Marketing Director

We are not hiring a campaign manager. We are hiring a marketing leader who will build the systems that generate a predictable pipeline of leads, own the budget and ROI on every conference and event we invest in, and guide us in shaping the overall business plan for our companies. This is a strategic, revenue-connected role — not a creative or execution-only position. The Marketing Director's job is to architect the engine, not run the calendar. This is a Director-level position with a clear path to Chief Marketing Officer as the function matures. We're looking for someone who has already proven they can build repeatable, data-driven growth systems — not someone looking to learn on the job. What You'll Own Build and own a repeatable lead-generation engine — not one-off campaigns — that produces a consistent, forecastable pipeline across our business lines Define target audience segments and build precision-targeted, automated campaigns across the platforms where our buyers actually are (LinkedIn, Google, Meta, and others as warranted) Create feedback loops that connect audience behavior and campaign data directly to revenue outcomes, so marketing spend can be judged on pipeline and closed business, not impressions Use data, CRM reporting, and AI/automation tools to continuously test, adapt, and improve conversion — and know how to diagnose and fix a channel when results plateau Treat what you build as a business asset: documented, repeatable systems that don't leave with any one person 2. Conference & Event Budgeting Build and manage the annual conference, trade show, and sponsorship budget — which events we attend, exhibit at, or sponsor, and why Negotiate with vendors, venues, and sponsorship partners to get the best terms and track spend against a clear plan Set and track ROI expectations for every event dollar spent (leads generated, meetings booked, deals influenced) and report results back to leadership Coordinate logistics, staffing, and follow-up processes so events feed directly into the lead-generation pipeline above rather than existing as a standalone expense 3. Business Planning & Company Strategy Partner directly with executive leadership on the annual business plan, bringing a revenue-forecasting view grounded in real pipeline data Provide market and competitive analysis that informs company-level decisions, not just marketing decisions Set marketing budget priorities and defend them with numbers — this role owns a budget and is accountable for what it returns Align marketing strategy across our companies' business lines, ensuring lead generation, events, and brand efforts all point at the same growth targets Direct any internal marketing support staff, plus outside agencies, freelancers, or contractors handling design, content, and creative production Set the strategic brief for creative work; you don't need to produce the creative yourself, but you need to know what good looks like and hold vendors to it What You Bring 7+ years in marketing with a track record of building lead-generation systems and infrastructure — not just running campaigns someone else designed Direct experience owning a marketing or event budget, including vendor negotiation and ROI tracking Comfort operating at the business-planning level: forecasting, reporting to leadership, and tying marketing activity to revenue Working knowledge of digital advertising platforms (LinkedIn, Google, Meta) and marketing automation/CRM tools; fluency with current AI-assisted marketing tools A systems-thinking mindset: when a channel or campaign plateaus, you diagnose why and rebuild rather than just running more of the same Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field; MBA or equivalent experience a plus Experience in B2B, professional services, real estate, or municipal/economic development markets is a plus but not required What Success Looks Like in Year One A documented, repeatable lead-generation system is in place and producing a pipeline leadership can forecast against The conference and event budget is planned in advance, tracked against ROI, and defensible line by line Marketing has a clear seat in annual business planning, with this role contributing real forecasting input rather than a campaign calendar About Us Retail Strategies is the leading national advisory firm with a mission to position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses. We take this mission very seriously and work with community leaders, economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and real estate developers around the country to provide tailored solutions to achieve retail growth and success. Since our founding in 2012, Retail Strategies has grown immensely, establishing relationships with over 800 cities in 45 states. As the nation’s only municipal consulting firm with a full-service commercial real estate arm, we exist with our passion for people to measurably improve the quality of life in communities through innovation and entrepreneurial pursuits and can leverage a nationwide network that no other company can match. Retail Strategies has offices in Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA, Fort Worth, TX, and Starkville, MS. At Retail Strategies, we know that success depends on all of us. To learn more about our Company, check out this short video highlighting our history and our culture. #J-18808-Ljbffr