Associate Marketing Specialist

Associate Marketing Specialist

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Classification: Full-Time Hourly, Non-Exempt

Compensation Range: $22.00-$26.00/hour; Aligned to Company and Applicant Expectations

Reports to: Ecommerce Manager

ABOUT US: 

The Darling Effect is a young, energetic company offering a fresh perspective on the products we use and wear daily. At The Darling Effect, we bring the season’s trendiest gift and lifestyle products to life with enhanced design, creating items that inspire and delight. 

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

The Darling Effect is seeking a creative, organized, and execution-oriented Associate Marketing Specialist to support the growth of our direct-to-consumer business and broader marketing initiatives.

Working closely with the Ecommerce Manager, this role will help bring marketing ideas to life through content creation, copywriting, product photography, photo editing, catalog management, email and SMS marketing, and other digital marketing initiatives. The ideal candidate enjoys both the creative and detail-oriented sides of marketing, can move comfortably between brainstorming ideas and completing hands-on tasks, and takes pride in producing high-quality work.

This is a highly collaborative, hands-on role in which priorities will evolve with business needs, product launches, and seasonal campaigns. We are looking for someone who is proactive, adaptable, eager to learn, and willing to jump in wherever support is needed to help our ecommerce business grow.

WHAT YOU'LL DO AS AN ASSOCIATE MARKETING SPECIALIST :

The Associate Marketing Specialist will support the Ecommerce Manager in planning, developing, executing, and maintaining the content and marketing initiatives that drive online sales, strengthen our brand, and improve the customer experience.

Key Responsibilities

Content Creation & Creative Support

• Collaborate with the Ecommerce Manager to brainstorm, develop, and execute content ideas across our website, social media, email, SMS, and other digital marketing channels.
• Write, edit, and refine marketing copy, including product descriptions, social media captions, email and SMS content, promotional messaging, and other customer-facing communications.
• Assist with planning, organizing, and executing product photoshoots, including preparing products, coordinating shot lists, capturing content, and organizing finished assets.
• Edit and enhance product photography and other visual assets to maintain a consistent, polished, and on-brand presentation.
• Create and adapt marketing assets using tools such as Canva and other creative software, as needed.
• Identify emerging content trends, creative opportunities, and new ways to showcase our products across digital and print channels.
• Help repurpose existing photography, video, and other creative assets to support multiple marketing initiatives.

Email & SMS Marketing Support

• Assist with the development and execution of email and SMS marketing campaigns, including brainstorming concepts, writing copy, preparing creative assets, building campaigns, scheduling sends, and conducting quality checks.
• Support promotional campaigns, product launches, seasonal initiatives, and ongoing customer engagement efforts. 
• Help maintain campaign calendars and coordinate deadlines, assets, and approvals with the Ecommerce Manager.
• Assist with reviewing campaign performance and identifying opportunities to improve engagement and effectiveness. 

Catalog & Product Content

• Assist with maintaining accurate, compelling, and consistent product listings across Shopify and other digital sales channels, including Amazon, Etsy, and TikTok Shop.
• Support coordination with the company’s third-party international marketing agency, including sharing creative assets, communicating priorities, coordinating deliverables, and assisting with the execution and follow-through of marketing initiatives.
• Upload and organize product photography, update product descriptions and other listing details, and help ensure digital catalogs reflect current product information. 
• Support product launches by preparing and organizing the content, photography, copy, and other assets needed for new listings.
• Help maintain product information, digital assets, and content libraries so materials are easy to locate, reuse, and update.
• Conduct routine reviews of product listings and digital storefront content to identify errors, inconsistencies, missing assets, and opportunities for improvement. 

Social Media & Digital Marketing Support

• Assist with developing and preparing content for The Darling Effect's social media channels, including product features, promotional content, trends, and brand storytelling.
• Help coordinate content calendars, prepare posts, organize assets, and support publishing across relevant platforms.
• Support influencer and affiliate marketing initiatives through content coordination, asset preparation, outreach support, and follow-up, as needed.
• Assist with preparing creative assets and copy for paid advertising and other digital marketing initiatives in coordination with the Ecommerce Manager and external partners.
• Help maintain consistency in brand voice, messaging, and visual presentation across customer-facing channels.

Project Coordination & Team Support

• Work closely with the Ecommerce Manager to organize priorities, track project progress, and ensure marketing deliverables are completed accurately and on time.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including Creative, Sales, and Operations, to gather product information and support product launches, seasonal campaigns, and other marketing initiatives.
• Help document repeatable processes, organize shared resources, and improve the efficiency of recurring marketing activities.
• Take initiative in identifying tasks, solving problems, and moving projects forward without waiting for every next step to be assigned.
• Provide flexible support for other marketing, ecommerce, and related projects as business needs evolve.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or related field. (Required)
• 1–2 years of experience in marketing, content creation, ecommerce, or a related role. (Required)
• Experience creating and editing digital content, writing marketing copy, or supporting social media and email marketing initiatives.
• Familiarity with ecommerce platforms, particularly Shopify, is a plus.
• Experience with product photography, photo editing, Canva, AI, or other creative tools is a plus.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write clear, engaging, and brand-appropriate marketing copy.
• Creative mindset with an interest in content ideation, visual storytelling, product presentation, and digital marketing trends.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly when working with product information, imagery, copy, and customer-facing content.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Comfortable learning new software, platforms, and workflows.
• Familiarity with tools such as Shopify, Canva, Klaviyo, or other email marketing platforms, social media management tools, artificial intelligence, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• Ability to work collaboratively, receive feedback, and adjust work based on evolving priorities.
• Proactive, resourceful, and willing to take ownership of assigned tasks from start to finish.
• Positive attitude and ability to adapt in a fast-paced, growing, and seasonal business environment.
• A strong sense of accountability, a willingness to learn, and a team-first approach to getting work done.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Ability to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear.
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs
• Ability to work in a typical office environment over a full shift.

HOW TO APPLY: Those interested in the position are asked to email Human Resources at View email address on apply.j-vers.com with a copy of their resume and cover letter or summary of interest for review and consideration. Thank you in advance to all applicants!