Chief Marketing Officer

Overview

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) acts as a growth driver, an innovation catalyst and a strategic advisor to the executive leadership team. Responsible for translating the firm vision into measurable, metrics-driven brand strategies and marketing execution. The CMO collaborates with business leaders to build influence with target audiences, including new and existing clients, industry partners, talent and external media channels along with other thought leaders. They lead a global, interdisciplinary creative studio of strategists, designers and editors to develop and implement high-impact campaigns that drive client acquisition and revenue growth. Additionally, the CMO will manage and lead external consultants to further support firm needs based upon demand.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional strategic leader and team builder with a strong understanding and passion for the design industry. Proven expertise in marketing, integrated communications and brand management. Exemplifies firm values through servant leadership, intellectual curiosity, continuous improvement and agility. Endorses the firm’s values by personally influencing resources, innovation and communication. Partners with cross-functional Enterprise leaders (i.e. Legal, Talent, Technology, Finance) to strengthen the firm’s global platform and enable business unit success. Responsible for budget development and oversight of global marketing investment.

Responsibilities

• Fosters strategic relationships with key business partners, vendors and media outlets to maximize marketing reach and impact
• Works with internal practice leaders to understand their market strategy and needs to optimize marketing and communication effectiveness
• Develops and oversees a comprehensive marketing execution plan that aligns with the firm's business goals and objectives, tracking campaigns and activities to ensure desired results, also ensuring alignment with the Chief Executive Officer and President
• Collaborates with Practice Area and Business Development leaders to align marketing efforts with business development goals
• Oversees brand expression, including visual identify, messaging and tone of voice to align with the firm’s vision, culture and strategy set by the Chief Executive Officer
• Ensures consistent brand use across marketing channels
• Drives brand positioning, differentiation and brand equity to enhance market share and brand awareness
• Collaborates with business unit leaders on market research to identify target audiences and competitive emerging trends
• Leads the creation of integrated strategies that optimize all external communication channels, including web site, social media, e-marketing and microsites
• Leads MarCom team in the planning, execution and optimization of omnichannel campaigns, including digital, social media, events, awards, conferences, etc.
• Oversees creation of high-impact content, including multi-media, that pushes the boundaries of storytelling in the design industry
• Defines clear marketing objectives that are aligned with firm strategic objectives and establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) in collaboration with leadership to measure campaign success
• Leverages working knowledge of firm stakeholders to continually recommend business-building initiatives which deliver against the firm's business and marketing objectives
• Develops and maintains a strong brand identity that reflects the firm's values, expertise and unique positioning in the design industry
• Collaborates with internal teams across the firm and external agencies to create compelling content and ensure a seamless alignment and the execution of marketing initiatives
• Ensures marketing teams utilize digital marketing channels, including social media, email marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) to maximize campaign effectiveness
• Monitors marketing campaign performance and analyzes data to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing initiatives
• Provides regular reports and presentations to the executive leadership team, highlighting key performance metrics and recommendations for improvement
• Stays informed on industry trends, emerging technologies and marketing best practices to drive innovation and stay ahead of competitors
  
  

Qualifications

• Accredited professional degree in Marketing, Journalism, Business Administration or related field; advanced degree preferred
• Typically 20 years of related experience, with 5 years of experience as a marketing executive
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite and AI software preferred
• Proven experience in developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels
• Advanced knowledge of and interest in the design industry
• Successful track record with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans, analyze data, derive insights and make informed decisions to drive business results
• Proven ability to lead teams with diplomatic leadership style which puts value on trust-based relationships and collaboration, both internal and external
• Proven ability to maintain existing client relationships and build new client relationships, with a focus on client satisfaction and stakeholder engagement
• Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise, complete and correct manner both verbally and in writing
• Ability to proactively problem solve and apply innovative solutions
• Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment
• Ability to effectively meet deadlines and accomplish business objectives at expected quality
• Travel will be required
  
  

If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the Internal Careers Portal.

HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran