VP, Enterprise Sales Lead

Job Description:

Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that delivers unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For over 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios.

With 16,000+ teammates across 50+ global offices, we bring together diverse expertise: 5,000+ technologists and engineers, 4,500+ data analysts and scientists, 3,000+ strategists and operators, 2,500+ loyalty and engagement experts, and 1,000+ designers and UX professionals. As part of Dentsu, we combine media and creative excellence with data, CX, and technology depth to deliver end-to-end solutions.

As Vice President, Enterprise Sales Lead, you will drive net‑new enterprise growth and lead Merkle’s largest, most complex pursuits. This role blends strategic quarterbacking with true enterprise hunting — originating new opportunities, multi‑threading early across marketing, IT, digital, and the C‑suite, and shaping demand long before an RFP is issued.

You will navigate multi‑stakeholder buying processes, elevate conversations to executive transformation agendas, and architect integrated solutions across Merkle’s strategy, data, technology, and experience capabilities. ESLs are accountable for both creating and closing enterprise opportunities, expanding relationships, and building multi‑account portfolios.

When a deal closes, you will transition the relationship to delivery with aligned expectations, a clear execution plan, and a warm handoff.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end orchestration of Merkle’s most strategic enterprise pursuits ($5M–25M+ TCV), from early qualification through prospecting, negotiation, close, and structured handback to the delivery team

• Own C-suite and VP-level relationships on each pursuit, serving as the primary strategic point of contact while partnering with practice leaders who bring Merkle’s capabilities forward

• Architect pursuit strategies that connect Merkle’s integrated capabilities—Digital Business Transformation and Data Driven Marketing —to the client’s strategic transformation agenda, not just respond to stated requirements

• Navigate complex multi-stakeholder decision processes across marketing, IT, procurement, legal, and security functions within Fortune 1000 organizations

• Partner with practice and solution leaders to shape custom, multi-capability proposals and influence how Merkle’s offerings evolve based on what strategic accounts need

• Drive competitive differentiation in head-to-head pursuits against consultancies, system integrators, and agency holdcos by articulating Merkle’s unique value at the intersection of data, technology, and customer experience

• Leverage strategic alliance partnerships (Adobe, Salesforce, Google, Amazon, Microsoft) to strengthen joint value propositions and unlock partner-funded demand

• Maintain a disciplined, transparent pipeline using Merkle’s enterprise sales tools, with accurate forecasting and clear stage progression

• Codify what works—pursuit playbooks, deal constructs, competitive positioning—so the broader commercial organization can reuse and scale your wins

Client Challenges You’ll Solve

Enterprise clients come to Merkle when they face transformation challenges that span technology, data, and customer experience. You’ll build pursuits around problems like these:

• Scaling content production without scaling headcount—using AI to accelerate creation, manage assets, and streamline creative operations

• Unifying fragmented customer data and CRM systems to power personalization, loyalty, and orchestrated journeys across every channel

• Transforming B2B go-to-market from siloed marketing and sales into integrated, account-based motions with measurable pipeline impact

• Deploying AI across the customer experience—conversational interfaces, adaptive commerce, agentic automation—to drive engagement and efficiency simultaneously

• Building enterprise intelligence capabilities that turn analytics and AI strategy into operational advantage across the business

You May Be a Good Fit If You Have

• 15+ years of progressive experience in enterprise sales or business development, with at least 7+ years personally leading complex, multi-capability pursuits as the primary deal owner

• Proven track record of closing multiple $5M–25M+ enterprise engagements with Fortune 1000 companies, ideally within digital agencies, consultancies, or marketing technology organizations

• Deep expertise in complex B2B sales cycles involving C-suite and VP-level engagement, technical validation, and cross-functional coordination across marketing, IT, and procurement

• Demonstrated ability to architect integrated solutions that span data, CX, technology, and media—connecting capabilities to measurable business outcomes

• Strong understanding of the digital experience, CRM/CX, commerce, loyalty, and marketing technology landscape, including systems of interaction and systems of action.

• Exceptional strategic thinking with the ability to synthesize business, technical, and competitive dynamics into a compelling pursuit narrative

• Outstanding executive presence and the ability to build trust with C-level and VP-level stakeholders across both client and partner organizations

• Experience navigating Fortune 1000 procurement, legal, security, and compliance processes across industries

What Success Looks Like

• In your first 90 days, you’ve mapped the competitive landscape for your target accounts, built relationships with practice leaders, and have 2–3 qualified pursuits in motion

• By month six, you’ve closed or advanced at least one $5M+ engagement and established a repeatable pursuit rhythm with cross-functional teams

• By year one, you’ve built a portfolio of wins that demonstrate Merkle’s ability to compete and win against consultancies and agency holdcos at the enterprise level, and your pursuit playbooks are being adopted by other sales leaders

At dentsu, we believe great work happens when we’re connected. Our way of working combines flexibility with in-person collaboration to spark ideas and strengthen our teams. Employees who live within a commutable distance of one of our hub offices, currently located in Chicago, metro Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City, are required and expected to work from the office three days per week (two days per week for employees based in Los Angeles). Dentsu may designate other Hub offices at any time. Those who live outside a commutable range may be designated as remote, depending on the role and business needs. Regardless of your work location, we expect our employees to be flexible to meet the needs of our Company and clients, which may include attendance in an office.

Additional information

The annual salary range for this position is $164,450 - $200,000. Placement within the salary range is based on a variety of factors including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and other factors permitted by law. Additionally, this position is eligible for commission following the terms of the company’s plan in effect at the time the commission is earned.

Benefits available with this position include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance,

• Life insurance,

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance,

• 401k,

• Flexible paid time off,

• At least 15 paid holidays per year,

• Paid sick and safe leave, and

• Paid parental leave

Dentsu also complies with applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies. For further details regarding Dentsu benefits, please visit www.dentsubenefitsplus.com.

To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply" button at the top of this job posting. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates will be contacted for next steps.

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Dentsu is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. We do this without regard to race, color, national origin, sex , sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religious practices and observances, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Dentsu is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a career opportunity with us, please send an e-mail to ApplicantAccommodations@dentsu.com by clicking on the link to let us  know the nature of your accommodation request and your contact information. We are here to support you.