Director | Growth Marketing

Mary Cook Associates; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary Cook Associates is seeking a Director of Growth Marketing to lead strategy, brand positioning, and market storytelling in a way that connects marketing to business development and client impact. This role sits at the intersection of design, brand, and commercial real estate, driving growth and market visibility.

The successful candidate will partner with firm leadership to evolve MCA's marketing function, manage budgets and timelines, and deliver measurable business outcomes through

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience leading externally focused marketing, brand, or communications initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, interior design, or a related field.
• Experience developing comprehensive marketing strategies and executing them across multiple channels.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage external partners, and oversee complex projects.
• Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills.
• A sophisticated understanding of brand development and the relationship between marketing, client engagement, and business growth.
• Experience in interior design, architecture, commercial real estate, or related creative industries is highly valued.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead MCA's marketing strategy and execution, aligning marketing with business development.
• Advance MCA's brand, messaging, market positioning, and visual identity.
• Oversee digital presence, content, SEO, social media, and project storytelling.
• Manage external agencies, vendors, and creative partners.
• Lead and develop internal marketing resources and budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Marketing strategy

Brand development

Business development

Project management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, interior design, or related field

Job description

Help shape the next chapter of a nationally recognized design firm.

At Mary Cook Associates (MCA), we believe great design does more than create beautiful spaces. It builds experiences, strengthens communities, and drives measurable value for the businesses and clients we serve.

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, MCA is entering one of the most exciting chapters in our firm's history. Building on four decades of experience, trusted relationships, and design excellence, we're evolving alongside an ever-changing industry, expanding our capabilities, and investing in the people and strategies that will drive our next era of growth.

We're looking for an exceptional Director | Growth Marketing to help lead that charge.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a strategic, creative, and entrepreneurial marketing professional who understands the intersection of design, brand, business development, and commercial real estate. Someone who recognizes the strength of an established brand while seeing the extraordinary opportunity to help shape where it goes next.

The Opportunity

The Director | Growth Marketing will lead MCA's marketing strategy and execution, serving as a critical connection between marketing and business development to strengthen our market presence, elevate our brand, and drive meaningful business growth.

We're looking for someone who thinks big but isn't afraid to get into the details. A visionary strategist with the organizational discipline, communication skills, and hands-on experience to turn ambitious ideas into measurable results.

This individual will play an instrumental role in advancing MCA's brand as our business evolves, helping shape how we position ourselves, communicate our value, engage our clients, and bring our story to market.

This isn't simply an opportunity to manage an established marketing function. It's an opportunity to fundamentally shape its future.

Who We're Looking For

Our ideal candidate is a confident, resourceful, and highly motivated marketing leader who brings equal parts creativity, strategic thinking, and business acumen.

Someone who:

• Thinks like a strategist, executes like an entrepreneur. You can develop a compelling vision, establish priorities, manage resources, and personally drive initiatives from concept through completion.
• Understands the business of design. You appreciate the relationship between creativity, client experience, brand positioning, and commercial success.
• Connects marketing to business growth. You recognize that marketing and business development are most powerful when working together toward shared goals.
• Is passionate about design and real estate. You understand the industries we serve and are energized by the opportunity to tell meaningful stories about the impact of our work.
• Communicates with confidence and clarity. Whether presenting to leadership, engaging industry partners, developing messaging, or directing creative collaborators, you know how to connect with people and inspire action.
• Balances creativity with operational excellence. You're an exceptional project manager who can coordinate multiple initiatives, manage deadlines and budgets, and hold a high standard for execution.
• Thrives both front and center and behind the scenes. You're equally comfortable building relationships and representing the firm as you are developing campaigns, refining content, and managing the details.
• Brings energy, initiative, and ownership. You don't wait for direction at every turn. You identify opportunities, bring solutions, and make things happen.

What You'll Lead

Working closely with firm leadership and business development, you'll oversee and advance MCA's marketing efforts, including:

• Brand Strategy & Positioning: Lead the continued evolution of MCA's brand, messaging, market positioning, and visual identity to ensure consistency, differentiation, and relevance.
• Integrated Marketing: Develop and execute strategic marketing initiatives across digital, social, email, print, and other channels to build awareness, engagement, and measurable results.
• Business Development Alignment: Partner closely with business development to connect marketing strategies with client relationships, market opportunities, pipeline priorities, and firm growth objectives.
• Market Intelligence & Growth Opportunities: Research target markets, client needs, industry trends, and emerging opportunities to inform marketing priorities and the development of new service offerings.
• Digital Presence & Content: Oversee website strategy, digital content, SEO, social media, project storytelling, and the firm's overall online presence.
• Creative Direction & Brand Assets: Maintain a high standard for all marketing materials, photography, presentations, collateral, and visual communications.
• Public Relations & Industry Recognition: Advance MCA's visibility through thought leadership, industry engagement, awards, editorial opportunities, and strategic communications.
• Team & Partner Leadership: Lead and develop internal marketing resources while identifying, directing, and managing external agencies, vendors, and creative partners.
• Marketing Operations & Performance: Manage marketing budgets, calendars, project timelines, and performance metrics to ensure initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with business priorities.

Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience leading externally focused marketing, brand, or communications initiatives, preferably within professional services.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, interior design, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing comprehensive marketing strategies and executing them across multiple channels.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with leadership, clients, industry partners, and creative teams.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage external partners, and oversee complex projects from strategy through execution.
• Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and measure results.
• A sophisticated understanding of brand development and the relationship between marketing, client engagement, and business growth.
• Experience in interior design, architecture, commercial real estate, or related creative industries is highly valued.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Why MCA?

For 40 years, Mary Cook Associates has partnered with leading owners and developers across the country to create thoughtfully designed environments that elevate the human experience and strengthen property performance.

Our work spans multifamily, student housing, senior living, and other commercial environments, combining creative vision with a deep understanding of how design influences the way people live, connect, and engage with the spaces around them.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we're equally focused on the future. Our next chapter represents an extraordinary opportunity to build on an established foundation while continuing to evolve how we serve our clients, communicate our value, and grow our business.

We're a collaborative, ambitious, design-driven organization that values fresh thinking, strong relationships, and people who take ownership of their work. We believe everything we do is designed with intention – not just the spaces we create, but the experiences we deliver, the partnerships we build, and the way we operate as a business.

For the right person, this position offers meaningful influence, direct access to firm leadership, significant creative opportunity, and strong potential for professional growth as MCA continues to evolve.

We're looking for someone who wants to do more than fill a position. We're looking for someone who wants to make an impact.

If you're ready to bring your creativity, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit to a firm with an exciting future, we'd love to meet you.