Marketing Strategy & Activation Manager - Des Moines, IA (Des Moines)

About Bud & Mary’s

Bud & Mary’s is a fully vertically integrated, leading cannabis company operating across multiple states, dedicated to both lifestyle and medical cannabis. We prioritize innovation and quality across cultivation, formulation, manufacturing, and product development, taking a science-focused approach to advancing the cannabis industry through research and technology. Our portfolio features a family of trusted brands designed to meet the diverse needs of today’s cannabis consumers.

Marketing Strategy & Activation Manager

Des Moines, IA (Hybrid) | 20–30% Travel

Bring Our Brands to Life

Bud & Mary’s is looking for a marketing strategy & activation manager to lead integrated marketing programs, events, product launches, and customer-facing initiatives across our growing cannabis portfolio.

This role sits at the intersection of brand, sales, retail, events, and execution. We’re looking for someone who can take a big idea and make it happen -from launching a new product or flavor to building a retail activation, managing an industry event, developing sales materials, or coordinating a multi-state campaign.

The right person is highly organized, creative, commercially minded, and comfortable balancing strategy with hands-on execution in a fast-moving industry.

What You’ll Do

Lead Marketing & Brand Execution

• Develop and execute integrated marketing plans supporting product launches, brand growth, retail partnerships, and commercial priorities.
• Manage campaigns across digital, email, social, retail, print, field marketing, and other customer-facing channels.
• Develop sales tools, presentations, promotional materials, and brand collateral that support our commercial teams.
• Own content planning and development across Bud & Mary’s brands and marketing channels.
• Write and edit compelling brand copy, website content, email campaigns, social content, product messaging, sales materials, presentations, advertising, and other marketing communications.
• Partner with creative agencies and internal teams to bring new products, flavors, formats, and limited-time offerings to market.
• Lead digital marketing initiatives across Bud & Mary’s brands, including social media campaigns, SEO strategy, keyword and content optimization, and performance tracking, with a focus on increasing engagement, organic visibility, website traffic, and measurable ROI.
• Use campaign performance and market insights to continually improve programs and marketing investments.

Own Events & Retail Experiences

• Lead industry events, trade shows, customer programs, retail activations, sponsorships, and sales meetings from strategy through onsite execution.
• Create experiences that strengthen relationships with dispensary partners, buyers, budtenders, and consumers.
• Manage vendors, logistics, budgets, promotional materials, staffing, and timelines.
• Partner with Sales and Field Marketing on vendor days, budtender education, key account programs, product launches, and other retail initiatives.
• Evaluate engagement, sales impact, and ROI to improve future programs.

Collaborate & Lead

• Work closely with Sales, Operations, Production, Compliance, Creative, Finance, and leadership to execute company initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional product launches and ensure teams have the tools and materials needed for successful execution.
• Ensure marketing programs meet applicable state-specific cannabis regulations and brand standards.
• Manage and mentor marketing team members while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and execution-focused culture.
• Bring insights from our sales teams, retail partners, and consumers back into broader marketing strategy.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in marketing, brand, events, field marketing, retail marketing, or a related role.
• Experience in cannabis, CPG, beverage, alcohol, lifestyle brands, or another regulated consumer industry preferred.
• Proven experience executing integrated campaigns, product launches, events, retail activations, and customer programs.
• Strong understanding of how marketing supports sales, retail engagement, and commercial growth.
• Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, markets, vendors, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable being both strategic and hands-on—we’re looking for someone who can build the plan and help bring it to life.
• Ability to travel approximately 20–30%, including occasional evenings and weekends for events.

What Success Looks Like

Success means Bud & Mary’s brands show up consistently, intentionally, and effectively in the market. Our sales teams have the tools they need, our retail partners see us as a valuable partner, product launches are impactful, events have purpose, and our marketing investments contribute directly to brand and business growth.