Marketing Manager

Job Title: Marketing Manager 

Location: Chicago, Illinois 

Department: Marketing 

Reports to: Director of Marketing 

Employment Type: Full-time 

Remote: No. 3-4 days in-office. 

About Better Than Home 

Better Than Home is a growing community of pet service facilities spanning boarding, daycare, grooming, training, and other specialty services.  Our goal is to provide a premium experience for our guests and their pet parents.  We are entrusted to care for these family members and aim to provide an experience that is truly better than home. 

Check us out at www.betterthanhome.com. 

The Role 

We are seeking a dynamic, energetic, and results-driven Marketing Manager to lead key in-store initiatives at Better Than Home. This role focuses on shaping how our brand connects with pet parents through premium customer experiences, thoughtful reputation management, engaging in-store promotions, and impactful community partnerships. The Marketing Manager will be responsible for developing, implementing, and executing strategic in-store marketing plans to drive brand awareness, generate new customers, and foster customer retention. This role requires a combination of creativity, analytical thinking, and leadership skills to coordinate cross-functional teams and drive marketing success.  

Responsibilities 

• Reputation Management – Monitor, respond to, and analyze online reviews to maintain a strong brand reputation. Develop and implement strategies to encourage customer feedback, boost positive reviews, and address concerns proactively to enhance overall brand reputation. 
• In-Store Marketing – Develop, implement, and execute in-store marketing calendar which includes activity days, seasonal events, and promotions in collaboration with store managers. Develop and manage marketing materials for in-store use, ensuring alignment with brand standards.  
• Strategic Analysis and Recommendations – Analyze store performance data, including occupancy, customer feedback, and revenue, to inform marketing strategies and optimize in-store activities. Evaluate store-specific promotions and activities to understand success rates and key learnings.  
• Customer-Facing CRM Strategy – Manage customer relationship marketing strategies to drive engagement, loyalty, and repeat business. Coordinate automated and personalized communications. 
• Collaboration with Store Teams – Work closely with store managers and assistant managers to execute the marketing calendar effectively. Provide guidance and tools for successful implementation of marketing initiatives at the store level.  
• Community Events and Partnerships – Develop strategies for building partnerships with local businesses and organizations to enhance community engagement. Provide guidance and framework for executing partnerships that strengthen community connections and align with overall brand objectives.  
• Effective Communication and Collaboration – Serve as a key liaison between stores and corporate team, fostering open communication, teamwork, and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional pet care experiences.  
• Employee Engagement – Collaborate with operations to create programs and initiatives that energize store employees and align them with marketing objectives, creating a cohesive in-store experience.  

Basic Qualifications 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business communications, or a related field 
• Experience: 3-4 years of experience in marketing, preferably in-house 
• In Person: Ability to be in-office 3 days per week on average 
• Travel: Minimal required. Approximately once every other month 

Required Competencies 

• Strategic Thinking – At its highest level, are you capable of developing and communicating long-term marketing strategies and initiatives to a variety of audiences. Competent at galvanizing buy-in on initiatives from other cross-functional teams. 
• Leadership – This role does not have any immediate direct reports, but you will be expected to lead without authority.  This person must be comfortable navigating difficult conversations while preserving relationships, capable of appropriately delegating responsibilities and setting teams up for success and have a track record of getting teams to buy-in to new ideas. 
• Innovative – You are recognized for pioneering creative concepts and campaigns that break industry norms. Drives a culture of innovation and is sought out for visionary thinking. 
• Communication Skills – You are a highly persuasive communicator who can influence senior leadership and external stakeholders. Delivers compelling presentations and is considered a spokesperson for the brand. 
• Data Driven Decision Making – You are an expert in data analysis, creating predictive models, and using sophisticated tools to uncover insights. Drives data-first strategies and influences decisions at the executive level with data-backed insights. 
• Project Management – You lead large, high-impact projects involving multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams. Sets clear goals, timelines, and budgets, often under tight deadlines. Skilled at project risk management and delivering complex projects. 
• Customer Centric Orientation – You are an expert in customer psychology and behavior, deeply understanding customer needs and preferences. Drives company-wide customer-centric initiatives and sets the standard for customer engagement. 

Preferred Competencies 

• Experience in B2B or B2C marketing 
• Knowledge of graphic design tools (e.g. Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) 
• Knowledge of CRM tools (Klaviyo, MailChimp, HootSuite, etc.) 
• Experience with analytics & data visualization tools (Google Analytics, Tableau, etc.) 

What We Offer 

• Competitive salary and benefits package 
• Opportunities for professional development and career development 
• A collaborative work environment 

For more information, please contact: 

Alexandra Markson 

Director of HR @ Better Than Home 

alexandra@betterthanhome.com