Director, Young Adult Marketing (Hybrid)

Bertelsmann-Jobs•New York, NY

3h•$100,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Penguin Young Readers is seeking a Marketing Director to join the Marketing team. This role sits within the YA & Adult Crossover marketing group and offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with editors, publishers, sales colleagues, and the broader Penguin Young Readers team, as well as a roster of renowned and bestselling authors. As Marketing Director, you will lead the development of innovative, end-to-end marketing campaigns for frontlist YA and adult crossover titles in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. This role is ideal for a strategic, creative, and audience-focused marketer with deep experience building campaigns that reach readers across retail, digital, social, advertising, and live-event channels. The ideal candidate is an experienced marketing leader with a proven track record of developing and executing title campaigns from concept through launch, mentoring high-performing teams, and building strong relationships across departments, with authors, and with agents.

Requirements

Minimum of 8 years of marketing experience, with a focus on developing and executing integrated campaigns; book publishing experience strongly preferred
A genuine interest in young adult and new adult books, authors, readers, and marketplace trends
A proven track record of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and applying marketing tactics that effectively reach readers
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including excellent presentation skills
Demonstrated management experience, including clear communication, delegation, coaching, and empowerment of staff
Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines, manage multiple priorities, and adapt in a fast-paced environment
A clear understanding of the publishing retail landscape, digital marketing channels, and audience development strategies
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new applications and systems

Responsibilities

Lead the YA & Adult Crossover marketing team in developing and executing integrated launch campaigns for key frontlist young adult and adult crossover titles, spanning retailer promotions, advertising, social media, and consumer festivals and conventions.
Provide thoughtful leadership, mentorship, and day-to-day guidance to a team of three, fostering clear communication, collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
Develop and oversee the YA consumer festival and convention strategy, working with internal and external stakeholders to secure sponsorships, brainstorm creative activations, coordinate the creation and shipping of materials, and staff events as needed. This role includes travel to locations outside of New York City.
Research, evaluate, and implement creative, data-informed advertising and promotional strategies that support key titles and connect with target audiences.
Build collaborative relationships with authors and agents to strengthen campaign planning, communication, and support for priority titles.
Partner closely with teams across Penguin Young Readers, including Editorial, Sales, Publicity, School & Library, and Design, to help drive the business and foster strong cross-functional relationships.
Present marketing strategy, campaign updates, and key title information at author, title, departmental, and seasonal meetings.
Support partnership outreach and coordination, including brainstorming activations, promotional opportunities, and consumer-facing initiatives.