The National Retail Federation passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3 trillion to annual GDP and supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs — 55 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. 

NRF’s marketing team ensures that our brand continues to innovate, grow, outpace our competitors and strengthen our value proposition and reputation. The Vice President of Marketing Technology (MarTech) must be motivated, resourceful, organized and forward thinking to help ensure the latest innovations, platforms and technologies are being integrated into our day-to-day operations. Our ideal candidate will work closely with internal departments, external partners, vendors and consultants to establish achievable metrics and to reach both short- and long-term mission critical goals. It is very important that the successful candidate has a proven record of building confidence in their leadership through a high level of communication and engagement. 

Summary 

Leads the integration of marketing strategies with advanced technology solutions to drive growth, member engagement, and overall business success. This key technology role works with a team of marketing technologists and collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure that technology is effectively leveraged to meet NRF’s marketing goals.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing technology strategy that aligns with the NRF’s overall business objectives.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies to ensure the organization remains competitive.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to senior leadership on how technology can enhance marketing effectiveness.

Technology Management:

• Collaborate on the selection, implementation, and management of the marketing technology stack, including tools for CRM, marketing automation, content management, analytics, and more.
• Ensure seamless integration between various technology platforms to create a cohesive and efficient marketing ecosystem.
• Manage relationships with vendors and service providers to maximize the value and performance of marketing technology investments.

Team Leadership and Engagement:

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team ensuring they have the skills and resources needed to succeed.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the marketing technology team specifically and the larger marketing and communications division.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure cross-functional alignment. 
• Partner inter-departmentally to ensure marketing team remains current on the latest marketing technology; identify tools and resources; lead and recommend trainings.

Data and Analytics:

• Drive the development and implementation of data-driven marketing strategies.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and utilization of marketing data to inform decision-making and optimize campaign performance.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and best practices in data management.

Customer Experience:

• Leverage technology to enhance the customer/member experience across all digital touchpoints.
• Work closely with the marketing team to personalize and optimize customer journeys using data and technology.
• Utilize marketing technology to track and improve customer engagement, retention, and satisfaction.
• Lead special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required (MBA a plus) 

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years’ senior leadership experience in marketing technology, digital marketing, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Prefer a minimum of 5 years’ experience working with Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud platforms from a strategic perspective.
• Proven experience in a leadership role, with a track record of driving successful marketing technology initiatives, particularly in collaborating with IT teams to leverage Customer Data Platforms and data management solutions for marketing initiatives.
• Extensive experience with marketing technologies such as CRM systems, marketing automation tools, content management systems, and data analytics platforms. 

Skills:

• Strong understanding of both marketing and technology disciplines, with the ability to bridge the gap between them. 
• Strong understanding of Salesforce Marketing Cloud capabilities, including Journey Builder, Audience Builder, and Einstein.
• Ability to define requirements and use cases for data integration and management with the Salesforce ecosystem, particularly with Data Cloud.
• Proficiency in utilizing personalization tools and strategies to enhance marketing efforts.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to think strategically and execute tactically.
• Proficiency in data analysis and the ability to derive actionable insights from complex datasets.
• Knowledge of data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and their implications for marketing.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and vision
• Leadership and team management
• Technical proficiency in marketing technologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Collaboration and cross-functional teamwork
• Innovation and continuous improvement