Director Marketing

Ames Watson; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ames Watson seeks a Director of Marketing to drive growth within a portfolio of consumer/retail companies. This execution-minded leader moves quickly from insight to action, building trust across teams and delivering measurable results in a fast-paced PE-backed environment.

The role involves guiding or overseeing marketing initiatives, shaping brand strategy, and reporting progress to senior leadership. Travel may be required in this dynamic, high-output setting.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of progressive experience in marketing, brand management, or business development within a for-profit commercial business.
• Private sector experience required - candidates must have worked within for-profit businesses with a demonstrated understanding of how marketing decisions impact profitability
• Proven ability to distill complex data and campaign performance into concise, executive-level communications that drive decisions
• Experience supporting or overseeing multiple projects simultaneously with multiple stakeholders and competing deadlines
• Ability to move between detailed execution and executive-level communication with equal effectiveness
• High level of ownership, curiosity, and resourcefulness - takes initiative and follows through
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and adapting quickly as priorities shift
• Ability to travel and be away from home for more than one day and night at a time

Responsibilities

• Support and/or oversee marketing initiatives within the portfolio company -- ranging from brand positioning and digital performance to go-to-market launches -- with level of involvement determined by project need
• Build executive-ready presentations that report project status, synthesize risks, and communicate next steps to senior leadership
• Analyze marketing KPIs and operational data to surface insights, flag risks, and inform decision-making
• Coordinate with external agencies and internal stakeholders to keep initiatives on track
• Contribute to strategic planning, budget management, and performance tracking across marketing functions

Skills

Marketing leadership

Brand management

Business development

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder management

Job description

Ames Watson is a private holding company with over $2 billion in revenue that purchases, transforms and partners with companies to create long term value. Our strategy is based on bringing more than just capital to companies. We bring know-how, problem solving, deep resources and experience to grow companies and move them past "inflection points." Ames Watson is a permanent capital holding company with committed capital and the resources to move quickly and the capabilities to help businesses reach long term success.

About the Role

The Director of Marketing is a high-impact operator embedded within a consumer/retail business in the Ames Watson portfolio. This role is built for an execution-minded marketing professional who moves quickly from insight to action, builds trust across teams and drives measurable results in a fast-paced environment.

Depending on the initiative, this person will support or oversee marketing projects -- stepping into the right level of involvement based on what each situation demands. Strong analytical thinking, organizational instincts and a clear understanding of how marketing decisions impact the P&L are essential. This role is particularly well-suited for professionals with a background in brand management or business development who are ready to apply that expertise inside a dynamic, PE-backed operating environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and/or oversee marketing initiatives within the portfolio company -- ranging from brand positioning and digital performance to go-to-market launches -- with level of involvement determined by project need
• Build executive-ready presentations that report project status, synthesize risks, and communicate next steps to senior leadership
• Analyze marketing KPIs and operational data to surface insights, flag risks, and inform decision-making
• Coordinate with external agencies and internal stakeholders to keep initiatives on track
• Contribute to strategic planning, budget management, and performance tracking across marketing functions

Skills and Qualifications

• 4-6 years of progressive experience in marketing, brand management, or business development within a for-profit commercial business
• Private sector experience required - candidates must have worked within for-profit businesses with a demonstrated understanding of how marketing decisions impact profitability
• Proven ability to distill complex data and campaign performance into concise, executive-level communications that drive decisions
• Experience supporting or overseeing multiple projects simultaneously with multiple stakeholders and competing deadlines
• Ability to move between detailed execution and executive-level communication with equal effectiveness
• High level of ownership, curiosity, and resourcefulness - takes initiative and follows through
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and adapting quickly as priorities shift
• Ability to travel and be away from home for more than one day and night at a time