Marketing Director
KDS Strategic Search Group, Paramus, NJ, United States
We are seeking a
Director of Marketing with 10+
years of experience within
footwear
or
apparel
brands operating in wholesale retail environments, and a proven track record supporting B2B sales channels.
This hands-on leader will own brand strategy, product marketing, digital and social oversight, go-to-market execution, and licensed brand alignment, with clear accountability for sell-through, retail support, and ROI-driven performance.
Please apply only if you meet the footwear or apparel wholesale experience requirement.
Title Director of Marketing (Footwear or Apparel experience needed)
Location North Jersey Paramus (3 days in 2 days out)
Reports to President / Executive Leadership
Role Overview As the Director of Marketing, you will lead the strategic development and execution of marketing initiatives across a portfolio of owned and licensed brands. This role is responsible for building brand equity, driving sell-through at wholesale partners, supporting licensing relationships, and developing cost-effective marketing programs that directly impact revenue growth.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially minded marketer who understands footwear, wholesale retail, licensing, and modern brand-building, balancing creativity with disciplined ROI.
Key Responsibilities Brand & Marketing Strategy
Develop and execute brand-specific marketing strategies across a footwear portfolio of licensed and private label brands
Ensure consistent brand positioning, messaging, and visual identity across all channels
Translate long-term business objectives into actionable annual and seasonal marketing plans
Partner closely with design, sales, and merchandising to align product stories with market demand
Wholesale & B2B Marketing
Build marketing programs that support wholesale sell-in and sell-through across department stores, specialty retail, mass, off-price, and dealer channels
Create compelling sales tools, including line sheets, presentations, seasonal decks, and product storytelling assets
Support key retail accounts with co-op marketing, in-store assets, and digital toolkits
Collaborate with sales leadership on account-specific strategies and presentations
Digital, Social & Content
Oversee digital marketing strategy, including social media, email, content creation, and brand storytelling
Ensure digital efforts support both brand building and wholesale objectives
Manage agency partners, freelancers, and content creators
Drive efficient use of paid media, influencer partnerships, and organic growth strategies
Go-To-Market & Launch Execution
Lead go-to-market planning for new brand launches, category expansions, and seasonal collections
Own launch calendars and execution timelines across marketing channels
Ensure product launches align tightly with sales cycles and retail delivery schedules
Grassroots & Athlete-Led Marketing – Technical Trail Running Brand
Build and execute a grassroots marketing strategy to establish a technical trail running brand as a credible, leading player in the category
Develop an athlete-first approach focused on unsponsored or emerging trail runners, coaches, run club leaders, and regional influencers
Identify and activate local trail communities, races, and events as core brand touchpoints
Create seeding programs for athletes, specialty retailers, and trail ambassadors to drive authentic product adoption and word-of-mouth
Partner with specialty-run shops, trail organizations, and outdoor communities to build brand credibility at the ground level
Oversee field marketing initiatives, including demos, test runs, pop-ups, and event presence
Ensure grassroots efforts translate into earned media, organic social content, retail demand, and wholesale credibility
Measure success through athlete adoption, community engagement, specialty door expansion, content output, and sell-through momentum
Licensing & Brand Partnerships
Work closely with licensors and brand partners to ensure alignment with brand standards and approvals
Serve as a key marketing point of contact for licensors, agencies, and external partners
Support license renewals and growth initiatives through strong brand execution and results
Budgeting, Analytics & ROI
Own the marketing budget and allocate spend across brands and initiatives
Establish and track KPIs tied to sell-through, traffic, engagement, and ROI
Continuously optimize marketing spend to maximize efficiency and impact
Build, manage, and mentor an internal marketing team
Set clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations
Foster a collaborative, fast-moving, and accountable marketing culture
Qualifications
10+ years of marketing experience within footwear or apparel brands operating in wholesale retail environments.
Proven experience supporting wholesale and B2B sales channels
Strong understanding of brand management, product marketing, and retail dynamics
Experience working with licensed brands and approval-driven environments is a plus
Demonstrated ability to balance creative brand building with commercial outcomes
Experience managing agencies, budgets, and cross-functional teams
Strong presentation and communication skills
Key Skills & Attributes
Strategic brand thinker with a strong commercial mindset
Deep understanding of footwear or performance product lifecycles
Data-driven and ROI-focused
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
Collaborative leader who works seamlessly with sales, design, and operations
Highly organized with strong project management skills
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of Marketing with 10+
years of experience within
footwear
or
apparel
brands operating in wholesale retail environments, and a proven track record supporting B2B sales channels.
