Senior Director, Business Transformation

Job Description:

Senior Director, Business Transformation | Merkle | London | Permanent | Hybrid

About Merkle

Merkle, a dentsu company, powers the experience economy. For more than 35 years, the company has put people at the heart of its approach to digital business transformation. As the only integrated experience consultancy in the world with a heritage in data science and business performance, Merkle delivers holistic, end-to-end experiences that drive growth, engagement, and loyalty. Merkle's expertise has earned recognition as a "Leader" by top industry analyst firms, in categories such as digital transformation and commerce, experience design, engineering and technology integration, digital marketing, data science, CRM and loyalty, and customer data management. With more than 16,000 employees, Merkle operates in 30+ countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information, visit www.merkle.com.

Purpose of the Role

BX is dentsu UK&I’s strategy and transformation capability, housed within Merkle, our remit is to deliver high-impact strategy and transformation engagements for our clients and enable cross-practice growth.

We position ourselves as our clients’ go-to partner for future-fit business and experience transformation, delivering measurable business and customer growth through our blend of strategic and consulting rigour, human insight, and storytelling.

BX supports brands in achieving transformational outcomes, including revenue diversification through new business models; product and service innovation; organisational redesign; cultural and change management; and customer engagement strategies that drive value, loyalty and growth.

You will join our BX team as a senior strategic leader, owning significant client relationships and engagements. Working across disciplines, you will turn strategic ambition into practical, scalable change while helping grow our client partnerships and practice.

What you'll do

· Lead multiple workstreams and engagements across key accounts, from short diagnostic and advisory assignments to large, multi-year transformation programmes.

· Design and implement target operating models, including organisation structures, roles, governance, processes, workflows, capabilities and ways of working.

· Lead maturity assessments, current-state diagnostics, gap analyses and transformation roadmaps, connecting recommendations to clear business outcomes and value cases.

· Shape and lead change programmes, including stakeholder alignment, change impact, communications, adoption, capability building and benefits realisation.

· Act as a senior day-to-day focal point for client relationships; advise senior stakeholders, facilitate decisions and manage delivery risks and expectations.

· Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across major accounts, managing Transformation Directors, Managers and Change Managers and ensuring high-quality outputs.

· Contribute to pre-sales, proposals, pitches and new business development, and separately help develop and evolve Business Transformation propositions, methodologies and thought leadership.

How you'll succeed

· Deliver high-quality transformation work that translates complex business challenges into practical, outcome-driven solutions.

· Build trusted senior client relationships, becoming a key adviser across multiple accounts and engagements.

· Successfully lead multiple workstreams and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong commercial performance and measurable client outcomes.

· Identify and convert opportunities to grow existing accounts, deepen client relationships and support new business.

· Lead and develop high-performing teams through effective management, coaching, mentorship and collaboration.

· Help advance the Business Transformation practice through proposition development, new methodologies and market-facing thought leadership.

What you'll bring

· Significant relevant experience in management consulting, business transformation, operating model design or enterprise change, with a strong record of leading complex programmes.

· Proven experience developing and implementing operating models and change programmes across large, complex organisations.

· Strong understanding of business and marketing strategy, customer experience and the role of data, technology and AI in enabling transformation.

· Ability to connect strategic ambition to outcome-driven operating models, prioritised initiatives, measurable benefits and practical implementation plans.

· Excellent business acumen, structured problem-solving, critical thinking and the confidence to challenge and influence senior client stakeholders.

· Strong leadership, coaching, facilitation and communication skills, with experience managing multiple teams, workstreams and client relationships.

· Commercially minded, with experience supporting account growth, shaping proposals and contributing to new business opportunities.

What we offer

This is a permanent role. The team is based from our London office on a hybrid working basis. During probation, the expectation is three days per week in the office. Flexibility to attend client sites when required is also important.

At dentsu, we've built a benefits package that supports every chapter of your life. From company-funded Private Medical Insurance, a 24/7 Virtual GP and a generous sick-pay policy, to wellbeing days, volunteering time, flexible bank-holiday swaps and great everyday perks like retail discounts, gym access and tech schemes — we make it easier to live well, not just work well.

Our employee-led resource groups have helped shape policies that genuinely matter: enhanced maternity, paternity and carers leave, extended sick leave, menopause and baby-loss support, plus 10 fertility treatment days. Combined with life assurance, income protection, financial education tools and flexible savings options, you'll find a workplace that invests in you — your health, your family, your future.

About Dentsu

Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world's leading organisations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now operating in approximately 120 countries and regions, we bring together the power of a global network of leadership brands to deliver impactful, end-to-end growth solutions.

Through our client promise, Innovating to Impact, we drive growth through integrated services across Media, Customer Experience Management (CXM), and Creative. Our business transformation (BX) mindset, combined with a focus on experience transformation (EX), drives sustainable growth for brands, people, and society.

Our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and diversity enables us to continuously evolve, pushing boundaries while delivering measurable impact in a fast-changing world.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

We recognize the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us at accommodations@dentsu.com, quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.

Tags

Location:

London

Brand:

Merkle

Time Type:

Full time

Contract Type:

Permanent

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About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact.

Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We’re leading the way – helping to build a more sustainable planet.

Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future.

Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way.

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