Head of marketing & social media

We're looking for a strategic, creative, and data-driven Marketing Director to lead and elevate The Local Palate's brand across every channel. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can set the strategy and make sure the execution follows — and who understands that great marketing drives measurable growth across media, events, commerce, and community.Read on to fully understand what this job requires in terms of skills and experience If you are a good match, make an application.You'll manage a team of three direct reports (Newsletter Content Manager, Social Content Manager, Video Manager, and E-commerce Manager) and work in close collaboration with our Digital Editor, Sales, Editorial, Marketplace, and Cookbook Club teams.Lead the Marketing TeamDirectly manage and mentor the Newsletter Content Manager, Social Content Manager, Video Manager, and E-commerce ManagerSet clear goals, workflows, and accountability structures; foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvementDrive Brand StrategyDefine and evolve The Local Palate's brand voice, visual identity, and positioning across all channels — including Marketplace and Cookbook Club, where the brand shows up in transactional and community contexts and must feel just as intentionalIdentify opportunities to elevate the brand and champion TLP's identity internally so every team member understands and upholds itOwn the Channel StrategyOversee newsletter strategy and growth — content planning, subscriber retention, segmentation, open rates, and platform evaluationGuide social media strategy across existing and emerging platforms with a focus on audience growth, engagement, and content qualityOversee video strategy and distribution in partnership with the Video ManagerLead website improvement and evaluation of new platforms and tools needed to keep TLP competitiveDevelop and execute targeted print and digital campaigns focused on subscriber growth and retention — building programs that convert new readers and keep existing ones engaged across every touchpointDrive Commerce & Community GrowthDevelop and execute marketing strategies for both The Local Palate Marketplace and Cookbook Club — treating each as a distinct revenue and engagement channel with its own audience journey and conversion goalsBuild seasonal and editorial-aligned campaigns: holiday gift guides, new product launches, maker spotlights, book picks, author moments, and member milestones — all feeling native to the TLP brandOwn email marketing for both channels: welcome and onboarding flows, product launches, promotional sends, book reveals, abandoned cart, and re-engagement sequencesDevelop storytelling that connects our commerce and community offerings to the editorial voice readers already trust — and identify cross-promotion opportunities across Marketplace, Cookbook Club, social, and editorialPlan and execute paid search and shopping ad campaigns for Marketplace — including Google Ads (Shopping and Performance Max), product feed management in Google Merchant Center, branded vs. non-branded campaign strategy, bid and budget pacing, and Microsoft AdsDevelop and execute targeted campaigns built around Marketplace subscriber growth and retention, with a focus on turning readers into buyers and buyers into loyal customersTrack and optimize performance across both channels: conversion rates, revenue attribution, membership growth, retention, and return on ad spendMeasure What MattersBuild and maintain a regular analytics reporting cadence across all channelsTranslate insights into action — not just reporting numbers, but knowing what to do with themSet and track KPIs for audience growth, engagement, Marketplace revenue, and Cookbook Club membershipCollaborate & Support Revenue GrowthPartner with Sales to support advertiser campaigns, event promotion, and co-branded content — and provide audience data and campaign recaps that demonstrate value to partnersWork with Editorial to align marketing with print and digital calendars; partner with the Digital Editor on website content, SEO, and traffic strategyBring ideas for new marketing products, subscription drives, and audience extensions that grow revenue streamsCriteria includes:7+ years of marketing experience, with at least 2-3 years in a leadership or management roleProven experience across newsletter, social, digital, and content marketing — ideally in media, publishing, food, travel, lifestyle, or e-commerceExperience with DTC or e-commerce marketing, including email automation, Shopify, and performance trackingHands-on experience running paid search and shopping ad campaigns — Google Ads (including Shopping and Performance Max), Google Merchant Center product feed management, branded vs. non-branded campaign strategy, bid and budget pacing, and Microsoft Ads; this person should be able to own and execute these campaigns directly when neededExperience marketing subscription or membership products — Cookbook Club is a core and growing part of TLP's community strategyStrong analytical mindset — comfortable in platform dashboards, building reports, and making data-driven decisionsExcellent communicator and collaborator across teams with different prioritiesA genuine passion for brand-building and storytellingFamiliarity with Mailchimp, Substack, Meta Business Suite, Google Analytics, Google Merchant Center, WordPress, , and other similar platformsAn eye for design and strong visual brand standardsKnowledge of or genuine enthusiasm for food, culture, and the South — our audience can tell when someone really gets itWhy apply?This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior marketing leadership role at a beloved regional media brand at an exciting moment of growth. xhyhwjd You'll have real ownership across media, events, commerce, and community — a combination that few marketing roles offer.