Director, AI-Ready Digital Engagement Innovation

Job Description

The Director, AI-Ready Digital Engagement Innovation leads AI Discoverability by establishing a future-forward vision for how all US Market Human Health branded content is structured, governed, and activated. This role ensures company assets are optimized not only for human engagement on brand properties, but for seamless discovery, interpretation, and citation by external AI-driven search engines, large language models (LLMs), and emerging conversational interfaces.

This leader continuously monitors shifts in external discovery behavior (from traditional SEO to AEO, GEO, and LLMO) and translates emerging technology trends into actionable content architecture, metadata standards, and pilot roadmaps. By setting the strategic rules for information architecture and machine readability, this role ensures our branded content remains trusted, authoritative, and prominently surfaced across the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

AI Search and Discoverability: Define and champion the future-state discoverability vision across all US Market digital touchpoints. Lead the strategic transition from traditional destination-based search engine optimization (SEO) to AI-mediated discovery models, including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and Large Language Model Optimization (LLMO).

Content Architecture, Taxonomy, and Metadata Standards: Establish enterprise-wide standards for information architecture, semantic metadata, taxonomy, and structured content design. Ensure branded & unbranded assets, indications, and scientific value propositions are structured to support both intuitive human navigation and accurate machine interpretation by third-party AI platforms.

Trend Intelligence and Innovation Roadmap: Continuously monitor, evaluate, and operationalize external signals across generative AI, conversational search, digital health platforms, and intelligent agents. Prioritize, design, and guide rapid innovation pilots and proof-of-concept initiatives to keep the digital footprint ahead of technological disruption. Create and maintain roadmap for the US Market liaising with stakeholders in DHH.

Governance of Machine-Readable Assets: Define structural governance frameworks that safeguard brand integrity, regulatory compliance, and factual accuracy in AI-mediated environments. Ensure automated systems and generative search engines surface authorized, compliant, and up-to-date branded messaging.

Performance Measurement and Ecosystem Health: Establish and own next-generation performance metrics focused on AI presence. Define and track key indicators such as LLM citation frequency, answer engine visibility share, schema adoption rates, and overall content discoverability across third-party AI ecosystems.

Strategic Operational Partnership: Collaborate closely with the Director of Digital Engagement Operations to translate high-level content architecture and AI discoverability standards into daily operational workflows, enabling seamless adoption across all commercial business units.

POINTS OF COLLABORATION

• Executive Director, Customer Engagement Orchestration: Strategic alignment on innovation roadmap, technology priorities, and investment.

• Director, Digital Engagement Operations: Operational handoff of standards, taxonomies, and guidelines for business unit execution.

• Digital Human Health (DHH): Technical collaboration on search technology, enterprise data integration, and discoverability tracking.

• Brand Marketing and Commercial Operations: Alignment on brand-specific messaging priorities and commercial goals.

• Media Strategy: Coordination between owned-content discoverability and paid/earned media campaigns.

• Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance: Establishing guardrails for brand safety, accuracy, and compliance within AI environments.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Education: Advanced degree in marketing/business analytics, digital media and analytics, or related field strongly preferred.

• Professional Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in digital strategy, search strategy (SEO/AEO), content strategy, or digital capability innovation.

• AI Search Expertise: Proven understanding of AI-driven search paradigms, including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and LLM citation mechanics.

• Content Strategy Skills: Demonstrated experience establishing information architecture, taxonomy structures, and metadata frameworks across complex digital ecosystems.

• Strategic Vision: Demonstrated track record of converting emerging digital trends into actionable strategic roadmaps and successful pilot programs.

• Regulated Environment: Experience operating within highly regulated industries (e.g., pharmaceuticals, healthcare, or financial services) is strongly preferred.

• Influential Leadership: Exceptional communication and matrix leadership skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional technical, creative, and commercial partners. Strong executive presence and ability to interact with leaders of all levels of the enterprise.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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The salary range for this role is

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several 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.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include 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.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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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