Director, Marketing Operations

At the American Cancer Society, we're leading the fight for a world without cancer. Our employees and 1.5 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds including communities of color, the LGBTQ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. The greater the diversity of our people, the better we can serve our communities.

The Strategic Director, Marketing Operations will act as a trusted partner and advisor to the Sr. Marketing Leadership Team (SLT), ensuring the effective management of diverse priorities and stakeholders, including internal teams, external partners (agencies, consultants), key audiences such as donors & volunteers, and other key constituencies. This highly strategic and facilitative role demands exceptional written and verbal communication skills, proactive problem-solving, a natural self-starter mentality, and a high degree of flexibility. The ideal candidate will excel in project management, analytical thinking, and maintaining meticulous attention to detail.

A key responsibility of this role is to anticipate the Marketing division’s needs and proactively prepare for meetings, decisions, and initiatives. Beyond providing comprehensive operational support, the Strategic Director will foster collaboration across departments, ensure follow-through on CMO-led initiatives, and cultivate strong, communicative relationships with senior leaders and external partners. In this complex and dynamic environment, the Strategic Director, Marketing Operations will serve as a stabilizing and clarifying presence, helping to translate strategic priorities into actionable outcomes. The ideal candidate will have a blend of strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, project management expertise, and strong communication skills, thriving in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Partner with Marketing SLT to oversee the enterprise-wide strategic planning processes. Supports Marketing SLT during ISFP process and guides team members on the SBAR process.
• Researches and synthesizes complex information into execute ready communications and can also facilitate the translation of high-level strategies into actionable plans and milestones.

Rhythm of the Business

• Responsible for overseeing the Marketing Division's rhythm of the business is executed.
• Proactively identifies and optimizes the division's operational processes to ensure seamless execution of marketing strategies and initiatives.

Facilitating Strategic CMO-Led Projects

• Manage special projects initiated by the CMO that do not fall under other departments, such as team meetings, strategic workshops, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Oversee timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful execution.
• Experiencing using the Prosci change management methodology is a plus.

Coordination of Key Presentations

• Create high-impact presentations for the CMO and Marketing SLT to deliver to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, internal teams, in-person events and external stakeholders. Operate with a high degree of autonomy to synthesize complex information into clear and compelling narratives that align with organizational messaging and objectives.
• Stays abreast of storytelling concepts, approaches and related technologies.
• Collaborate with and educate senior leaders to integrate data, storytelling, and visuals into high-impact presentations.

Prioritization and Time Management

• Act as a strategic advisor to the CMO, recommending prioritization of meetings, initiatives, and engagements based on organizational goals and stakeholder impact.
• Prepare the CMO for critical interactions by setting agendas, engaging the right participants, and providing necessary context.

Issue Identification and Communication

• Proactively identify potential challenges or opportunities that require the CMO’s attention and elevate them with actionable insights.
• Represent the CMO’s position in various contexts, ensuring alignment and clarity in communication across senior leadership and other stakeholders.

Execution of Board and Stakeholder Meetings

• Partner with the CMO’s Executive Assistant and Office of the CEO (OCEO) to plan and execute Board meetings, committee sessions, and related events.
• Ensure all logistics, content, and attendee engagement align with the CMO’s strategic objectives.

Contract and Budget Management

• Partner with the Finance and Legal teams to oversee contract negotiations, approvals, and renewals for marketing initiatives. Work with internal marketing team members to forecast business needs and proactively plan for vendor management.
• Develops and oversees an operating model for Marketing to prioritize contracts and ensure invoices are received and paid in accordance with contractual obligations.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the annual budget and quarterly forecasting processes across Marketing, ensuring alignment across teams and with organizational goals. Operate with a high degree of autonomy to proactively analyze performance against the budget and forecast to identify discrepancies and solutions. Develop and maintain strong relationships within Finance Dept.

Talent Management and Culture Initiatives

• Collaborate with the People Team to drive people and culture-building initiatives, including talent development programs, workforce planning, and culture initiatives.
• Support talent management efforts, including onboarding, team alignment, and professional growth opportunities for marketing staff.

Communication and Organizational Alignment

• Partner with the Communications team to develop and distribute updates on marketing strategies, priorities, and initiatives to both the Marketing team and the broader organization.
• Serve as a key conduit for aligning the Marketing team’s objectives with the organization’s overall goals through regular communication and feedback mechanisms.

Other Responsibilities as Needed

• Take on additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned, adapting to the evolving needs of the CMO and the organization.

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor’s degree
• 8-10 years relevant work experience, ideally in project management within a nonprofit

COMPETENCIES/SKILLS

• Impeccable interpersonal skills
• Proven track record of effectively interacting with executive and senior management
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across departments
• An effective, versatile, action-oriented individual with the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment
• Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills
• Storytelling and proficiency in presentation software including exceptional skills in Powerpoint, Canva, other presentation building programs

SPECIAL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work typically performed indoors in a home or office environment
• Ability to travel (by car and/or airplane) when necessary

The starting rate is $117,000 to $140,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

The American Cancer Society has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.