Director of Marketing

Competitive Compensation & Benefits Package * 401(k) with Profit Sharing * Flexible Time Off * Office Dog!!

ABOUT US

By combining our unparalleled domain expertise with leading-edge technology, Ad Astra is helping higher education in its mission to advance timely student completions. We are building a cloud-based software platform that will provide the foundation for our next generation of industry-leading solutions and analytics. Simply put, we're helping students graduate faster.

OUR CORE VALUES

• We recognize talent. We recognize and appreciate the unique God-given talents that our people bring to Ad Astra. Aligning these individual gifts with our work sets team members up to succeed.
• We're unpretentious. There's no room for ego. We admit our imperfections and have the humility to know what we don't know.
• We're passionate. We aren't satisfied with the status quo. We're on a mission together to protect the value of degree completion and to transform the higher education industry.
• We're pioneering. We're pioneering and aren't afraid of failing-in fact, we celebrate it. We love it when our people boldly experiment with innovative solutions.
• We love fun. The health of our relationships is strengthened by working with people who stretch our thinking-and by enjoying the lighter side of life together. We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do take fun seriously.
• We have grit. Beyond talent and intelligence, our people have stick-to-itiveness. We push through challenges to make goals a reality.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Marketing owns the vision, strategy, and execution of the organization's entire marketing function. This role is responsible for building and operating a predictable revenue engine that spans the full client journey, from creating awareness and generating demand to accelerating pipeline and supporting client expansion. Core areas of ownership include demand generation, account-based marketing (ABM), market positioning and messaging, brand strategy, and product go to market (GTM) execution. The Director translates business objectives into integrated marketing plans, sets clear priorities and budgets, and establishes the metrics used to evaluate performance across every program and channel. As a people leader, the Director recruits, develops, and inspires a team of marketers while fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement. This role also serves as a key member of the leadership team, partnering closely with sales, product, and executive stakeholders to shape strategy, strengthen the company's competitive position, and deliver measurable growth in pipeline, revenue, and brand equity.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own and scale the demand generation strategy across paid, organic, email, events, and webinars to build qualified pipeline and drive customer acquisition and revenue growth.
• Design and execute account-based marketing (ABM) programs targeting priority higher education institutions, partnering with sales on account selection, orchestration, and pipeline acceleration.
• Define and continuously refine market positioning, messaging, and value propositions that differentiate the company's SaaS platform with higher education buyers, ensuring consistency across all channels and touchpoints.
• Lead brand strategy and stewardship - overseeing visual identity, content, thought leadership, and reputation to grow awareness and credibility in the higher education market.
• Develop thought leadership content, including publications, benchmark reports, articles, webinars, and speaking engagements, that drives market interest and positions the company as an industry authority.
• Lead marketing for the company's AI capabilities, translating technical product functionality into simple, compelling language that communicates clear value to buyers and the broader market.
• Champion client reference-ability by identifying the value clients achieve, turning those outcomes into case studies and success stories, and building a strong bench of referenceable clients to support sales and marketing.
• Direct product go-to-market (GTM) strategy in partnership with product management, including launch planning and execution, sales enablement, pricing and packaging input, and adoption campaigns.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing marketing team, fostering a collaborative, data-driven, and innovative work environment.
• Own marketing analytics and reporting, tracking funnel metrics, campaign ROI, customer acquisition cost (CAC), and marketing-sourced pipeline, to make data-driven decisions and continuously optimize programs.
• Partner cross-functionally with sales, product, and client success to align marketing with revenue goals and the full client lifecycle.
• Manage the marketing budget, marketing technology stack (CRM, marketing automation, and ABM platforms), and vendor and agency relationships.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• 7+ years of progressive B2B marketing experience with at least 3 years in marketing leadership roles at a SaaS or software company; experience marketing to higher education institutions strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success building and scaling demand generation programs with measurable pipeline and revenue impact.
• Hands-on experience designing and executing account-based marketing (ABM) strategies and campaigns.
• Proven ability to develop market positioning, messaging, and value propositions that differentiate a B2B software product.
• Experience leading brand development and product go-to-market (GTM) launches in partnership with product and sales teams.
• Strong command of the modern marketing technology stack, including CRM, marketing automation, ABM, and analytics platforms.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Physical requirements: Ability to work in an office environment, with some travel as needed.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Direction: Sets clear marketing strategy and priorities, charts the direction of the function, and translates business objectives into actionable plans.
• Team Leadership: Exhibits strong leadership skills in guiding and developing marketing teams.
• Data Analysis: Proficient in data-driven decision-making, with a keen ability to interpret and act on marketing analytics.
• Collaborative Communication: Fosters a culture of collaboration and clear communication across cross-functional teams.
• Innovation: Drives innovation by staying updated on industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Go-to-Market Execution: Translates positioning and product strategy into successful launches, campaigns, and revenue programs.
• Client and Market Insight: Maintains a deep understanding of higher education buyers, institutional purchasing dynamics, and the competitive SaaS landscape.
• Benchmarking and Publications: Develops benchmark studies, market analysis reports, and other content pieces for the higher education market that define areas of opportunity in scheduling, drive market interest, and build thought leadership.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in Marketing or Business Administration.
• Experience marketing SaaS solutions to colleges and universities, or within the broader EdTech ecosystem.
• Professional certifications in digital marketing, demand generation, or ABM.
• Experience with emerging marketing technologies, including AI-driven marketing tools.

HOW PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED FOR THIS ROLE

Performance for the Director of Marketing is assessed through key performance indicators such as:

• Marketing sourced and marketing influenced pipeline and bookings
• Pipeline coverage against revenue targets
• Customer acquisition cost (CAC) and CAC payback period
• SaaS Magic Number and overall go to market efficiency
• Contribution to annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth
• Net revenue retention (NRR) and expansion revenue influenced by marketing
• LTV to CAC ratio
• Funnel conversion rates from lead to MQL, SQL, and closed won business
• Marketing return on investment (ROI) and budget efficiency
• Brand awareness, share of voice, and engagement with thought leadership content
• Number of referenceable clients, case studies, and client advocacy

This position is in Overland Park, KS in the greater Kansas City metro area. Ad Astra does not cover relocation expenses.

Ad Astra is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and fairness-regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, political affiliation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Please note that Ad Astra is unable to provide work visa sponsorship for this position.