📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Lifecycle Marketing Manager
🔹 Company: Pilot.com
🔹 Location: San Francisco, California, United States (Hybrid: 3 days/week in the office)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: July 11, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Architecting and implementing customer lifecycle strategies to drive engagement, education, advocacy, and expansion
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define critical moments in the customer journey and build strategies to capitalize on opportunities
- Developing and executing lifecycle marketing programs that support onboarding, product adoption, retention, and advocacy
- Managing Pilot’s customer referral program, a significant revenue driver
- Evaluating and optimizing lifecycle marketing systems, including customer data platforms (CDPs) and orchestration tools
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, ability to work cross-functionally, and a deep understanding of customer lifecycle marketing principles. The ideal candidate will have experience in B2B SaaS environments and be comfortable navigating a fast-paced, startup culture.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Build and own the customer lifecycle strategy: Map the full customer journey, identify key engagement points, and define lifecycle programs that support onboarding, product adoption, retention, and advocacy.
✅ Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Work closely with product, customer success, content, and operations teams to define critical moments in the customer journey and build strategies to capitalize on opportunities.
✅ Manage customer referral program: Oversee and optimize Pilot’s customer referral program, a significant revenue driver.
✅ Evaluate and optimize lifecycle marketing systems: Assess and recommend lifecycle marketing technologies, including CDPs and orchestration tools, to support scalable and personalized customer journeys. Partner with business systems and analytics teams to implement, measure, and optimize these tools.
✅ Champion AI and automation: Identify and use AI-powered tools to automatically detect friction points and hidden customer segments. Apply machine-learning models to surface propensity-to-churn, expansion, or advocacy signals. Employ generative AI and dynamic content blocks to tailor messaging and educational assets per customer profile. Explore an AI-driven orchestration layer to optimize send-times, channel selection, and content variants based on user behavior and emerging pain points.
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience with AI tools and be comfortable working with data to drive revenue and loyalty.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field. Relevant coursework or certifications are a plus.
Experience: 7+ years of experience in lifecycle marketing, customer marketing, or customer engagement roles, ideally within a B2B SaaS or high-growth environment. Proven track record of designing and executing successful lifecycle programs across multiple customer segments.
Required Skills:
- Proven expertise in lifecycle marketing, customer engagement, and customer education
- Familiarity with marketing automation systems, personalization tools, CDPs, triggered campaigns, and dynamic content
- Ability to analyze customer data and draw actionable insights that drive revenue and loyalty
- Excellent communication and project leadership skills
- Comfortable navigating a fast-paced, startup environment
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with AI tools and machine-learning models
- Familiarity with venture-backed startup environments or founder-focused customer bases
- Background in building customer communities or user group programs
- Exposure to account-based marketing or account-based expansion motions
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience working with Salesforce, Marketo, Looker, or similar martech tools and be comfortable collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders, including product, engineering, customer success, and sales teams.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $133,000 - $215,000 per year (San Francisco, CA) - Final offer amounts depend on multiple factors such as candidate experience and expertise, geographic location, total compensation, and market data.
