Marketing Director

The SPJ Marketing Director provides strategic leadership for the Science Partner Journals marketing function, establishing the long-term vision, priorities, and commercial strategies that drive sustainable portfolio growth and strengthen the organization's global publishing partnerships. This role develops enterprise-level marketing strategies that advance journal performance, expand market influence, and create long-term value for publishing partners and the organization.

Working closely with executive leadership, the Director serves as the senior marketing advisor for the SPJ portfolio, aligning partner objectives with organizational priorities while identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and market expansion. This position establishes marketing strategy, investment priorities, performance frameworks, and organizational direction while leading and developing the SPJ marketing team.

The Director focuses on defining strategic direction, ensuring the organization is positioned to achieve long-term business objectives while empowering the Associate Director and marketing team to successfully execute those strategies.

• →Develop and lead the long-term strategic vision for the Science Partner Journals (SPJ) marketing program, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, business objectives, partner goals, and sustainable revenue growth.
• →Serve as the primary executive marketing advisor for Science Partner Journal partners, leading all strategic marketing discussions and providing expert guidance on marketing approaches that will best achieve each partner's objectives while advancing the goals of Science/AAAS.
• →Build trusted relationships with senior leaders at partner organizations, confidently recommending marketing strategies based on experience, data, and industry expertise. Provide thoughtful counsel and, when appropriate, challenge or redirect partner requests that are unlikely to achieve desired outcomes or align with objectives.
• →Establish portfolio-wide marketing strategies that balance the objectives of Science/AAAS with the unique goals of each partner, including increasing journal visibility, author acquisition, readership, engagement, and overall market impact.
• →Direct the development and execution of portfolio marketing strategies through the Associate Director, Science Partner Journals Marketing. Establish strategic priorities, approve integrated marketing plans, and hold the Associate Director accountable for successful execution, ensuring initiatives are delivered effectively, performance is continuously evaluated, and tactics are adjusted as needed to achieve partner and organizational objectives.
• →Ensure marketing strategies remain agile by continuously monitoring campaign performance, market conditions, partner feedback, and emerging opportunities. Make strategic decisions to refine priorities, reallocate resources, and adjust marketing approaches to maximize performance and achieve desired outcomes.
• →Partner with SPJ leadership to evaluate new journal opportunities, partnership proposals, acquisitions, and strategic investments, providing marketing and commercial recommendations that support long-term portfolio growth and organizational success.
• →Establish enterprise marketing performance metrics, reporting frameworks, executive dashboards, and success measures that evaluate portfolio performance, demonstrate business impact, and inform strategic decision-making.
• →Oversee portfolio-level marketing financials and annual budget planning, ensuring resources deliver measurable business value.
• →Lead, mentor, and develop the SPJ Marketing team by establishing priorities, coaching staff, and fostering a culture of strategic thinking, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• →Collaborate with the SPJ Director, and Marketing Director, and leaders across Sales, Editorial, Publishing, Product Marketing, and other cross-functional teams to align organizational priorities, coordinate initiatives, and ensure successful execution of strategic objectives.
• →Represent the organization at executive-level meetings, international partner engagements, and industry conferences, strengthening the company's reputation as a trusted strategic publishing and marketing partner. International travel, including to Asia and China, is expected as part of this role.

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive marketing experience, including at least 7 years leading marketing teams and strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing enterprise-level marketing strategies that drive measurable business growth and organizational performance.
• Proven experience leading executive-level client, partner, or stakeholder relationships within complex organizations.
• Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing portfolio budgets, marketing investments, and resource planning.
• Experience developing performance measurement frameworks and using marketing analytics to inform strategic decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership and lead cross-functional initiatives across multiple business functions.
• Experience developing high-performing teams.
• Ability to travel internationally, including countries where visas are required.
• Experience within scholarly publishing, STM publishing, scientific communications, or academic publishing strongly preferred.
• Experience working with international publishing partners, particularly within Asia, preferred.
• Executive presence with exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial and business acumen.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities with a data-driven approach to decision making.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment.
• Innovative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and organizational growth.
• Highly organized with exceptional planning, prioritization, and execution oversight skills.

Application Process

Submit a resume and cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position by November 16, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. A Recruiter will contact you with next steps if you are selected for an interview.

The anticipated initial rate of compensation for this position is $150,000 - $160,000. AAAS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, each subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of AAAS and will be based on a variety of factors, including years of experience, depth of experience, and other relevant factors. AAAS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.

AAAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Any unsolicited resumes sent to AAAS from a third party, such as an agency, including unsolicited resumes sent to an AAAS mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to AAAS employees, or to the AAAS resume database will be considered AAAS property. Verbal or written communications from any employee of AAAS shall not be considered binding obligations. AAAS Human Resources is the only AAAS representative authorized by AAAS enter into any employment agreements with any third party. AAAS will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

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