Job Title: VP of Marketing – Dark Horse Comics

Location: Milwaukie, OR
Schedule: Full-time / Exempt
Reports to: CEO
Compensation: $100,000

About the Role

The VP of Marketing is responsible for creating and implementing strategies to strengthen our company's industry position and achieve desired business goals. The position includes management and oversight of both Marketing and PR staff, with the ability to provide a strategy that inspires and motivates. The VP of this department will work to create brand awareness, product visibility, and creator promotion in all related markets worldwide, including traditional bookstores, the Direct Sales Market (comic shops), libraries, digital, mass market, direct-to-consumer, and developing technologies, along with any marketplace in which our books and products are, or could be, sold. The position demands a highly flexible and adaptive, out-of-the-box thinker with sharp analytical and problem-solving skills, able to multitask in a fast-paced environment. The position demands a comprehensive understanding of the current comic book industry, the publishing industry as a whole, consumer behavior, and current marketing trends. 

The Vice President (VP) of Marketing will work with the Publisher and senior management to provide strategic leadership from a market and product perspective as an integral part of our management team.

Duties and Responsibilities

The VP of Marketing will develop annual marketing plans, create marketing and PR strategies, initiate brand campaigns, and set firm team objectives. The position requires the following skills: 

• Create, oversee, and submit annual marketing department budget and anticipated expenditures.
• Identify and plan differentiated and impactful marketing and promotional strategies/materials. 
• Work with Publisher, editorial department, and scheduling stakeholders to create balanced and impactful product and publishing release schedules. 
• Build, manage, and coach high-performing marketing and PR teams. 
• Build and manage relationships with creators and corporate partners.
• Create marketing campaigns with deliverable goals that meet business objectives and drive market share. 
• Oversee company catalogues, advertising, and marketing materials.
• Oversee convention schedules, including budgets, creator involvement, convention promotion, and convention exclusives, and oversee the annual FCBD program.
• Conduct market research, collection, and analysis for short- and long-term market forecasts and reports. 
• Strong analytical, planning, forecasting, and financial/budgeting skills. 
• Be responsible for oversight of public relations (PR). 
• Analyze marketing, PR, and advertising effectiveness. 
• Maintain brand standards and ensure compliance across all marketing and communications channels. 
• Assist in developing pricing strategies as well as evaluating competitor trends. ? Identify competitors and evaluate their strategies, recognizing successes and positioning, and devising counter-strategies. 
• Build long-term relationships with employees and clients while creating a safe and inclusive department environment. 
• Take part in weekly management strategy meetings. 

Preferred Qualifications and Requirements 

• Possess BA/MA degree in Marketing, Communication or related fields.
• 7 years of experience at the senior management level. 
• Experience with the Direct Market (comic shops), traditional bookstores, and multi-tiered distribution. 
• Must have outstanding public speaking and presentation skills. 
• Experienced in product management from inception, through costing, sales, and inventory control. 
• Experience with licensed products and branding strategy. 
• Background includes experience in market research and familiarity with trends in pop culture and the entertainment industry. 
• Proofreading, copy editing, and overall editing experience with the skill to oversee company messaging. 
• Experience with crowdfunding-adjacent exclusives (e.g., Kickstarter/BackerKit), community platforms (Discord/Reddit), and transmedia/streaming tie-ins. 

Preferred Technical Skills 

• Experience with Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Knowledge and practical experience with SEO (search engine optimization), digital marketing tools, and relevant software.