Sr. Marketing Manager, LR Brand

Learning Resources•Vernon Hills, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Learning Resources is seeking a Sr. Marketing Manager to lead the brand’s next phase of growth. The role will develop the brand and go-to-market strategy for a mission-driven education brand with consumer and school markets, and build awareness to make Learning Resources a household name. The successful candidate will use compelling storytelling, creators, social media, entertainment, and culture to build the brand without relying on outsized media budgets, while supporting the company’s mission to instill a love of learning in kids everywhere. The position leads the Brand team and oversees Product Marketing, Content, Organic Social, Creator, and Public Relations. It works closely with Media, Analytics, Digital Shelf, Product Development, Sales, Creative, and Finance. The role also owns the annual marketing budget and marketing plans across product lines, scales the influencer, affiliate, and creator ecosystem, contributes market insights to innovation strategy, and partners with Sales to capture retail opportunities and drive sell-through. Key initial objectives include assessing the team and creating development plans within three months; resetting the creator and affiliate strategy, with a goal of increasing TikTok Shop sales fivefold, within three months; establishing a repeatable product launch playbook within six months; and expanding the brand’s distinctive assets and launching them into market within 12 months.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience in brand marketing.
Results-driven, self-starting approach and ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
Analytical skills and sales acumen, including the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data to deliver business insights.
Strong communication skills, including synthesizing information from a broad range of stakeholders and market research.
Proactive and resourceful approach to solving problems, making decisions, and executing goals.
Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with management, sales teams, peers, and agency partners and manage those relationships toward business objectives.
Proven track record of growing consumer brands and delivering results without relying on outsized media budgets.
Strong brand storytelling ability and an instinct for what captures consumer attention, particularly across social, creator, and emerging channels.
Creative problem-solving ability and comfort challenging established approaches, testing new ideas, and finding unconventional paths to growth.
Ability to perform the physical demands described: standing up to 10% of the time, sitting up to 90% of the time, oral communication and audio skills, visual skills for computer-based customer account work, and lifting up to 20 pounds.

Responsibilities

Build and develop a high-performing, results-oriented Brand team.
Own the Learning Resources brand and go-to-market strategy, aligning it to the How Brands Grow methodology.
Lead Product Marketing, Content, Organic Social, Creator, and Public Relations so they work together to deliver a consistent brand story.
Manage the annual marketing budget and allocate resources effectively against strategy.
Lead annual marketing plan development for all product lines to drive demand across channels, and coordinate cross-functional execution.
Scale the influencer, affiliate, and creator ecosystem, including long-term community building to grow brand reach, attribution, and advocacy.
Partner with Product Development to provide market insights that shape innovation strategy.
Work with Sales to capture retail opportunities and secure sell-through.
Within the first three months, assess the team and create individual development plans as needed to address skill gaps.
Within the first three months, lead a reset of the creator and affiliate strategy, with a key performance objective of increasing TikTok Shop sales fivefold.
Within the first six months, establish a repeatable product launch playbook integrating keyword research, content creation, media activation, retailer readiness, and performance measurement.
Within the first 12 months, expand the Learning Resources portfolio of distinctive brand assets and launch them into market.