the ability to motivate and influence without authority
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook and comfort with a large variety of online meeting tools and AV equipment
Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills and ability to adjust communication style and approach to audience

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in a related discipline is highly desirable
Working in a highly regulated environment
Working in an agency
Working in a global organization

Responsibilities

Lead the overarching global media relations strategy for the corporate brand, identifying proactive opportunities to elevate reputation and thought leadership
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives and external spokespeople, preparing them for media engagements through strategic briefing materials, messaging frameworks, and counsel
Independently manage high-profile, sensitive, and time-critical communications with clarity, professionalism, and strategic foresight
Build and sustain strong relationships with global media and industry influencers, positioning Merz Aesthetics as a credible and authoritative voice
Manage media monitoring and timely dissemination of relevant updates to the right audience
Oversee global campaign development from strategy through execution, ensuring creative excellence, message consistency, and measurable outcomes
Lead scientific and regulatory communications, providing strategic counsel and translating complex information into clear, credible and compelling narratives
Tailor communications for diverse audiences, including scientific, health care professionals, consumers, employees and global stakeholders
Manage events and external participation end-to-end with close attention to detail; operate under tight deadlines while managing multiple workstreams
Monitor industry, competitive and cultural trends for earned media opportunities; maintain high standards of accuracy and consistency across materials
Support communications planning and response for issues, crises and reputation risks in partnership with Corporate Affairs, Legal and regional teams
Lead strategies that strengthen Merz Aesthetics' visibility across AI-powered search and large language model platforms through earned media, authority signals and third-party validation
Champion innovative approaches that help the organization stay ahead of emerging AI-driven shifts in communications, search and reputation management
Experience evolving PR strategies beyond traditional KPIs (impressions, placements) toward influence, narrative control, relevance and discoverability
Provide direction for annual planning; ensure functional plans ladder to the organization’s strategic imperatives
Lead plan development for priority initiatives and manage execution to goals and KPIs
Establish scope, timelines, roles, milestones, and an operating cadence that ensures clarity and accountability
Manage budgets for assigned initiatives; allocate resources to maximize impact and efficiency
Ensure brand governance and compliance globally across all external initiatives while coordinating with internal communications and social media teams to maximize impact and consistency
Anticipate communication risks and market developments; propose proactive strategies and response plans
Serve as a strategic partner to key functional and regional stakeholders to enhance and amplify business imperatives
Partner with Marketing, Legal and Regulatory teams to understand business priorities and meet all requirements
Navigate complex stakeholder dynamics with professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence
Provide clear, data-backed recommendations and risk/opportunity assessments to inform consistent media relations tactics
Establish a structured communication cadence that keeps leadership aligned and stakeholders informed of progress and results
Set strategic direction for multiple agency partners; hold partners accountable for creativity, quality, effectiveness, and budget discipline
Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture and model calm, decisive leadership in fast-moving situations
Continuously improve processes, tools, and ways of working to build a high-functioning, globally integrated team
Informally mentors colleagues by sharing knowledge, best practices and constructive feedback
Lead end-to-end measurement for external communications and media relations including dashboards, scorecards, and KPIs that quantify campaign effectiveness, message penetration, media impact, and reputation trends
Continuously monitor performance and deliver insights-driven recommendations to optimize strategy, content, channels, and outreach
Prepare clear, executive-level reports that communicate results, trends, and ROI; ensure documentation rigor and data accuracy