Benefits:
- Flexible vacation/time-off policy
- All federal holidays observed
- Competitive benefits package, including wellness benefits such as Modern Health, Headscape, One Medical, Aaptiv, and Rightway
- Parental leave for birthing or non-birthing parents – 100% pay for 12 weeks
- 401(k) plan
ASSUMPTION: Pilot offers a comprehensive benefits package to support the well-being and work-life balance of its employees.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Accounting
Company Size: 201-500 employees
Founded: 2016
Company Description:
- Pilot provides small businesses with dedicated finance experts who learn the ins-and-outs of their business
- Integrates directly with billing, banking, expense, and payroll systems customers already use
- Delivers accurate, consistent bookkeeping and financial management and tax services that give entrepreneurs the freedom to focus on their business
Company Specialties:
- Bookkeeping services
- Tax preparation
- Financial management
- Payroll services
Company Website: pilot.com
ASSUMPTION: Pilot is committed to providing reliable, personalized finance services that enable small businesses to grow and operate more effectively.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Marketing or a similar senior marketing leader.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days/week in the office, with the expectation to work in the San Francisco or Nashville office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to take on additional responsibilities as the team and company grow
- Opportunity to work on high-impact projects and drive significant business impact
- Exposure to various aspects of marketing, including product marketing, content marketing, and growth marketing
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, as Pilot continues to expand its customer base and marketing efforts.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (3 days/week in the office)
Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States (with the expectation to work in the San Francisco or Nashville office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)
Geographic Context:
- San Francisco, California, United States: Known for its vibrant tech industry, diverse culture, and high cost of living
- Nashville, Tennessee, United States: Offers a lower cost of living, a growing tech scene, and a rich musical heritage
Work Schedule: Standard full-time work hours, with flexibility for remote work on non-office days
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a hybrid environment and able to balance independent work with collaborative team settings.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Submit application through the provided link
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager or a member of the marketing team
- On-site interview with the marketing team and other relevant stakeholders
- Final interview with the Head of Marketing or a senior marketing leader
Key Assessment Areas:
- Customer lifecycle marketing strategy and execution
- Data analysis and interpretation skills
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Problem-solving and project management skills
Application Tips:
- Highlight your experience with lifecycle marketing, customer engagement, and data-driven decision-making
- Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
- Prepare examples of successful lifecycle marketing campaigns you've led or contributed to
- Showcase your understanding of Pilot's business and the role's impact on the company's growth
ATS Keywords: Lifecycle Marketing, Customer Engagement, Customer Education, Marketing Automation, Data Analysis, Cross-functional Collaboration, Project Management, AI Tools, CDPs, Triggered Campaigns, Dynamic Content
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio or case studies demonstrating their experience with lifecycle marketing and data-driven decision-making.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)
- Customer data platforms (CDPs) (e.g., Segment, Tealium)
- AI and machine-learning tools (e.g., IBM Watson, Amazon SageMaker)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Looker, Tableau)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience with relevant marketing automation platforms, CDPs, AI tools, and data analysis tools.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centricity
- Data-driven decision-making
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Innovation and adaptability
Work Style:
- Fast-paced, startup environment
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data-driven decision-making
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Adaptability and flexibility
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach working with cross-functional teams to define critical moments in the customer journey and build strategies to capitalize on opportunities?
- Can you provide an example of a successful lifecycle marketing campaign you've led or contributed to, and what data-driven insights guided your approach?
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest marketing automation tools and AI-driven solutions in the industry?
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced, startup environment and be able to balance independent work with collaborative team settings.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Navigating a fast-paced, startup environment with evolving priorities and tight deadlines
- Managing multiple stakeholders and balancing competing priorities from various teams
- Keeping up with the latest marketing automation tools and AI-driven solutions in the industry
- Dealing with limited resources and budget constraints for marketing initiatives
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be adaptable, resourceful, and comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on customer lifecycle marketing and cross-functional collaboration within a high-growth startup environment
- Compared to traditional marketing roles, this position requires a deeper understanding of customer data and a more strategic approach to marketing initiatives
- Experience in B2B SaaS or high-growth environments is highly valued, as the role involves working with complex customer segments and data sets
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience in B2B SaaS or high-growth environments and be comfortable working with complex customer segments and data sets.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a customer onboarding program that drives product adoption and reduces churn
- Building and optimizing a customer referral program that generates significant revenue for the company
- Implementing an AI-driven orchestration layer that optimizes send-times, channel selection, and content variants based on user behavior and emerging pain points
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience working on similar projects and be able to provide concrete examples of their achievements in customer lifecycle marketing.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe a time when you had to balance multiple priorities from different teams and how you ensured the successful execution of your lifecycle marketing initiatives?
- How do you approach working with limited resources and budget constraints to maximize the impact of your marketing campaigns?
- Can you provide an example of a successful lifecycle marketing campaign you've led or contributed to, and what data-driven insights guided your approach?
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest marketing automation tools and AI-driven solutions in the industry, and how have you applied these tools in your previous roles?
- How do you collaborate with cross-functional teams to define critical moments in the customer journey and build strategies to capitalize on opportunities?
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be able to provide concrete examples of their experience and achievements in customer lifecycle marketing, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Highlight your experience with lifecycle marketing, customer engagement, and data-driven decision-making in your resume and cover letter
- Prepare examples of successful lifecycle marketing campaigns you've led or contributed to, and be ready to discuss them during the interview
- Showcase your understanding of Pilot's business and the role's impact on the company's growth
- Follow up with the hiring manager or a member of the marketing team one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
