Marketing Director

We are seeking a Director of Marketing with 10+ years of experience within footwear or apparel brands operating in wholesale retail environments, and a proven track record supporting B2B sales channels.

This hands-on leader will own brand strategy, product marketing, digital and social oversight, go-to-market execution, and licensed brand alignment, with clear accountability for sell-through, retail support, and ROI-driven performance.

Please apply only if you meet the footwear or apparel wholesale experience requirement.

Title: Director of Marketing (Footwear or Apparel experince needed)

Location : North Jersey Paramus (3 days in 2 days out)

Reports to : President / Executive Leadership

Role Overview

As the Director of Marketing, you will lead the strategic development and execution of marketing initiatives across a portfolio of owned and licensed brands. This role is responsible for building brand equity, driving sell-through at wholesale partners, supporting licensing relationships, and developing cost-effective marketing programs that directly impact revenue growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially minded marketer who understands footwear, wholesale retail, licensing, and modern brand-building, balancing creativity with disciplined ROI.

Key Responsibilities

Brand & Marketing Strategy

• Develop and execute brand-specific marketing strategies across a footwear portfolio of licensed and private label brands
• Ensure consistent brand positioning, messaging, and visual identity across all channels
• Translate long-term business objectives into actionable annual and seasonal marketing plans
• Partner closely with design, sales, and merchandising to align product stories with market demand

Wholesale & B2B Marketing

• Build marketing programs that support wholesale sell-in and sell-through across department stores, specialty retail, mass, off-price, and dealer channels
• Create compelling sales tools, including line sheets, presentations, seasonal decks, and product storytelling assets
• Support key retail accounts with co-op marketing, in-store assets, and digital toolkits
• Collaborate with sales leadership on account-specific strategies and presentations

Digital, Social & Content

• Oversee digital marketing strateg,y including social media, email, content creation, and brand storytelling
• Ensure digital efforts support both brand building and wholesale objectives
• Manage agency partners, freelancers, and content creators
• Drive efficient use of paid media, influencer partnerships, and organic growth strategies

Go-To-Market & Launch Execution

• Lead go-to-market planning for new brand launches, category expansions, and seasonal collections
• Own launch calendars and execution timelines across marketing channels
• Ensure product launches align tightly with sales cycles and retail delivery schedules

Grassroots & Athlete-Led Marketing – Technical Trail Running Brand

• Build and execute a grassroots marketing strategy to establish a technical trail running brand as a credible, leading player in the category
• Develop an athlete-first approach focused on unsponsored or emerging trail runners, coaches, run club leaders, and regional influencers
• Identify and activate local trail communities, races, and events as core brand touchpoints
• Create seeding programs for athletes, specialty retailers, and trail ambassadors to drive authentic product adoption and word-of-mouth
• Partner with specialty-run shops, trail organizations, and outdoor communities to build brand credibility at the ground level
• Oversee field marketing initiatives, including demos, test runs, pop-ups, and event presence
• Ensure grassroots efforts translate into earned media, organic social content, retail demand, and wholesale credibility
• Measure success through athlete adoption, community engagement, specialty door expansion, content output, and sell-through momentum

Licensing & Brand Partnerships

• Work closely with licensors and brand partners to ensure alignment with brand standards and approvals
• Serve as a key marketing point of contact for licensors, agencies, and external partners
• Support license renewals and growth initiatives through strong brand execution and results

Budgeting, Analytics & ROI

• Own the marketing budget and allocate spend across brands and initiatives
• Establish and track KPIs tied to sell-through, traffic, engagement, and ROI
• Continuously optimize marketing spend to maximize efficiency and impact

Team Leadership

• Build, manage, and mentor an internal marketing team
• Set clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations
• Foster a collaborative, fast-moving, and accountable marketing culture

Qualifications

• 10+ years of marketing experience within footwear or apparel brands operating in wholesale retail environments.
• Proven experience supporting wholesale and B2B sales channels
• Strong understanding of brand management, product marketing, and retail dynamics
• Experience working with licensed brands and approval-driven environments is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to balance creative brand building with commercial outcomes
• Experience managing agencies, budgets, and cross-functional teams
• Strong presentation and communication skills

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strategic brand thinker with a strong commercial mindset
• Deep understanding of footwear or performance product lifecycles
• Data-driven and ROI-focused
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Collaborative leader who works seamlessly with sales, design, and operations
• Highly organized with strong project management skills