Director of Marketing & Partnerships

Agency Director of Marketing and Partnerships

Bear | Commerce Strategy, Design & Development

About Bear

At Bear, we are a dynamic commerce agency that specializes in human-centered design and connection. Our mission is to help brands forge deep relationships with their audiences through comprehensive services in research, strategy, design, development, and growth, all focused within the Shopify Plus ecosystem. As we expand our Sales + Marketing Department, we're looking for passionate individuals to enhance our industry visibility and drive value for our clients. Join us in sharing our unique processes and compelling stories!

Our Values

• Authenticity: We are genuine and transparent, fostering a culture where everyone can be their true selves.
• People-First: We prioritize empathy and support, both for our clients and our team.
• Agility: We embrace innovation and collaboration, constantly adapting to solve challenges and build the future.
  
  

Your Purpose

The primary purpose of this position is to lead the agency's marketing and partnerships strategy and execution across multiple channels, including communications, events, digital, and social media. This role is essential for increasing brand awareness and establishing a robust market presence, ensuring that Bear distinguishes itself within the industry. The successful candidate will develop a culturally relevant stance for our agency, creating a unique voice that resonates with key audiences and sets us apart from competitors. A strong emphasis will be placed on connecting with audiences on a deeper level, driving engagement, and fostering loyalty among partners and clients.

Essential Attributes

At Bear, our success relies on key attributes you will bring to the table that shape your role and foster your relationships with the Bear team and the industry.

• Curiosity drives us to explore consumer trends and create innovative campaigns that connect with audiences.
• We value collaboration, as teamwork and diverse perspectives enhance creativity and results.
• Our focus on creative problem solving enables us to tackle challenges with unique strategies. Clear communication ensures ideas are understood among team members and clients.
• With critical thinking, we analyze data to make informed decisions that guide our efforts.
• Finally, our commitment to our goals and clients fosters lasting relationships and drives Bear Agency's success in a competitive market.
• Outgoing personality and great at building relationships
  
  
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Understand the commerce industry, Bear brand, approach, services and offerings, and differentiators.
• Develop and implement Bear's overarching marketing and brand strategy.
• Ensure marketing initiatives align with immediate and long-term business goals by identifying and executing process improvements, content strategies, and lead generation efforts.
• Oversee the preparation of reports on marketing activities, key performance metrics, and program success.
• Conduct high-level market research, competitive analysis, and trend forecasting to inform marketing strategies and drive business decisions.
• Manage and optimize internal marketing tools, including HubSpot, Crossbeam, Partner Portals, ZoomInfo, Figma, and other platforms.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning through research, workshops, and seminars, sharing best practices and insights with the team.
• Collaborate with internal sales, design, content creation teams.
• Managing day to day relationships and admin side of partnerships (partner directory updates, lead registrations, certifications, etc)
• Build and maintain senior and working‑level relationships across third party partnerships
• Create a predictable partner‑sourced and partner‑influenced pipeline through co-selling opportunities, referrals, and structured partner programs.
  
  

Daily & Ongoing Responsibilities

• Analyze market trends, customer behaviors, and competitor activities. Compile reports to inform strategy and executive decisions.
• Lead the development and execution of marketing strategies by setting objectives, managing sales forecasts, organizing presentations, and maintaining marketing calendars.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the marketing team, ensuring alignment with sales and business objectives.
• Plan and coordinate high-profile marketing events, including meetings, conferences, and trade shows, managing logistics and outreach, in person events and virtual events.
• Collaborate with internal teams, industry partners and third-party marketing agencies to drive effective campaign execution.
• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of sales and marketing materials, ensuring accuracy and overseeing the creation of new assets as needed.
• Identify new sources of prospective customer data and provide strategic recommendations to sales and marketing leadership.
• Build and/or acquire high quality lists of target brands within ICP
• Coordinate and consult with paid media resources for SEO and PPC campaigns
• Create and refine outbound marketing campaigns
• Coordinate content and updates to agency website like case studies, blog articles, etc
• Meet with all partners on bi-weekly or monthly basis, supported by the sales team members.
• Work with strategy and project management team to identify client wins and promote to existing clients via newsletter

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in agency or partner marketing, specifically within the commerce agency space across the Shopify ecosystem, demonstrating a proven track record of driving brand growth and lead generation.
• Creative and strong strategic thinker with the ability to create unique and engaging content and storytelling.
• Deep knowledge of traditional and digital marketing, content marketing, and social media strategies.
• Expertise in outbound marketing, CRM platforms, presentation tools, and other marketing software.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and drive marketing initiatives at an executive level.
  
  

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and ROI analysis for marketing initiatives.
• Familiarity with the Shopify Plus digital agency and partner landscape, including associated clients, competitors and services.