.As a Country Lead, you will support the operations in one (or more) of Merkle Nearshoring countries and serve as the primary representative of the company in this region. You are tasked with steering the business in line with local laws and corporate policies, ensuring operational excellence and compliance, cross-regional collaboration, people engagement and wellbeing, and managing all facets of the organization's activities within the country. This role requires a people leader with robust experience in managing cross-functional teams and operations in an evolving agency environment.Key Responsibilities:Leadership and People Management:Lead and manage the overall operations of nearshore Merkle offices, ensuring strategic objectives align with corporate goals.Oversee the management of teams across various functions, providing leadership and support to ensure a cohesive and productive work environment.Representation and Compliance:Maintain compliance with local laws and regulatory obligations, ensuring all business activities are conducted legally and ethically.Engage with third parties, including government officials, business partners, and other relevant stakeholders to foster strong relationships and represent the company's interests.Implement and monitor compliance programs and internal controls to safeguard the organization's operations.Operational efficiency and Optimization of Service Rate Card:Increase the operational efficiency of the offices by optimizing talent acquisition strategies and managing premises costs effectively.Collaborate with EMEA CXM to analyze and optimize the rate card for Merkle services, ensuring competitive pricing and alignment with market standards.Resource Management and Staffing Optimization:Efficiently manage the staffing of nearshore resources on projects for DACH and EMEA clients, aiming to minimize idle time (bench) and maximize employee engagement and productivity.Innovation and Growth Mindset:Inspire and encourage a growth and innovation mindset within the team, focusing on new technologies and quality improvement initiatives.Lead the adoption and implementation of advanced technologies and practices that support the strategic goals of the organization.Cross-Regional Collaboration:Further the collaboration of talent across EMEA, promoting the democratization of CXM practices and knowledge sharing to enhance service delivery and client satisfaction for local and global clients.Employment Relations and Human Resources Initiatives:Lead initiatives related to employment relations, including recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and development programs.Make decisions on employee rights, duties, and responsibilities, ensuring alignment with corporate values and local employment laws.Address and resolve complex human resource issues, fostering a productive and inclusive workplace environment.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):Compliance with local legal and regulatory standards