Vice President of Marketing (Brand, Creative, Social)

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Vice President of Marketing (Brand, Creative, Social)

🔹 Company: Sweetwater Sound

🔹 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-06-20

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading brand, creative, influencer, and artist marketing for Sweetwater
• Overseeing a team of 25 across brand strategy, social content, creative, marketing operations, and communications
• Developing and strengthening Sweetwater's brand equity and creative positioning
• Collaborating with senior leadership to align marketing strategies with company objectives
• Managing marketing spend and ensuring effective performance marketing strategy and tactics

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and creative mindset, with a strong focus on brand development and team leadership.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Develop and strengthen Sweetwater brand equity, creative positioning, brand architecture, and social engagement through strategic planning and execution

✅ Identify and execute top-of-funnel marketing opportunities to generate increased brand awareness as part of a larger, cohesive marketing strategy

✅ Ensure effective and efficient performance marketing strategy and tactics

✅ Oversee the Sweetwater “story” and brand identity in the market; assess current creative and provide brand refresh, as needed, determined by consumer research

✅ Ensure consistent application of brand and creative across all marketing channels

✅ Collaborate with other marketing leaders to measure and optimize performance of marketing programs across all channels

✅ Oversee development and execution of creative content, social media, communications, and events with in-house production team(s)

✅ Manage and build a capability for compelling communication across numerous styles, types, and reaching various audiences

✅ Manage the brand marketing spend / budget

✅ Collaborate with other marketing leaders to identify marketing and customer trends to determine new ways to maximize customer awareness, acquisition, and engagement

✅ Collaborate and clearly communicate with other members of the senior leadership team to ensure alignment and buy-in cross-functionally

✅ Train, manage, and motivate marketing employees in innovative and strategic thinking to maximize individual and collective performance

✅ Collaborate with Chief Supply Chain Officer and SVP of BizOps to develop and implement a cohesive and effective integrated marketing strategy across all channels with clear goals that align with company objectives

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, team management, and cross-functional collaboration.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Experience: 7+ years in Marketing Leadership role

Required Skills:

• Consumer Industry expertise, ideally in digitally native / eCommerce environment
• Strong understanding of enthusiast brands and categories
• Demonstrated success building and implementing a brand strategy that has delivered measurable results
• Proven experience and success across all disciplines of marketing (strategy, branding, customer acquisition, communications, social media)
• Successful experience leading large teams (20+ people)
• Effective team builder with a demonstrated track record of having developed highly capable marketing groups with high levels of trust, engagement, and passion
• Creative thinker with strong analytical skills and a “solutions-oriented” mindset
• Visionary with a driven personality, not only highly analytical and strategic, but also creative and hands-on
• Effective communicator, strong personal presence, and able to easily engender confidence from the board room to the customer
• Ability to develop and articulate strategy coupled with a willingness to “roll up your sleeves” and do the work required for success
• Unquestionable integrity, credibility, and character with a high energy level, a strong work ethic, and a passion for his/her work

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the music industry or related field
• Fluency in additional languages

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in marketing leadership, with a focus on brand strategy and team management.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a VP of Marketing role in the United States)

Benefits:

• Competitive wages and excellent perks
• Excellent work environment and culture
• Opportunities for growth and development

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a VP of Marketing role in the United States. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and qualifications.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Sweetwater Sound is a leading online retailer of music instruments and pro audio equipment, operating in the competitive music gear market

Company Size: Sweetwater has 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a large company environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration

Founded: 1979, with over 40 years of experience in the music industry

Company Description:

• Sweetwater is committed to giving music makers the ultimate shopping experience, from beginners to professional musicians
• The company offers a wide range of products, including guitars, keyboards, pianos, drums, recording equipment, and live sound equipment
• Sweetwater is known for its exceptional customer service and support, as well as its innovative approach to music gear retailing

Company Specialties:

• Pro Audio
• Musical Instruments
• Lessons
• Recording Studio
• Recording
• Guitars
• Music
• Live Sound
• Live Sound Equipment
• Music Gear
• Keyboards
• Piano
• Recording Engineering
• and Drums

Company Website: Sweetwater Sound

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater's large size and extensive product offerings provide a unique opportunity for marketing professionals to make a significant impact on the company's success.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Executive (VP) level, reporting directly to the CEO or another senior executive

Reporting Structure: This role will oversee a team of 25 marketing professionals, with the potential for further expansion

