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.