Digital & Social Media Specialist

Job Description

Position Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join one of the UK’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare companies as a Specialist, Policy and Communications.

You’ll be joining a worldwide network of communications and policy experts under the Global Strategy Access, Policy and Communications organisation. Policy and Communications lead and deliver corporate and strategic communications that support business priorities, shape external reputation, and contribute to the wider healthcare policy environment.

This role plays a key part in advancing the company’s digital and social media presence, while also contributing to broader communications and policy priorities.

Sitting within the UK Policy and Communications team and reporting to the Digital and Social Lead, as part of the Digital and Social team, the Specialist will lead digital and social activity, while supporting wider Policy & Communications initiatives, ensuring alignment between digital execution and broader policy and communications objectives.

The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams across the organisation, as well as global colleagues, to deliver high-quality, insight-led activity that enhances engagement with key audiences.

Ideal skills & competencies required:

We are looking for a proactive and collaborative professional with a strong foundation in digital communications, alongside an interest in broader policy and communications.

The ideal candidate will have experience and interest in:

• Designing and delivering digital-first communication plans and campaigns across multiple channels
• Social media management including content planning, publishing, optimisation and channel management
• Developing engaging content for digital platforms, with an understanding of audience targeting and messaging
• Using data and insights to measure performance and optimise communications activity
• Understanding the role of Policy and Communications in shaping reputation, stakeholder engagement and policy impact
• Working within a regulated environment, ensuring compliance with governance frameworks and policies
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration across internal teams and external partners

Key competencies and behaviours to be successful in this role are:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• A proactive, solutions-focused and flexible approach
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Analytical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail and organisational capability
• Curiosity to understand the broader healthcare, policy and communications landscape

Key tasks:

Activities will focus on delivering high-quality digital communications while contributing to broader priorities across policy and communications.

There will be no such thing as a typical day in this role. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Digital & Social Media

• Leading the execution of paid and organic digital and social media campaigns, from planning through to delivery and evaluation
• Managing company-owned social media channels, including:
  • Content planning and calendar development
  • Publishing and optimisation
  • Community management and moderation
• Creating and coordinating digital content, including copy and multimedia assets aligned to key campaigns
• Monitoring performance and producing insights and recommendations to improve effectiveness
• Tracking emerging digital trends, risks and opportunities to inform future strategy
• Ensuring all digital and communications activity aligns with internal policies and external regulatory requirements
• Providing guidance and training to colleagues on digital and social media best practice

Policy & Communications Campaigns

• Supporting the development and delivery of integrated policy & communications programmes aligned to business priorities
• Monitoring the external environment to identify policy developments, stakeholder priorities and reputational considerations
• Contributing to the development of materials that support engagement with external stakeholders and policy audiences
• Contributing to content development for broader policy & communications activity (e.g. campaigns, announcements, stakeholder engagement)
• Supporting internal communications and engagement initiatives where required

Job Dimensions

This role is predominantly head office based in London with hybrid working arrangements available. Occasional travel may be required within the UK.

Required Skills:

Campaign Planning, Collaborative Communications, Communication Campaign, Communications Programs, Content Creation, Content Development, Event Planning, Marketing Campaigns, Media Communications, Social Media Management, Social Media Policies, Social Media Publishing, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

07/11/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.