Our client’s Cross-Channel, Cross-Category Marketing (XCM) organization is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Marketing Manager to join their Retail Brand team. This role is primarily focused on brand architecture and design systems, requiring a strong strategist and an exceptional long-form business writer. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in maintaining brand consistency across a vast ecosystem and managing complex stakeholder relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Brand Architecture & Design System Emissary: Serve as an expert and advocate for the company’s brand architecture and design system.

• Escalation Management: Proactively manage and resolve “escalations” - debates and disagreements with various internal teams regarding brand implementation. This involves drafting and editing long-form documents (memos, not presentations) detailing background, issues, and pros/cons, and participating in meetings.

• Strategic Guidance: Provide guidance to internal teams on how to effectively implement the brand design system and adhere to brand architecture.

• Creative Brief Development: Develop integrated content briefs that guide design strategy for retail campaigns, reinforcing the company’s value and selection based on customer insights and business objectives.

• Campaign Development Support: Support end-to-end retail campaign development, including drafting strategic setup documents for alignment and approvals.

• Style Guide Management: Support the end-to-end strategy and execution of retail style guides for events like Back to School, Holiday, and evergreen events (e.g., deals, seasonal) to ensure global consistency and on-time project management.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Liaise with business partners to gain alignment on campaign and style guide strategy and creative development.

• Program Management: Oversee campaign and creative program management for key initiatives such as the annual Holiday toybook and connected gaming experiences.

• Process Improvement: Identify and implement repeatable structures and communication mechanisms to enhance business performance and facilitate learning sharing.

• Creative Asset Management: Manage creative asset development and delivery across multiple channels.

• Risk Management: Quickly identify and assess risks, develop mitigation plans, embrace invention, and collaborate consultatively across teams.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Strong Brand Strategist: Proven experience (10+ years) in brand strategy, either in-house (client-side) or from a top design consultancy (e.g., Pentagram, JKR, FutureBrand, Interbrand, Collins). Experience with brand architecture and design systems is crucial. While ad agency backgrounds are considered, the focus of this role is on design systems, not advertising campaigns.

• Exceptional Business Writer: A very strong long-form business writer is essential. The ability to articulate complex issues and arguments clearly and concisely in written documents (memos) is paramount for success at this company. A writing sample and a short writing assignment will be part of the interview process.

• Comfortable Communicator: Ability to eloquently describe and parse different situations, comfortable speaking with a range of executives.

• Collaborative Partner: Proven ability to manage stakeholder relationships and collaborate effectively across various internal teams (Brand Planning, Creative, Media, Insights, Production) and external creative agency partners.

• Self-Starter: Ability to hit the ground running with limited supervision, embrace invention, and operate in a consultative and partnered mindset.

• Analytical Mindset: A reasonably analytical background is expected; deep mathematical analysis is not required.

• Bachelor’s Degree: Required educational background.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $91.83 to $102.04 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:
Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.
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Our fast growing client is a global leader renowned for shaping the future and impacting millions worldwide! If you’re seeking an opportunity to work on cutting-edge initiatives and accelerate your career within a culture of bold ideas, we can connect you to your next great adventure. Contribute your talents in a place that values innovation, creativity, and leadership!