Marketing Director

The Marketing Director leads the strategy, execution, performance, and day-to-day operations of ATA International’s Marketing Department. Working closely with the VP of Sales & Marketing and other department leaders, the Marketing Director translates organizational priorities into integrated marketing strategies that strengthen the ATA brand, grow membership and revenue, support schools and programs, and drive participation in events, tournaments, licensing, and other Company initiatives. The role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on execution, team development, campaign management, analytics, budget oversight, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Key highlights about the role:

• Owns the marketing function.
• Is accountable for measurable business results, not just marketing activity.
• Leads the team but is still willing and able to get into the work.
• Acts as connector between marketing and every other major ATA department.

Reports to: Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Direct Reports: Marketing Project Manager, Social Media Content Manager, and Creative Services Manager

Position Type: Full-time, exempt, with required travel

Primary Responsibilities

Marketing Prioritization and Calendar Management: Establish and maintain an integrated marketing calendar that coordinates campaigns, events, tournaments, promotions, communications, launches, and departmental initiatives. Prioritize requests based on Company objectives, available resources, expected impact, and deadlines, ensuring the Marketing Department remains focused on the highest-value activities.

Marketing Performance, Analytics and Optimization: Establish KPIs and performance benchmarks for major marketing initiatives and channels. Monitor acquisition, conversion, engagement, retention, revenue, and return on marketing investment. Translate performance data into actionable recommendations, testing plans, and resource-allocation decisions, and communicate results to leadership.

Team Management and Employee Development: Manage the Marketing Project Manager, Social Media Content Manager, and Creative Services Manager by establishing priorities and KPIs, coordinating department responsibilities, conducting quarterly conversations and annual reviews, coaching employees, managing workloads, and supporting hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management.

Company Pillar Support: Support the Events Department, Tournaments Department, Licensing Department, School Operations Department, and Training Department by working with department heads to understand their priorities, manage department requests, coordinate marketing support, provide updates and results, and ensure all work aligns with Company priorities and ATA’s brand.

Hands-On Campaign Development and Writing: Develop campaign strategies and briefs, provide foundational messaging to the team for major campaigns, review priority communications, establish campaign objectives and measurement plans, and step into execution when senior-level writing, editing, or judgment is needed.

ATA Tournaments: Travel to designated ATA tournaments and events as needed to coordinate with applicable departments, venue teams, vendors, and leadership while supporting real-time communications, social media, announcements, photography, video, interviews, and other assigned marketing activities.

Marketing and Media Budget Management: Develop and manage the annual Marketing Department and paid-media budgets in partnership with the VP of Sales & Marketing, monitor spending and remaining balances, approve expenses within assigned authority, identify budget variances, and recommend corrective action when needed. Complete the monthly reconciliation of Marketing and media expenses, including reviewing invoices, verifying account coding, tracking recurring expenses, providing required documentation to accounting, maintaining budget-to-actual reporting, forecasting upcoming expenses, and resolving billing discrepancies.

Brand and Creative Oversight: Provide strategic direction to the Creative Services Manager, approve major campaign concepts and materials, protect ATA’s brand standards and trademarks, maintain high standards for accuracy and quality, and ensure all content, including AI-assisted content, is reviewed for brand and factual accuracy. Oversee the Marketing Department’s responsibility for keeping the ATA Museum current, accurate, organized, and presentable.

Website, Digital and Content Oversight: Oversee ATA’s marketing channels by ensuring website content remains current, coordinating new pages and campaign updates, managing communication calendars, confirming each channel supports the larger marketing plan, and monitoring audience feedback and reputational concerns.

Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field (advanced degree preferred) or equivalent professional experience
• 7+ years of progressive marketing leadership experience, with demonstrated understanding of sales, customer acquisition, and revenue growth
• Demonstrated success driving revenue growth through integrated marketing and sales strategies
• Proven track record building, managing, and scaling high-performance teams across multiple disciplines

Preferred Experience

• Experience in an association, membership organization, or B2B services environment
• Familiarity with creative tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) and the ability to provide clear creative direction
• Event marketing and sponsorship sales experience
• Background in digital advertising, paid media, or performance marketing
• Strategic thinker who can set vision and drive execution with equal confidence
• Highly collaborative, with strong cross-functional instincts and executive presence
• Exceptional communicator and presenter—comfortable engaging boards, senior executives, andfrontline teams
• Results-oriented, accountable, and comfortable operating in dynamic, fast-paced environments
• Servant leader who builds trust, develops talent, and fosters a culture of excellence

About ATA International

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, ATA International is one of the world’s largest martial arts organizations and the home of Songahm Taekwondo. ATA supports a worldwide network of independently owned schools and clubs through industry-leading curriculum, training, licensing, tournaments, events, and business resources.

Our work is guided by our core values, leadership, discipline, respect, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. ATA team members work collaboratively across departments to support our Licensees, instructors, students, and families while strengthening the ATA experience around the world.

ATA International is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.