Relationship Marketing Strategist

Company Description

Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The agency's heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive people-based marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in performance media, customer experience, customer relationship management, loyalty, and enterprise marketing technology drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With 5,500 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 24 additional offices in the US and 25 offices in Europe and APAC. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network. 

Job Description

As a Relationship Marketing Strategist you will join a team of talented and experienced marketers who focus on helping Merkle clients achieve their business goals. 

In this role, you will aid our clients in the success and management of their one-to-one marketing campaigns including, but not limited to, email and mobile, to produce measurable return on investment and working across multiple vertical markets (Insurance, Financial Services, Non-Profit, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Media and Entertainment, B2B, High-tech). 

To be successful in this role you’ll have a strong passion for problem solving, and a deep understanding of how businesses, brands and customers interact, with an advanced understanding of the rapidly evolving role that data and technology play in this relationship. You must possess the ability to identify business growth opportunities and develop strategic recommendations to support the growth of client relationships. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead the building, development, and delivery of strategic omni-channel marketing plans. 

• Support strategic initiatives for digital marketing clients by first identifying strategic objectives and goals and then translating those into actionable, measured projects. 

• Draft business requirements for the projects, as a key stakeholder in the solution. 

• Consult and advise at key inflection points in the project development to ensure the solution end state is as the strategist envisioned. 

• Draft interactive briefs for email and mobile campaigns to provide direction to creative teams for products, content, offers, key messaging, etc. 

• Support client teams through journey mapping and business consulting workshops to develop long-term plans and identify gaps in customer experiences. 

• Support the delivery of Quarterly Plans and Monthly Reports focused around cross-channel marketing campaigns to achieve client objectives. 

• Review campaign metrics in SFMC to determine campaign success and opportunities for improvement. 

• Work in conjunction with the Analytics and Insights team to deliver ROI forecasts for the any program recommendations. 

• Be well versed in Salesforce Marketing Cloud functionality, features and capabilities to ensure recommendations are in-line with a client's account capabilities. 

• Increase the sophistication of the client's programs year-over-year. 

• Serve as a key client service contact, providing consultative guidance as it relates to email and mobile marketing best practices and industry trends. 

• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on the client's products/services and competitive advantages. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree. 

• 5+ years of experience in data-driven marketing – specifically CRM/email and 2+ years working in an agency or consulting firm. 

• Candidates with hands on experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud will be given special consideration 

• Hands-on skills using data and research to guide decisions –proficiency in excel and research tools. 

• Experience translating data analysis into applicable marketing recommendations and presentations – proficiency in PowerPoint. 

• Comfort and experience working within a matrixed organization in roles with a wide degree of latitude. 

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to incorporate internal and external feedback on an iterative basis. 

• Self-starter with intellectual curiosity, drive, and determination. 

• Demonstrated writing/communication, interpersonal and client relationship skills. 

• Ability to adeptly multi-task several projects at one time. 

• Average 20% travel (contingent on comfort lev