Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations

Summary

Join Zearn as the Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations and partner with the Chief Marketing Officer to drive transformative marketing initiatives. You will lead the development of marketing goals, manage the marketing budget, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. This role requires strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, effective communication, data analysis, and AI fluency. You will oversee go-to-market strategies, manage marketing channels, and spearhead the adoption of AI-based tools. The position offers a high-impact leadership opportunity to shape Zearn's strategic direction and growth, impacting the lives of millions of children. This remote position is open to several states and offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Requirements

• 7-10+ years of experience in top-tier management consulting or similar strategic roles, with a preference for education or nonprofit sector experience
• Proven record of managing multiple complex workstreams with autonomy and delivering measurable impact
• Experience leading teams and providing coaching and feedback on strategic projects, priorities, and execution
• Proven facility with data (analytics, KPIs) and comfort with AI-driven tools to refine marketing strategies
• Exceptional communication skills , with the ability to engage senior stakeholders—both internal and external—and drive cross-functional alignment
• Passion for Zearn’s mission to help all kids love and learn math, matched with the drive to use marketing as a lever for social impact
• Strategic Planning & Execution
• Cross-functional Leadership & Coaching
• Effective Communication & Stakeholder Management
• Data Analysis & AI Fluency
• Change Management & Adaptability

Responsibilities

• Develop and Drive the Marketing Strategy & Roadmap
• Lead the development of marketing goals and quarterly milestones in collaboration with the CMO, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy and organizational priorities
• Lead end-to-end marketing roadmap planning, performance tracking, and budget allocation—prioritizing the highest-impact opportunities
• Collaborate with the VP of Strategy & Finance to ensure marketing goals align with broader enterprise strategy and budget parameters
• Synthesize market research, awareness data, and policy trends to inform decision-making and maintain a forward-looking view of Zearn’s marketing strategy
• Represent Zearn at key education, policy, and research events to gather intelligence and shape go-to-market strategy
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CMO, surfacing insights and supporting executive-level planning and stakeholder updates
• Lead Strategic GTM Marketing Initiatives
• Oversee go-to-market planning for major state-level initiatives, coordinating across strategy, marketing, product, and sales to align on goals, strategies, timelines, and campaign architecture
• Act as the marketing point person for high-impact external partnerships, building strong relationships with partner marketing leads —driving joint GTM strategy, campaign execution, and measurable outcomes
• Provide strategic oversight of regional association partnerships and sponsorships, leading a small team to ensure strong activation, audience alignment, and impact
• Lead cross-functional pilots and special projects that don’t naturally sit within one marketing function—helping them scale or sunset as we test and learn
• Prepare materials and briefings for senior stakeholders, including funders, partners, and the Board
• Oversee Marketing Activation & Channel Performance
• Manage the marketing investment portfolio across external channels, recommending budget allocation and channel mix that align with strategic priorities, brand positioning, and sales goals—driving visibility, thought leadership, and market engagement
• Lead Zearn’s field marketing strategy and event operations, guiding our presence at national and regional events—including conferences, summits, and convenings
• Oversee Zearn’s paid media strategy (digital ads, sponsored content, SEM), ensuring investment aligns to growth priorities and performs against key KPIs
• Ensure integrated execution across activations—paid media, field events, sponsorships—working cross-functionally to maintain brand alignment and audience focus
• Track, report, and iterate on performance metrics such as reach, brand lift, and cost-per-opportunity to drive continuous improvement
• Manage a small, high-performing team (1–2 FTEs) and key external vendors, ensuring strong execution across sponsorships, field activations, paid media, and marketing operations
• Accelerate Innovation & AI-Enabled Marketing
• Spearhead the adoption and integration of AI-based tools to optimize campaign targeting, personalization, marketing automation, and analytics
• Identify and implement AI solutions to drive efficiency, improve ROI on marketing spend, and deepen engagement with Zearn’s user base
• Champion a play-based AI culture within the marketing team, building fluency in AI capabilities to accelerate both internal workflows and external-facing strategies

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Short- and long-term disability
• Life insurance
• 401K matching
• Parental leave
• A generous Holiday policy
• A flexible PTO policy
• A collegial and passionate culture
• The potential to positively impact the lives of millions of children