📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Product Marketing
🔹 Company: Earnest
🔹 Location: San Francisco, CA (Remote)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Financial Services
🔹 Date Posted: May 13, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days/month in office)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving initiatives to differentiate Earnest's multi-product offerings and overall brand value.
- Developing and implementing best practices for integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to craft compelling value propositions and understand customer journeys.
- Building and leading a high-performance product marketing team.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset and strong leadership skills to drive product marketing efforts and collaborate effectively with various teams.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drive initiatives that differentiate Earnest’s multi-product offerings and overall brand value.
✅ Develop and implement best practices for integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
✅ Collaborate with Brand Creative to craft compelling value propositions that highlight Earnest’s unique advantages.
✅ Work with Product Research to understand customer journeys, intent triggers, and key product features.
✅ Recruit, develop, and manage a high-performance team excelling in GTM, positioning, and user insights.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and team management to achieve marketing objectives.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field
Experience: 10+ years of product marketing experience in multi-product organizations with a B2C focus
Required Skills:
- Proven success in building and leading high-performing product marketing teams.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills to translate market insights into action.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills for cross-functional collaboration.
- Deep understanding of consumer markets, industry trends, and emerging technologies.
Preferred Skills:
- Consumer fintech experience desired.
ASSUMPTION: Given the role's requirements, candidates should have extensive product marketing experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $220,000 - $249,000 USD (based on location and experience)
Benefits:
- Health, Dental, & Vision benefits plus savings plans
- Mac computers + work-from-home stipend to set up your home office
- Monthly internet and phone reimbursement
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
- 401(k) plan to help you save for retirement plus a company match
- Robust tuition reimbursement program
- $1,000 travel perk on each Earnie-versary to anywhere in the world
- Competitive days of annual PTO
- Competitive parental leave
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours and 3 days/month in the office
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a Director-level role in product marketing, considering the location and experience level required.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Financial Services, specifically focused on consumer lending and student loan solutions
Company Size: 201-500 employees (mid-sized company, offering opportunities for growth and impact)
Founded: 2013, with a mission to make higher education accessible and affordable for everyone
Company Description:
- Earnest empowers students with financial support and supercharges their ability to pay down debt, helping them get on the right financial track fast.
- The company offers private student loans, student loan refinancing, and scholarships to help students manage their education costs.
- Earnest is committed to providing people-first service and low rates to its customers.
Company Specialties:
- Consumer Lending
- Financial Technology
- Mission Driven, Value-driven
Company Website: https://www.earnest.com
ASSUMPTION: Earnest is a mission-driven company focused on helping students manage their education costs more effectively, with a strong commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Director-level role, reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer
Reporting Structure: This role will report to the Chief Marketing Officer and will be responsible for managing a team of product marketing professionals.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 3 days/month required in the office for team collaboration and company culture building
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow and develop the product marketing team, as well as influence the company's overall marketing strategy.
- Opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and contribute to the company's mission and growth.
- Possibility to expand the role's scope and responsibilities based on performance and company needs.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a substantial impact on the company's marketing efforts and overall success.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid, with a requirement to be in the office for 3 days/month
Office Location(s): San Francisco, CA (with remote work flexibility)
Geographic Context:
- The San Francisco Bay Area offers a vibrant tech industry, diverse culture, and a high cost of living.
- The remote work flexibility allows for a better work-life balance and the ability to live in other locations within the United States.
- The company's headquarters in San Francisco provides opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and the ability to work remotely most of the time
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers the best of both worlds, allowing for in-person collaboration and remote work flexibility to balance personal and professional responsibilities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR team
- In-depth interviews with cross-functional stakeholders, including the Chief Marketing Officer
- Final round interviews, potentially including a case study or presentation
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication abilities
- Leadership and team management capabilities
- Understanding of consumer markets, industry trends, and emerging technologies
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant product marketing experience and achievements.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with integrated marketing campaigns and customer journey mapping.
- Demonstrate your ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
- Showcase your understanding of the consumer lending and financial technology industries.
ATS Keywords: Product Marketing, Integrated Marketing, Customer Journey, Team Management, Consumer Lending, Financial Technology
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, leadership, and industry-specific knowledge to ensure a strong fit for the role and the company's mission.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)
- Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot CRM)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role will depend on the company's specific tech stack and marketing tech preferences.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Earn Happy Customers
- Better is Better
- Ph.D. in Moving Fast
- Passion for Challenges
- Impact is a Team Sport
Work Style:
- Collaborative and cross-functional
- Data-driven and analytical
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Mission-driven and customer-focused
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment?
- Are you passionate about driving results and making an impact?
- Do you have a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and exceptional service?
- Are you comfortable working with data and using it to inform strategic decisions?
ASSUMPTION: Earnest values a dynamic, collaborative, and mission-driven work environment, with a strong focus on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a remote team and ensuring effective collaboration
- Balancing strategic planning with day-to-day tactical execution
- Adapting to a fast-paced, ever-changing industry and market trends
- Managing competing priorities and stakeholders across multiple teams
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require strong leadership, adaptability, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on product marketing within the consumer lending and financial technology industries.
- Compared to related roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to drive marketing efforts for a mission-driven company focused on student loan solutions.
- Career path comparison: This role offers growth opportunities and the potential to expand responsibilities based on performance and company needs.
ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct in its focus on product marketing within the consumer lending and financial technology industries, offering unique growth opportunities and challenges.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a go-to-market strategy for a new student loan product
- Conducting customer research and journey mapping to inform marketing campaigns and product improvements
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to launch a new scholarship platform and drive user acquisition
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, collaborative, and data-driven nature of the role's responsibilities.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the company's overall marketing strategy and growth plans?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does the company support the professional development and growth of its product marketing team members?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the product marketing team, and how can this role help address them?
- How does the company measure the success of its product marketing efforts, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) will this role be responsible for tracking?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you better understand the role's expectations, the company's priorities, and the team's dynamics, enabling you to make a more informed decision about the opportunity.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant product marketing experience and achievements.
- Prepare for interviews by researching the company, its mission, and industry trends.
- Be ready to discuss your experience with integrated marketing campaigns, customer journey mapping, and team management.
- Follow up with the hiring manager within 48 hours after your final interview to express your enthusiasm for the opportunity and reiterate your qualifications.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
