CRM & Customer Engagement Director

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Location: London

Career Level: B1

Division: Growth, Consumer Proposition

Reporting to: SVP Consumer Proposition

Bring Joy. Create Connections. Make Memories.

At Merlin Entertainments
, our purpose is simple yet powerful: to create joy, build connections and make memories for millions of guests around the world. From LEGOLAND® Resorts and Madame Tussauds to SEA LIFE and beyond, we are on a mission to be the global leader in branded entertainment destinations and the greatest place to work and play.

We’re now seeking an exceptional CRM & Customer Engagement Director to lead our global CRM strategy and elevate how we connect with our guests across the entire Merlin portfolio.

As CRM & Customer Engagement Director, you will define and lead Merlin’s global customer relationship and engagement framework, championing first-party data, CRM platforms and marketing automation to deliver personalised, connected and data-driven guest experiences. Reporting to the SVP Consumer Proposition, you will play a pivotal role in driving repeat visitation, strengthening guest relationships and delivering measurable commercial growth. You’ll set the global vision while empowering regional teams with the tools, standards and insights needed to deliver customer-first marketing excellence.

• Global Strategy & Leadership
  • Define and lead Merlin’s global CRM and customer engagement strategy across all brands and regions.
  • Own global CRM platforms and data ecosystems (including Salesforce Marketing Cloud), ensuring scalability, capability and best-practice adoption.
  • Partner closely with Global Digital & Technology to ensure CRM is a core enabler of Merlin’s consumer propositions.
  • Ensure global compliance with data protection and privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, APPI and others).
• Customer Data & Technology Enablement
  • Lead global data management, segmentation and personalisation initiatives across email, SMS, app and emerging channels.
  • Drive consistent standards and frameworks while enabling local flexibility and innovation.
• Campaign Strategy & Execution Excellence
  • Define lifecycle programmes, automated journeys and campaign frameworks that drive conversion, repeat visits and cross-brand engagement.
  • Set the global vision for multi-channel customer engagement aligned to commercial KPIs.
  • Embed CRM at the heart of always‑on and campaign activity in partnership with GTM and Direct Channels teams.
• Data, Insight & Performance Optimisation
  • Partner with Global Insights & Analytics to develop segmentation models, predictive analytics and performance dashboards.
  • Establish global reporting standards to measure CRM effectiveness, ROI and engagement health.
  • Foster a test‑and‑learn culture, sharing insights and best practices to continuously raise CRM maturity.
• Leadership & Collaboration
  • Lead and inspire a global community of regional CRM teams, building capability, collaboration and innovation.
  • Act as a senior CRM voice in global leadership forums, positioning CRM as a strategic driver of guest value, loyalty and growth.
  • Partner closely with Membership & Loyalty, Marketing & Brand, GTM, Digital & Technology, Legal and Finance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience in CRM, customer engagement or lifecycle marketing within a global or multi‑market organisation.
• Proven success delivering commercial growth and customer retention through CRM strategy and execution.
• Strong leadership experience across cultures, regions and senior stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of CRM and marketing automation platforms (Salesforce Marketing Cloud highly desirable).
• Strong understanding of international data protection and privacy regulations.
• Experience with in entertainment, leisure, travel or consumer experience sectors (preferred).
• Degree in Marketing, Business or a related field; postgraduate qualification advantageous.

At Merlin, Our Leaders Are

• Soulfully Curious – open‑minded, inquisitive and eager to learn.
• Results Focused – accountable, outcome‑driven and resilient.
• Extraordinary Teammates – collaborative, generous and enterprise‑minded.
• Developers of People –…