Senior Director, Marketing

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

VERSANT Media is seeking a Sr. Director of Marketing to shape our strategy in the fast-growing sports technology space. You will lead brand positioning, demand generation, digital and product marketing, driving audience engagement and revenue growth with a data-driven approach.

You will supervise a marketing team, set KPIs, collaborate with sales and product, and oversee major events and partnerships to maximize brand impact. A hybrid/office-based role with travel up to 25% is expected.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of marketing experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within sports technology, sports entertainment, or related industry.
• Strong expertise in digital marketing, brand management, and demand generation.
• Experience launching and marketing technology products in a highly competitive landscape.
• Deep understanding of sports industry trends, fan engagement strategies, and emerging technologies.
• Proven ability to develop and execute data-driven marketing campaigns with measurable impact.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that aligns with company goals, drives brand awareness, and fuels revenue growth.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing marketing team, fostering creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
• Establish KPIs and continuously measure marketing effectiveness, optimizing ROI.
• Work cross-functionally with sales, product, and technology teams for GTM execution.
• Lead Full Swing's event and trade show strategy from planning through execution, managing budgets and logistics.

Skills

Digital marketing

Brand management

Demand generation

Leadership

Communication

Storytelling

Marketing automation

CRM platforms

Analytics tools

Travel readiness

Education

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

HubSpot

Marketo

Salesforce

Job description

• Business Segment: Digital Platforms & Ventures
• Compensation: USD 150,000 - USD 190,000 - yearly

Company Description

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant’s sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Sr. Director of Marketing to lead our marketing strategy and execution in the fast-growing sports technology sector. This senior leader will be responsible for brand positioning, demand generation, digital marketing and product marketing. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of sports technology, audience engagement, and emerging marketing trends, with a proven track record of driving growth through innovative and data-driven marketing initiatives.
Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise and support assigned team members and departmental personnel
• Provide the marketing team ongoing coaching, clear direction, priorities, accountability, ensuring everyone understands what needs to be accomplished and why, and performance management.
• Prioritize team workload and oversee project execution to ensure deadlines are met
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and termination processes in partnership with HR

Essential Functions

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that aligns with company goals, drives brand awareness, and fuels revenue growth.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing marketing team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and continuously measure marketing effectiveness, optimizing for ROI.
• Work cross-functionally with sales, product, and technology teams to ensure alignment and seamless go-to-market execution.
• Leads Full Swing's event and trade show strategy from planning through execution, overseeing budgets, logistics, cross-functional coordination, and post-event performance to maximize brand impact and business growth.

Brand & Digital Marketing

• Own brand positioning, messaging, and storytelling to strengthen market presence and customer engagement.
• Drive digital marketing initiatives, including SEO, SEM, content marketing, email campaigns, and social media strategies.
• Oversee website optimization and user experience to maximize conversions and engagement.
• Leverage influencer and athlete partnerships to expand brand credibility and reach.
  
• Develop compelling product marketing strategies, including launch plans, sales enablement tools, and customer education programs.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, customer needs, and new
• Work closely with product and engineering teams to translate complex sports tech solutions into customer friendly messaging.

Growth & Demand Generation

• Lead demand generation campaigns to acquire and retain customers across B2B and B2C channels.
• Develop and manage marketing budgets, allocating resources effectively to maximize impact.
• Implement data-driven marketing tactics, leveraging analytics to refine targeting, segmentation, and personalization strategies.
• Optimize customer acquisition and retention strategies through CRM, automation, and loyalty programs.
• Drives the growth of Full Swing's simulator course library by identifying and securing new course partnerships, negotiating licensing opportunities, and cultivating long-term relationships with golf courses and key stakeholders.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience:

• 8+ years of marketing experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within the sports technology,
• sports entertainment, or related industry.
• Strong expertise in digital marketing, brand management, and demand generation.
• Experience launching and marketing technology products in a highly competitive landscape.
• Deep understanding of sports industry trends, fan engagement strategies, and emerging technologies.
• Proven ability to develop and execute data-driven marketing campaigns with measurable impact.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and motivate teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and storytelling abilities with a passion for sports and technology.
• Proficiency in marketing automation, analytics tools, and CRM platforms (HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce,etc.).
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of time

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with professional sports organizations, leagues, or teams.
• Knowledge of Golf Simulators/Launch Monitors, AI, wearable tech, or data analytics in sports performance.
• Background in both B2B and B2C marketing strategies.
• MBA or advanced degree in marketing, business, or a related field.
  

Preferred Education, Experience & Skills

• Sports industry experience

Salary Range: $150,000-$190,000

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• This role operates in a hybrid or office-based environment, depending on company needs. (Role starts at 6-9 months in office)
• Work is primarily performed in an office setting with standard working hours; however, occasional after-hours support may be required for critical IT issues or system upgrades.
• The position requires frequent interaction with employees across different departments, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills.
• The role may involve sitting for extended periods, working on a computer, and troubleshooting IT equipment as needed.
• Occasional travel may be required for system implementations or vendor meetings.
• Able to lift 25 lbs.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [e-mail] .

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.

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