📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Specialist, Targeted Marketing
🔹 Company: Grainger Businesses
🔹 Location: Lake Forest, Illinois, United States
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: July 29, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid flexibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving channel planning, execution, and activation of aligned campaigns across Direct Mail and Sales Collateral channels
- Partnering cross-functionally with teams across Marketing and the business to deliver on various targeted marketing objectives
- Maximizing channel performance through continuous testing and learning
- Analyzing performance of aligned titles and campaigns to evolve existing campaigns and build new campaigns
- Managing budgets of aligned campaigns in partnership with print production and finance teams
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve marketing objectives.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the planning, execution, and optimization of direct mail campaigns, ensuring alignment with broader marketing strategies and customer objectives
✅ Maximize channel performance through continuous testing and learning while ensuring campaigns meet due-to revenue and ROAS targets
✅ Analyze performance of aligned titles and campaigns, leveraging results to evolve existing campaigns as well as build new campaigns, ensuring continued channel growth
✅ Partner with segment catalog merchandisers, print production, and analytics to create a robust offering of direct mail pieces to effectively meet customer needs
✅ Partner across Marketing and Customer Strategy teams to create multi-channel campaigns, creating a seamless customer experience
✅ Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales Enablement to drive innovation in Sales Collateral, ensuring collateral meets the needs of sellers
✅ Perform ad hoc analysis to support and understand strategy development, utilizing insights to influence and inform future campaign strategies
✅ Manage budgets of aligned campaigns in partnership with print production and finance teams.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, tactical execution, and analytical analysis to drive marketing success.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in marketing or related field
Experience: 3+ years of Marketing experience in a multi-channel organization
Required Skills:
- Proven experience creating direct mail and collateral strategies within a large corporate structure
- Experience applying direct marketing metrics and measuring marketing performance
- Experience communicating and influencing at all levels of the organization
- Experience leveraging data analysis and reporting tools to generate insights, track performance, and support data-driven decision-making across marketing initiatives
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with cross-functional teams to create multi-channel campaigns
- Familiarity with budget management and financial analysis
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in direct marketing, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration will be most successful in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $85,300 to $142,200 annually
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing
- 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year
- 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required
- Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools
- Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail Office Equipment
Company Size: 10,001+ employees (Public Company)
Founded: 1927
Company Description:
- As a leading business-to-business organization, more than 4.5 million customers worldwide rely on Grainger for products in categories such as safety, material handling and metalworking, along with services like inventory management and technical support
- Grainger provides value for customers, fostering an engaging culture and driving strong financial results
- For our customers, Grainger offers more than a million industrial-quality products, a consultative sales approach, technical and product expertise, a premium digital experience and the ability to get the right products to your right when you need them
Company Specialties:
- Supply Chain Management
- Facilities Management
- MRO
- Light and Heavy Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Inventory Management Solutions
- Safety Services
- Hospitality
- Transportation
- and Keepstock
Company Website: www.grainger.com
ASSUMPTION: Grainger's extensive product offerings, customer-centric approach, and robust digital platform make it a strong competitor in the B2B retail space.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Manager, Targeted Marketing
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (2 days on-site, 3 days remote)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential progression to a Manager or Senior Manager role within the Targeted Marketing team
- Opportunities to expand responsibilities based on performance and business needs
- Access to professional development and training programs to enhance skills and advance career growth
ASSUMPTION: With strong performance, this role offers opportunities for career advancement within the Targeted Marketing team or broader Marketing organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (2 days on-site, 3 days remote)
Office Location(s): 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045, United States
Geographic Context:
- Lake Forest is a suburb of Chicago, located approximately 30 miles north of the city
- The area offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with easy access to outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and dining options
- Chicago provides a vibrant cultural scene, professional sports teams, and numerous entertainment options
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexible hybrid work arrangement)
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility, allowing employees to optimize their work environment based on personal preferences and needs.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager
- On-site or virtual interview with the Hiring Manager and a team member
- Final interview with the Director of Targeted Marketing
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Direct mail campaign planning and execution
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Budget management and financial analysis
- Problem-solving and strategic thinking
Application Tips:
- Highlight relevant marketing experience, particularly in direct mail and collateral strategies
- Demonstrate strong analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
- Showcase ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions focused on problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability
- Research Grainger's products, services, and company culture to show enthusiasm and alignment with the organization
ATS Keywords: Direct Mail Campaigns, Data Analysis, Marketing Performance, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Budget Management, Strategic Thinking, Problem-Solving, Marketing Initiatives
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic mindset, analytical skills, and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Analytics
- Tableau or other data visualization tools
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)
- CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics)
- Budget management software (e.g., Adaptive Insights, Allocadia)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Analytics, and data visualization tools is essential for this role. Familiarity with marketing automation platforms and CRM systems is also beneficial.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer Focus
- Integrity
- Innovation
- Accountability
- One Grainger
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Data-driven and analytical
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Strategic and forward-thinking
- Results-focused and accountable
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you ensure customer needs are met through data-driven marketing initiatives?
- Can you describe a time when you optimized a direct mail campaign based on data analysis?
- How do you effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams to create multi-channel campaigns?
- How do you manage budgets and ensure campaigns meet due-to revenue and ROAS targets?
- Can you provide an example of a strategic marketing initiative you led that drove significant results?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with Grainger's core values and demonstrate a strong fit with the desired work style will be most successful in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple campaigns and deadlines simultaneously
- Working with cross-functional teams to align on marketing objectives and strategies
- Adapting to changes in marketing priorities or business needs
- Analyzing and interpreting complex data sets to inform marketing strategies
- Balancing on-site collaboration and remote work responsibilities
ASSUMPTION: The dynamic nature of marketing and the hybrid work arrangement may present challenges, but also offers opportunities for growth and development.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Marketing Manager or Senior Marketing Manager position within a smaller organization, with a focus on targeted marketing and channel management
- Compared to other Senior Specialist roles, this position offers a broader scope of responsibilities and greater influence on marketing strategy
- Career progression in this role may lead to a Marketing Manager or Director position within the Targeted Marketing team or broader Marketing organization
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other marketing positions, its unique focus on targeted marketing and channel management sets it apart within the industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a targeted direct mail campaign to drive customer acquisition in a specific geographic region
- Analyzing campaign performance data to optimize existing direct mail campaigns and identify opportunities for new campaigns
- Collaborating with the Sales Enablement team to create targeted sales collateral that supports specific sales initiatives
- Managing the budget for a multi-channel marketing campaign to ensure alignment with revenue targets and ROAS objectives
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, analytical, and collaborative aspects of the Senior Specialist, Targeted Marketing role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure within the Targeted Marketing department and how this role fits into the organization?
- How does this role collaborate with other marketing teams, such as Digital Marketing or Customer Strategy?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Grainger support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- Can you provide an example of a successful targeted marketing campaign at Grainger and the role this position played in its execution?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help candidates better understand the role's responsibilities, team dynamics, and growth opportunities within the organization.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the following link: https://jobs.grainger.com/job/LAKE-FOREST-Senior-Specialist%2C-Targeted-Marketing-IL-60045-5202/1312188300/
- Tailor your resume to highlight relevant marketing experience, particularly in direct mail and collateral strategies
- Prepare a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of the role and enthusiasm for Grainger's mission and values
- If applicable, provide examples of your portfolio or relevant work samples to showcase your marketing skills and achievements
- Follow up with the Hiring Manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
