Customer Lifecycle Marketing Practice Lead

Job Description: This is a remote/hybrid opportunity based in the US The Customer Lifecycle Marketing (CLM) Practice Lead, reporting to the President, Data-Driven Marketing, serves as the commercial owner and market-facing leader of Merkle's CLM practice. This leader operates as a mini-P&L owner across four interconnected capability areas: lifecycle marketing and email/CRM platform execution, loyalty strategy and technology, promotions and gamified experiences, and the first-party data and identity infrastructure that connects them. The role sits at the intersection of go-to-market strategy, offer development, and senior client leadership, and forms one leg of the practice's leadership team. This is a commercial leadership role, not a delivery management role. It requires the credibility to engage CMOs and VP-level buyers across the full spectrum, from loyalty program economics to first-party data strategy to paid media activation. Success is measured through practice revenue and pipeline growth, win rate, cross-practice attach, and the strength of Merkle's market position in loyalty, lifecycle marketing, and data-driven CRM. Description & Responsibilities: Practice Growth & Commercial Ownership Own commercial performance of the CLM practice, including revenue, pipeline, forecast accuracy, and margin contribution across all four capability pillars Develop and maintain the annual CLM growth plan, aligned to organizational go-to-market priorities and key vertical and platform opportunities Approve commercial scope, pricing, and deal economics on CLM-led pursuits, engaging senior sales leadership on larger or cross-practice opportunities Offer Development & Market Positioning Own the CLM offer portfolio across lifecycle marketing, loyalty, promotions, and first-party data/identity, in partnership with strategy and solutions teams Articulate Merkle's integrated CLM story to the market: how loyalty strategy, promotions design, journey orchestration, and paid media activation combine into a customer equity growth system Maintain external market positioning through analyst relationships, industry events, and published thought leadership on the convergence of loyalty, promotions, and paid media Partner with strategy teams to translate platform partner developments into updated offer packages, and represent the practice in partner co-sell conversations Pursuit Leadership & Commercial Execution Lead the CLM-specific pursuit motion across loyalty RFPs, lifecycle marketing retainers, promotions engagements, and first-party data strategy mandates Build pursuit teams that draw on the full CLM capability stack to ensure proposals reflect Merkle's integrated breadth Coordinate with demand generation and sales teams on origination specific to CLM buyer personas (e.g., VP CRM, VP Loyalty, VP Marketing Technology, Chief Digital Officer) Represent the practice at partner events, client advisory boards, and industry conferences as a named commercial voice on loyalty, lifecycle marketing, and data-driven CRM Senior Client Engagement & Cross-Practice Orchestration Maintain executive-level relationships with the CLM practice's primary buying personas across a portfolio of key accounts Serve as executive sponsor on flagship CLM accounts, supporting retention, expansion, and reference development Bring the CLM practice into integrated pursuits where loyalty, promotions, or first-party data activation is the commercial entry point for broader engagements Champion integrated storytelling that connects loyalty program performance to paid media efficiency and customer lifetime value Talent & Commercial Bench Development Identify and develop commercial talent within the CLM practice across all four capability pillars Build the next generation of pursuit-capable solutions leads with fluency in loyalty economics, promotions architecture, and first-party data strategy