Vice President of Marketing

Job Type


Full-time

Description

The Vice President of Marketing at Capstone will lead the transformation and execution of a centralized marketing function supporting two core business units: PebbleGo, a digital EdTech product for elementary age learners, and Capstone's publishing business, which creates books for elementary age readers and sells them into US and international schools, public libraries, and consumer markets via direct and indirect distribution channels. This leader will create a cohesive marketing strategy that supports and elevates the shared Capstone brand while driving targeted marketing programs for each business unit, aligned to the unique channel and end-user/customer needs.


Reporting to the President, the VP of Marketing will define and oversee an effective hybrid structure that includes dedicated marketing teams for each business unit along with centralized marketing resources that support both businesses and the overall Capstone brand. This role requires a strategic, hands-on leader who can balance long-term brand building with near-term revenue impact.

This role will be based out of our Eden Prairie, MN office with the option for a hybrid work schedule.


Why You'll Want To Join Capstone

Have you ever read something that increased your understanding of the world around you? An article, a book, a research paper, a piece of local legislation, even a poem or short story?

Capstone is a mission-driven community of passionate, creative people like you who believe in the power of literacy. Our mission is to make reading fun for kids, so that they never experience literacy as the barrier that prevents them from understanding and engaging with the world around them.


For more than 30 years, Capstone has led the way in K-5 educational publishing, creating award-winning books and digital learning experiences (PebbleGo). The information landscape has changed dramatically since we first started out in 1991, and competition for kids' attention is at an all-time high. This changing landscape inspires our continued growth and innovation - today's kids need trusted sources of content more than ever, but their standards for what's considered engaging have never been higher! At Capstone, we're excited by that challenge - are you?

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Go-to-Market Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, integrated global marketing strategy to drive growth in alignment with PebbleGo, Publishing, and Capstone's overall business objectives, effectively addressing both the needs of a 1) SaaS business with streamlined offerings and direct access to the end customer, and 2) a publishing business with thousands of active titles serving multiple markets through direct and indirect channels. Partner closely with the General Managers for each business unit, Capstone's Chief Revenue Officer who oversees a centralized sales function supporting both business units, direct and indirect sales team members, and Product team members across both businesses, to ensure our go-to-market strategies drive pipeline generation and revenue growth in alignment with product roadmaps.
• Expand Capstone's presence across markets and align global brand and marketing strategies to the distinct value chain needs for each business unit and channel - including the children engaging with the products we create, the educators and care givers directly supporting children in their learning journeys, decision makers/budget holders within the different markets (US and international schools, public libraries, trade/consumer), and the direct and indirect sales teams serving the different channels.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and the executive leadership team on market trends, customer insights, and growth opportunities.

Organizational Leadership & Development

• Lead the transition from separate marketing groups sitting within each business unit to a centralized, scalable marketing organization that effectively meets the go-to-market needs of both business units and serves the overall Capstone brand by establishing clear priorities across competing initiatives, processes, roles, and accountability.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, data-driven, and innovative marketing organization grounded in collaboration and accountability.
• Clarify roles and career paths for marketing team members that support the overall Capstone organization while maintaining strong alignment to business unit needs, including marketing managers, design/creative teams, public relations, and events management.
• Ensure a coherent brand voice, visual identity, and messaging across markets and channels.
• Strengthen the company's overall market presence and position as a thought leader.
• Drive pipeline growth through integrated campaigns (including digital marketing, catalogs, events), and ensure timely and effective sales enablement across channels.
• Establish clear KPIs and dashboards to measure the effectiveness, ROI, and contribution to revenue of every marketing campaign and our broader go-to-market strategies.

Education, Experience, and Skills desired:

• The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of progressive marketing leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience in developing and implementing go-to-market strategies for a complex market and channel mix (e.g., direct and indirect, public schools and public libraries, international educational markets, consumer market) is required. The ideal candidate would bring both Publishing and SaaS marketing experience.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing a coherent brand across multiple business units, product lines and customer segments.
• Experience operating within a hybrid marketing model that supports the overall company brand and shared go-to-market needs across business units, while also providing dedicated focus for the unique customer and channel needs within each business unit.
• A data-driven mindset, experience with marketing analytics and automation tools, and exceptional leadership and communication skills are essential.
• Strategic thinker who can also execute effectively, balancing competing priorities across diverse business needs.
• Ability to connect and align priorities across the organization to drive a cohesive "One Capstone" brand strategy.
• Strong customer-centric mindset and a deep understanding of marketing strategy.
• Collaborative leader who can influence without direct authority and lead through change with clarity and confidence.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to communicate clearly and present information in a concise and effective way at all levels in the organization.
• CRM experience (e.g. Salesforce), SEO, analytics and lead generation experience preferred.

Travel Requirements

This position requires some travel (10-20%).

Inclusion & Belonging

Capstone embraces equal opportunity and a culture of belonging for all employees and applicants. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidate information will be kept private according to EEO guidelines. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to View email address on click.appcast.io.

The pay range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered surrounding compensation including but not limited to: skill sets, experience and training, work location, and other business and organizational needs. At Capstone, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role. A reasonable estimate of the annual pay range for this position is $180,000 - $210,000.


Capstone strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our employees and their families. Click here to see our benefits.


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Employment Authorization:

At this time Capstone unfortunately cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. To be considered for one of our roles, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.