Director, Product & Commercial Marketing

AAR; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 127,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Bonus program

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

AAR is seeking an experienced B2B marketing leader to drive product and commercial marketing across our aviation and global technical portfolios. You will develop strategy, lead integrated campaigns, and partner with sales to enable growth across our Parts, Distribution, and Repair businesses.

The role requires strong writing, cross-functional collaboration, and a track record of marketing complex offerings to global customers.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive B2B marketing experience.
• 5+ years leading product marketing or integrated campaigns.
• Proven success marketing complex technical products or services.
• Experience partnering with sales and business development teams.
• Experience managing agencies and marketing budgets.
• Background in aviation, aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, logistics or other global B2B industries preferred.
• BA/BS in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations or related field; MA/MBA a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop marketing strategy and lead integrated campaigns across segments.
• Lead positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategies for commercial products and services.
• Collaborate with Sales, Business Development, and Brand Manager on customer-facing assets.
• Oversee website content, digital channels, and campaign landing pages.
• Measure campaign performance, ROI, and marketing contribution.
• Support on-site tradeshow activities as needed.

Skills

B2B marketing

Product marketing

Integrated campaigns

Digital marketing

Vendor management

Education

BA/BS in Marketing or Communications

MA/MBA a plus

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

SharePoint

CMS PhotoShelter/ThirdLight

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on B2B marketing leader with a proven track record of marketing complex products and services in aviation, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, logistics, defense, or other highly technical industries. The ideal candidate brings experience marketing complex products or services within aviation, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, logistics, defense, or another global technical industry and has a proven ability to independently develop and execute integrated marketing programs that drive business growth.

This position works closely with the VP of Corporate Marketing and the Corporate Marketing team to drive awareness, demand generation, and customer engagement across AAR's commercial aviation aftermarket businesses. Responsibilities include developing marketing strategy, leading integrated campaigns, optimizing digital channels, creating sales enablement tools, measuring performance, and strengthening the Company's overall marketing infrastructure and processes.

What will you be responsible for:

Product and commercial marketing:

• Collaborate with business segment SMEs to identify growth opportunities, align marketing priorities, and support strategic business objectives.
• Support revenue growth by developing and executing integrated marketing strategies that increase market awareness, generate demand, strengthen customer engagement, and enable commercial teams.
• Work with sales and business development team members across the Company to lead positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategies for commercial products and services across AAR's Parts, Distribution, and Repair businesses.
• Partner with Sales, Business Development, and Brand Manager to develop customer-facing messaging, presentations, case studies, videos, competitive positioning, and other sales enablement tools that support pipeline growth.
• Work closely with AAR Corporate Communications to provide topics and campaigns focused on commercial offerings for AAR’s social media channels that align with campaigns and new offerings.
• Negotiate with outside agencies / vendors and suppliers, including budget planning and monitoring.
• Measure and communicate campaign effectiveness, marketing contribution, engagement, and ROI, using data to continuously optimize programs and recommendations.
• Assist with on-site tradeshow support as needed.

Branding/Corporate Identity (CI)

• Ensure CI standards and messaging with the Brand Manager on Company-wide materials and templates.
• Oversee coordination of monthly global Corporate Marketing and Communications meeting with representatives from every Business segment, core teams, and region to advocate for the Company’s brand standards including logo usage, colors, etc., for signage, presentations and all marketing materials.

Website / digital initiatives

• Improve the product and commercial content strategy for AAR's digital channels, ensuring website content, landing pages, and customer-facing experiences accurately reflect market positioning, offerings, and brand standards.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop and optimize digital marketing initiatives, including search, social, paid media, email marketing, and campaign landing pages.

Advertising

• Work with vendors to ensure ad fulfillment, proper media buys, overall strategy, and manage invoices.
• Work with Brand Manager to create digital ads for Corporate, and specific products and services for the above-mentioned business segments.
• Coordinate, measure, and communicate ad metrics in coordination with ad agency to maximize ROI and demonstrate positive impact on business.

Video / Photography

• Develop scripts and coordinate assets as needed for vendors on video and photography shoots.
• Coordinate with external photographers and videographers.
• Identify and coordinate high-resolution photos for marketing and further usage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

What you need to be successful in this role:

• Strong writing skills for print and web, close attention to detail, and can balance multiple projects at one time.
• Hands-on, strategic B2B marketer who can quickly understand complex technical offerings and translate them into compelling customer value propositions
• Experience leading product marketing initiatives across multiple business lines, partnering closely with sales and business leaders, managing external agencies, and developing integrated campaigns that support revenue growth.
• Experience marketing complex products or services within aviation, aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, logistics, transportation, or other highly technical global B2B industries is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast-paced, global organization.

Education and/or experience:

• 10+ years of progressive B2B marketing experience.
• 5+ years leading product marketing, solution marketing, or integrated marketing programs.
• Demonstrated success marketing complex technical products, services, or solutions.
• Experience partnering directly with commercial and business development teams.
• Experience managing agencies, external vendors, and marketing budgets.
• Background in aviation, aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, logistics or other global B2B industries strongly preferred.
• Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) from four-year college or university; Journalism, Communications, Public Relations and/or Marketing major/degree preferred
• Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration degree a plus
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud, Microsoft Copilot, SharePoint
• Experience using a website content management system (CMS) PhotoShelter/ThirdLight, and paid Meta campaigns / digital advertisement a plus

The rewards of your career at AAR go far beyond just your salary:

• Competitive salary and bonus package
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• .401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Generous paid time off program
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about the facility.

The environmental characteristic for this position is an office setting.

Candidates should be able to adapt to a traditional business environment.

AAR provides accommodation in accordance with applicable laws through all stages of the hiring process. If you require accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please advise Human Resources.

Compensation:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $127,000 to $145,000 annually. This range reflects the base salary for candidates who meet the requirements of the role, including experience, education, and location. In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a bonus. AAR offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer match, paid time off and holiday pay, as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

#LI-MA1 #LI-ONSITE

Job: Operations

Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Wood Dale

Schedule: Full-time

Overtime Status: Exempt

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.