Chief Marketing Officer

AKIRA/shopAKIRA.com; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 225,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a transformational Chief Marketing Officer to lead its national expansion and elevate its brand presence. This role requires a visionary leader with a proven track record in driving explosive growth in the fashion industry. You will own the digital marketing ecosystem and craft unique customer experiences that resonate across channels. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in both e-commerce and physical retail, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making and innovative strategies. Join this dynamic team to shape the future of a rapidly growing brand and leave your mark on the fashion landscape.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan

Equity Options

Professional Development Opportunities

Flexible Work Environment

Employee Discounts

Mentorship Programs

Paid Time Off

Team Building Activities

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior marketing leadership in fashion or retail.
• Proven track record of driving national growth for a brand.
• Expertise in digital and physical retail environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the brand's national expansion and marketing strategy.
• Drive customer acquisition and retention programs.
• Oversee PR strategy and media relations for brand awareness.

Skills

Digital Marketing

Brand Strategy

Customer Experience

E-commerce Growth

Leadership

Market Analysis

Financial Acumen

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or related field

Master's Degree (preferred)

Tools

Marketing Technology Stack

Social Media Platforms

Data Analytics Tools

Job description

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 30+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com.) AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRA’s culture has one very large, distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer’s needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position

Chief Marketing Officer

Location

Chicago, IL (On-site)

Position Overview:

This is not a role for traditional marketers or consensus-seekers. We need a transformational CMO with both proven vision and flawless execution—someone who has personally architected a fashion brand’s meteoric rise. You’ll sit at the leadership table as a true peer, driving AKIRA’s evolution into a household name through omnichannel dominance.

What It Takes:

Brand Vision & Leadership

• Develop and drive a clear, audacious vision for AKIRA’s national expansion—maintaining our bold identity while creating mainstream magnetism
• Command respect with a definitive point of view and the backbone to defend it—you’re respected, not necessarily universally liked
• Function as a true executive leader, not just a marketing tactician—your voice shapes company direction
• Craft distinctive competitive positioning that differentiates AKIRA from established national brands
• Architect seamless customer experiences that drive both explosive e-commerce growth and thriving retail expansion
• Demonstrate mastery of the digital-to-physical customer journey similar to how Reformation’s Yael Aflalo unified digital buzz with compelling store experiences
• Leverage AI and emerging technologies to create competitive advantages in personalization, trend forecasting, and operational efficiency
• Collaborate closely with merchandising, product, and operations to ensure brand consistency at every customer touchpoint

Digital Dominance

• Own the entire digital marketing ecosystem with the intuitive understanding of what creates viral moments
• Navigate social platforms like TikTok with the fluency and cultural intelligence of Depop’s Peter Semple
• Build authentic influencer relationships that transcend transactional partnerships—creating a cultural movement, not just content
• Architect and implement a sophisticated marketing technology stack that scales with our ambitions

Growth Execution

• Demonstrate a bias toward action with the calculated risk-taking approach that defined Away’s Jen Rubio
• Deliver measurable results through sophisticated performance marketing strategies
• Balance creative ambition with analytical discipline—your decisions are data-informed but visionary-led
• Own P&L responsibility for marketing, optimizing budget allocation to maximize ROI across channels
• Drive customer acquisition while building retention programs that foster long-term loyalty
• Establish voice-of-customer programs and customer research initiatives that inform product and marketing strategy
• Develop sophisticated segmentation models that power personalized marketing at scale
• Monitor competitive landscape continuously, adapting strategies to maintain AKIRA’s distinctive positioning
• Create an innovation pipeline that keeps AKIRA at the forefront of fashion marketing trends
• Oversee PR strategy, media relations, and external communications to amplify brand awareness
• Develop crisis management protocols that protect brand reputation
• Articulate AKIRA’s values, including sustainability initiatives, as integral elements of brand storytelling
• Build relationships with fashion media, industry influencers, and potential strategic partners
• Attract, develop, and retain world-class marketing talent across specialties
• Create a high-performance culture balanced with mentorship and professional development
• Foster cross-functional collaboration that breaks down traditional marketing silos
• Establish centers of excellence in key marketing disciplines that drive the organization forward

What You Bring:

• Proven Transformation Experience: You’ve personally led a fashion or retail brand through explosive national growth with tangible results.
• Digital + Physical Fluency: Deep expertise across e-commerce and physical retail—not just theory, but hands-on success.
• Leadership Presence: You operate as a true member of the leadership team, pushing the business forward with conviction and vision.
• Cultural Intelligence: You intuitively understand what’s driving fashion culture now and what will drive it next.
• Execution Mindset: Your playbook isn’t theoretical—it’s built on victories you’ve personally engineered and can replicate.
• Strategic Vision: You see around corners, anticipating market shifts before competitors
• Global Perspective: Experience that will eventually support international expansion ambitions.
• Financial Acumen: Sophisticated understanding of marketing economics, CAC, LTV, and growth modeling.
• 10+ Years: Senior marketing leadership in fashion, consumer brands, or retail with progressive responsibility.

The Opportunity:

• Direct partnership with the leadership team to architect AKIRA’s national expansion
• Autonomy to build and execute your vision with meaningful resources
• Competitive compensation reflecting true executive partnership, including equity
• The platform to create your legacy by transforming an emerging brand into a national powerhouse

This role is for marketing leaders who don’t just want to contribute to a brand’s story—but to author it entirely. If you’ve got the track record, vision and backbone to drive transformational growth, AKIRA is your canvas.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Executive

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Marketing, Sales, and Business Development

• Industries

  Retail Apparel and Fashion

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at AKIRA/shopAKIRA.com by 2x

Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

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