This hands-on leader will own brand strategy, product marketing, digital and social oversight, go-to-market execution, and licensed brand alignment, with clear accountability for sell-through, retail support, and ROI-driven performance.
Please apply only if you meet the footwear or apparel wholesale experience requirement.
Title Director of Marketing (Footwear or Apparel experience needed)
Location North Jersey Paramus (3 days in 2 days out)
Reports to President / Executive Leadership
Role Overview As the Director of Marketing, you will lead the strategic development and execution of marketing initiatives across a portfolio of owned and licensed brands. This role is responsible for building brand equity, driving sell-through at wholesale partners, supporting licensing relationships, and developing cost-effective marketing programs that directly impact revenue growth.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially minded marketer who understands footwear, wholesale retail, licensing, and modern brand-building, balancing creativity with disciplined ROI.
Key Responsibilities Brand & Marketing Strategy
Develop and execute brand-specific marketing strategies across a footwear portfolio of licensed and private label brands
Ensure consistent brand positioning, messaging, and visual identity across all channels
Translate long-term business objectives into actionable annual and seasonal marketing plans
Partner closely with design, sales, and merchandising to align product stories with market demand
Wholesale & B2B Marketing
Build marketing programs that support wholesale sell-in and sell-through across department stores, specialty retail, mass, off-price, and dealer channels
Create compelling sales tools, including line sheets, presentations, seasonal decks, and product storytelling assets
Support key retail accounts with co-op marketing, in-store assets, and digital toolkits
Collaborate with sales leadership on account-specific strategies and presentations
Digital, Social & Content
Oversee digital marketing strategy, including social media, email, content creation, and brand storytelling
Ensure digital efforts support both brand building and wholesale objectives
Manage agency partners, freelancers, and content creators
Drive efficient use of paid media, influencer partnerships, and organic growth strategies
Go-To-Market & Launch Execution
Lead go-to-market planning for new brand launches, category expansions, and seasonal collections
Own launch calendars and execution timelines across marketing channels
Ensure product launches align tightly with sales cycles and retail delivery schedules
Grassroots & Athlete-Led Marketing – Technical Trail Running Brand
Build and execute a grassroots marketing strategy to establish a technical trail running brand as a credible, leading player in the category
Develop an athlete-first approach focused on unsponsored or emerging trail runners, coaches, run club leaders, and regional influencers
Identify and activate local trail communities, races, and events as core brand touchpoints
Create seeding programs for athletes, specialty retailers, and trail ambassadors to drive authentic product adoption and word-of-mouth
Partner with specialty-run shops, trail organizations, and outdoor communities to build brand credibility at the ground level
Oversee field marketing initiatives, including demos, test runs, pop-ups, and event presence
Ensure grassroots efforts translate into earned media, organic social content, retail demand, and wholesale credibility
Measure success through athlete adoption, community engagement, specialty door expansion, content output, and sell-through momentum
Licensing & Brand Partnerships
Work closely with licensors and brand partners to ensure alignment with brand standards and approvals
Serve as a key marketing point of contact for licensors, agencies, and external partners
Support license renewals and growth initiatives through strong brand execution and results
Budgeting, Analytics & ROI
Own the marketing budget and allocate spend across brands and initiatives
Establish and track KPIs tied to sell-through, traffic, engagement, and ROI
Continuously optimize marketing spend to maximize efficiency and impact
Build, manage, and mentor an internal marketing team
Set clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations
Foster a collaborative, fast-moving, and accountable marketing culture
Qualifications
10+ years of marketing experience within footwear or apparel brands operating in wholesale retail environments.
Proven experience supporting wholesale and B2B sales channels
Strong understanding of brand management, product marketing, and retail dynamics
Experience working with licensed brands and approval-driven environments is a plus
Demonstrated ability to balance creative brand building with commercial outcomes
Experience managing agencies, budgets, and cross-functional teams
Strong presentation and communication skills
Key Skills & Attributes
Strategic brand thinker with a strong commercial mindset
Deep understanding of footwear or performance product lifecycles
Data-driven and ROI-focused
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
Collaborative leader who works seamlessly with sales, design, and operations
Highly organized with strong project management skills
#J-18808-Ljbffr