Director, Marketing Data Program Management

Blend360•Columbia, MD

22h

About The Position

This is a 6-month contract engagement that might become permanent. We are seeking a seasoned, executive-minded Director of Marketing Data Program Management to lead one of the most consequential data transformation efforts in our organization. This individual will serve as the central orchestrator — the single point of program gravity — across our Marketing, Technology, and Analytics organizations, bringing clarity, cadence, and momentum to a complex portfolio of marketing data initiatives. Operating at the intersection of business strategy and technical execution, you will establish the operating model, governance structures, and decision-making frameworks that allow our marketing data program to scale. You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with VP and C-suite stakeholders, steering committees, and cross-functional teams — translating ambiguity into action and competing priorities into a defensible, living roadmap. This role demands a leader who thrives in complex, matrixed environments; who earns credibility with both business and technical audiences; and who is motivated not by managing tasks, but by driving outcomes that matter.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive experience in enterprise program management, product management, or strategic operations — with a demonstrated track record of leading complex, cross-functional programs at scale.
Proven experience owning governance structures, decision forums, and executive-level communications in large, matrixed organizations.
Strong business and technical fluency — capable of engaging credibly with both marketing and data/engineering teams without being dependent on either.
Demonstrated ability to build and manage a living program roadmap across multiple parallel workstreams, balancing competing priorities against business outcomes.
Experience operating in ambiguous, high-stakes environments where structure doesn't yet exist — and the ability to create it.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level storytelling, stakeholder briefings, and structured documentation.
Experience with data platforms, marketing technology ecosystems (CRM, CDP, identity resolution, campaign management), or large-scale digital transformation programs.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Information Systems, or related field; advanced degree or MBA preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a consulting, advisory, or client-embedded capacity — particularly supporting enterprise transformations from within a client organization.
Familiarity with Azure DevOps, Airtable, or similar program management and portfolio visibility tooling.
Background in hospitality, travel, financial services, or other high-volume B2C industries with complex MarTech and data ecosystems.
Exposure to data governance frameworks, data product thinking, or modern data architecture (e.g., medallion architecture, data mesh, CDP integration).
PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or equivalent program management certification.

Responsibilities

Own and lead the monthly Marketing Data Decision Forum — engaging Marketing, Technology, and Analytics leadership to surface decisions, document outcomes, and drive follow-through with accountability.
Design and maintain decision frameworks governing data sources, identity resolution, profile management, and campaign dependencies, including explicit ownership assignment where ambiguity exists.
Establish a formal intake and evaluation process for new data requests, replacing ad hoc submission with structured, defensible routing and prioritization.
Proactively identify, escalate, and manage risks, blockers, and tradeoffs before they impact delivery — keeping executive stakeholders informed and decisions ahead of issues.
Maintain a single, continuously updated view of the entire in-flight data initiative portfolio — encompassing status, ownership, dependencies, and sequencing across parallel workstreams.
Synthesize input from Marketing, Technology, and Analytics teams into a coherent, living roadmap explicitly connected to business value outcomes — not just delivery milestones.
Communicate program status, priority shifts, and strategic implications to executive and working-level audiences with the context and confidence of a trusted advisor.
Partner with delivery teams to ensure alignment on priorities, expected outcomes, and work sequencing — promoting consistent, repeatable program management standards across the organization.
Produce and maintain the authoritative program artifacts: initiative portfolio, governance and cadence documentation, risk and decision logs, and executive communications.
Lead steering committee preparation, facilitation, and follow-through — ensuring executive stakeholders are equipped to make decisions and act with confidence.
Build trusted relationships across VP and C-suite levels, operating as a credible, objective voice capable of navigating organizational dynamics and competing agendas.
Translate technical complexity into executive-ready narratives — bridging the language gap between data and engineering teams and business leadership.