Description

Director, Marketing & Communications to join our team in our Chicago office.

The Director, Marketing & Communications, is a senior leader responsible for using data, marketing technology and marketing strategy to identify and drive opportunities for client growth. Working as part of a client leadership team, this individual will translate organizational priorities, audience insights and performance data into focused growth strategies and measurable action plans. The role will have particular emphasis on increasing brand awareness, membership, member engagement, participation in programs and events, revenue and organizational reach.

The individual will be directly engaged in advancing client priorities; including identifying opportunities, shaping strategy, mobilizing cross-functional resources, monitoring results and adjusting approaches based on performance. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical capabilities with deep marketing strategy experience and a demonstrated ability to turn insight into action and measurable growth.

What You Will Do:

• Partner with executive director and client leadership team to translate the organization's strategic priorities into integrated marketing, communications, brand and audience-growth strategies.
• Lead strategies to grow, engage and retain members and expand participation in programs, events, products and other revenue-generating opportunities.
• Advance the organization's brand, reputation and industry influence through thought leadership, media relations, content strategy, strategic partnerships and other external visibility initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership for the organization's website, digital experience and owned communications channels, ensuring they support members' needs, organizational priorities and future growth.
• Partner across membership, education, technology, conferences, regions, committees and other stakeholders to ensure a cohesive and consistent client experience and brand.
• Use audience insights, segmentation, marketing technology and performance data to strengthen personalization, improve conversion and inform marketing investment.
• Develop and manage client marketing budgets, including tracking and reporting.
• Manage and provide day-to-day direction to team members, ensuring clear priorities, appropriate workload allocation, quality of work and alignment with client objectives.
• Support the professional development and growth of team members through coaching, regular feedback, performance guidance and identification of opportunities to build skills and take on increased responsibility.

This Role Might Be for You If You...

• Thrive in a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment and is energized by achieving results through partnership, shared accountability and the collective contributions of others.
• Demonstrate a strong ability to influence, align and work across teams to advance goals, recognizing that success in this role depends on collaboration rather than individual contribution alone.
• Excel in a fast-paced environment with the ability to shift gears quickly and manage expectations and priorities proactively.
• Gain professional satisfaction being accountable for work from inception through completion by providing strategic direction and advising on tactical approaches.
• Have the ability to travel 3-5 times a year.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 15+ years total relevant professional experience in marketing environment.
• Demonstrated experience with digital marketing strategy, marketing technology, media relations, analytics, audience segmentation and evolving marketing channels and platforms.
• Proficient in budgeting and financial management.
• Strong people management and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS with a concentration in strategic/integrated communications, marketing, or business.
• Experience working in a collaborative environment (agency or professional services firm experience is a plus.
• Experience with marketing automation and CRM platforms, analytics, digital advertising, and web/content management systems, with the ability to use marketing technology and performance data to inform strategy and improve results.

Where Do You Fit?
Whether you are just beginning your career or are a mid- or senior-level professional, working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all of our people - regardless of position or compensation - an equal chance to experience the fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.

Smithbucklin is a hybrid work environment with in-office days established as Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines.

Smithbucklin considers several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $125,000-$140,000.