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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital experience strategies and manage product development for top clients.
- Company: Join Merkle, a forward-thinking company in the heart of Lisbon.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 vacation days, health insurance, and flexible working hours.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping innovative digital experiences and strategies.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in experience strategy or product management required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on diversity and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Overview
Digital Experience Strategy & Research Director role to join Merkle, a dentsu company, in Lisbon. This is a senior, delivery-focused role leading client-facing strategy, product management, and research engagements within the Experience Design practice. There are no line-management responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Experience Strategy: Lead the definition of digital experience strategies (web, app, omnichannel) that connect customer needs with business goals, brand positioning, and technology capability.
- Product Management: Apply product ownership/management to help clients define product visions, prioritise backlogs, and shape roadmaps that translate strategy into execution.
- Research Leadership: Plan, design, and deliver user research programmes from discovery through usability testing and validation, leveraging qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Insight to Action: Translate customer and market insights into actionable product and design recommendations, frameworks, and roadmaps.
- Client Engagement: Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, presenting and facilitating workshops, research readouts, and strategic recommendations with clarity and impact.
- Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work with experience designers, data analysts, and technologists to ensure strategies and roadmaps are practical and evidence-based.
- Delivery Excellence: Scope, manage, and deliver strategy, product, and research projects on time and within budget, ensuring quality and consistency across engagements.
- Thought Leadership: Contribute to the evolution of the Experience Design practice with new perspectives on research, innovation, and product strategy.
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven Experience: 8+ years in experience strategy, product management/ownership, service design, or related fields, ideally within a consultancy, agency, or digital transformation environment.
- Product Management Expertise (Required): Strong knowledge of product management principles, including defining product vision, roadmaps, backlog management, and cross-functional alignment.
- Research Expertise: Skilled in qualitative and quantitative research methods and integrating insights into product and experience strategies.
- Strategic Acumen: Ability to shape and articulate digital product and experience strategies aligned with customer experience and brand goals.
- Client-Facing Confidence: Comfortable engaging senior stakeholders, facilitating workshops, and communicating insights clearly.
- Delivery Skills: Strong project leadership and organisational skills with experience managing multiple workstreams and deadlines.
- Collaboration: Experience working in cross-functional teams across design, data, media, and technology.
- Industry Range: Exposure to sectors such as e-commerce, financial services, healthcare, and FMCG is advantageous.
- Language: Fluent in English
Expectations of the Role
- Deliver high-quality, insight-driven strategy, product, and research work for Merkle clients.
- Act as the strategic, product, and research lead on projects from discovery through delivery.
- Provide clear, actionable recommendations that drive customer impact and business performance.
- Collaborate with Lisbon-based teams and global Merkle colleagues across EMEA.
- Champion the value of product management, research, and experience strategy within Merkle’s CXM proposition.
- Support proposals and business development when required, showcasing expertise and credibility.
- Work visa sponsorship is not available. For local documentation (NIF, NISS), consult Portuguese authorities.
Location and Employment Details
- Location: Lisbon
- Brand: Merkle
- Time Type: Full time
- Contract Type: Permanent
Benefits
- 25 vacation days
- 2 additional volunteering days
- Mental health support: 3 wellness days, Mental Health First Aider, Employee Assistance program
- Health insurance (including for family members)
- Cutting-edge technology & tools; software-house environment
- Agile and flexible working hours; hybrid/remote-friendly
- Digital nomad policy; career development focus; access to Dentsu Academy
- Beers, foosball, and ping-pong; free breakfast (every second Tuesday)
- Employee discounts; team & company events; referral bonus program
- DEI commitment: dentsu prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its people-centered transformations
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We cherish diverse talents and perspectives and welcome applicants regardless of gender, gender identity, nationality, religion, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, age, or ability. Hiring decisions are based on qualifications and role requirements, ensuring a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace.
Additional Information
Experience Design role is based in Lisbon. Time Type: Full time. Contract Type: Permanent.
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Digital Experience Strategy & Research Director employer: Merkle
Contact Detail:
Merkle Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Digital Experience Strategy & Research Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or blog where you share insights on digital experience strategies and product management. This not only highlights your skills but also positions you as a thought leader.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to experience strategy and product management. Use the STAR method to structure your answers and demonstrate your impact clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Digital Experience Strategy & Research Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in digital strategy and product management. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Research Skills: Since this role involves a lot of research leadership, be sure to include examples of how you've successfully planned and executed user research programmes. We love seeing how you’ve turned insights into actionable strategies!
Engage with Our Values: Familiarise yourself with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Reflecting these values in your application can really set you apart. We’re all about creating a welcoming environment for everyone!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Merkle
✨Know Your Digital Experience Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on the latest trends in digital experience strategies. Be ready to discuss how you can connect customer needs with business goals, brand positioning, and technology capabilities. This will show that you understand the role's core responsibilities.
✨Showcase Your Product Management Skills
Prepare specific examples of how you've defined product visions and prioritised backlogs in previous roles. Highlight your experience in shaping roadmaps that translate strategy into execution, as this is crucial for the position.
✨Demonstrate Research Leadership
Be ready to talk about your experience in planning and delivering user research programmes. Discuss both qualitative and quantitative methods you've used, and how you've translated insights into actionable recommendations. This will showcase your expertise in research.
✨Engage with Confidence
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing strategic recommendations. Remember, you'll be engaging with senior stakeholders, so being able to facilitate discussions and present findings effectively is key to making a strong impression.