Work Arrangement: On-site, with relocation to Sweetwater's state-of-the-art campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana, required

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for career advancement within the marketing department or the broader organization
• Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and initiatives
• Chance to develop and grow a team of marketing professionals

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with the opportunity to make a substantial impact on Sweetwater's marketing efforts and overall success.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Sweetwater's campus is a state-of-the-art facility designed to foster creativity and collaboration

Office Location(s): 5501 US Highway 30 W, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814, United States

Geographic Context:

• Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a mid-sized city with a population of approximately 260,000 people
• The city is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, with a strong focus on music and the performing arts
• Fort Wayne offers a high quality of life, with affordable housing, excellent schools, and a variety of recreational opportunities

Work Schedule: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with some flexibility for remote work or alternative arrangements

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater's campus provides an ideal work environment for marketing professionals, with ample opportunities for collaboration and creativity.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume submission
• Phone or video screening with the HR department
• In-depth interview with the hiring manager and/or other members of the marketing team
• Final interview with the CEO or another senior executive
• Background check and reference check

Key Assessment Areas:

• Marketing strategy and brand development expertise
• Team leadership and management skills
• Communication and presentation skills
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Cultural fit and alignment with Sweetwater's values and mission

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your marketing leadership experience and accomplishments
• Be ready to discuss your vision for Sweetwater's brand and marketing strategy
• Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a team

ATS Keywords: Marketing Leadership, Brand Strategy, Creative Positioning, Social Media, Performance Marketing, Team Management, Analytical Skills, Communication, Customer Acquisition, Creative Content Development, Collaboration, Strategic Planning, Budget Management, Trend Analysis, Innovative Thinking, Engagement

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater's hiring process is designed to assess candidates' marketing expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit with the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo)
• Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot CRM)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
• Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater uses industry-standard marketing tools and technologies to support its marketing efforts and drive business growth.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Do what's right for the customer
• Create a positive, fun, and rewarding work environment
• Promote from within and invest in employee growth and development
• Encourage creativity, innovation, and continuous learning
• Foster a culture of open communication, collaboration, and teamwork

Work Style:

• Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on results and continuous improvement
• Collaborative and team-oriented, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration
• Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on informed decision-making
• Creative and innovative, with a focus on pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you possess a deep passion and desire for creating amazing customer and colleague experiences?
• Do you have a great work ethic and move through tasks with a sense of urgency?
• Are you committed to paying attention to the details?
• Do you drive continuous improvement and focus on effective and efficient work?
• Are you committed to the pursuit of growing personally and professionally and have a focus on bringing your colleagues along in that journey?

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater's culture is built upon celebrating the creative creation of music, which unifies people from all walks of life. The company values a diverse and inclusive work environment that respects, learns, and grows from each team member's unique perspective and experience.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Relocation to Fort Wayne, Indiana, may be required for this role
• Sweetwater's large team size and fast-paced work environment may present challenges for candidates who prefer a slower pace or more independent work
• Managing a team of 25 marketing professionals may require strong leadership and management skills
• Sweetwater's competitive market position may necessitate aggressive marketing strategies and tactics to maintain market share

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater's unique work environment and competitive market position may present both opportunities and challenges for candidates considering this role.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its focus on brand, creative, and social marketing for a leading online retailer of music instruments and pro audio equipment
• Similar roles in other industries may focus on different product categories or have a broader marketing scope
• Career path comparison: This role may serve as a stepping stone to senior marketing leadership positions within Sweetwater or other organizations

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity for marketing professionals to gain experience in a specific niche within the music gear industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a comprehensive brand refresh strategy for Sweetwater
• Launching a new social media campaign to increase brand awareness and engagement
• Collaborating with the product team to create targeted marketing campaigns for new product launches

ASSUMPTION: Sweetwater's marketing team works on a variety of projects that require strategic thinking, creativity, and strong execution skills.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the biggest challenges facing Sweetwater's marketing efforts in the next 12-24 months?
• How does the marketing team collaborate with other departments, such as product and sales, to ensure alignment and effectiveness?
• What opportunities exist for growth and development within the marketing department and the broader organization?
• How does Sweetwater support work-life balance for its employees?
• What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process can help candidates better understand the role and the company's culture.

📌 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 marketing experience and skills
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your marketing leadership experience and accomplishments
• Be ready to discuss your vision for Sweetwater's brand and marketing strategy
• Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a team
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.