Our well-established financial client is undergoing an exciting transformation, and we are seeking a Director of Strategic Marketing Operations to lead the charge in optimizing their marketing and creative services functions. This high-impact role will be responsible for driving operational excellence, implementing automation and AI-driven solutions, and reimagining the workflows within teams to create a high-performing, efficient marketing operation.

Reporting to the VP of Marketing, this role will oversee a team of seven direct reports and will be responsible for managing agency governance, workflow automation, and marketing technology adoption. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in marketing operations transformation, experience managing large-scale creative workflows within a matrix organization, and strong leadership skills to guide the team through this period of change.

Key Responsibilities:

Marketing Operations & Workflow Optimization

• Lead the transformation of marketing operations by implementing best practices, tools, and processes to streamline execution.
• Develop and implement automated workflows to increase efficiency and improve turnaround times for marketing and creative services.
• Introduce Generative AI tools to enable the creative and design teams to deliver high volumes of content faster without sacrificing quality.
• Establish and refine processes for intake, prioritization, and resource allocation within marketing operations.

Technology & Innovation

• Identify and integrate MarTech solutions to enhance marketing execution and performance.
• Oversee the implementation of project management tools, AI-driven creative solutions, and digital asset management systems.
• Partner with IT and vendors to ensure seamless technology adoption and user training.

Agency & Vendor Governance

• Develop a governance framework for managing external agencies and vendors to ensure efficiency, compliance, and performance accountability.
• Negotiate contracts, SLAs, and performance benchmarks to optimize agency partnerships.
• Monitor budget allocation and cost efficiencies across agency engagements.

Team Leadership & Restructuring

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of seven direct reports across production and creative services.
• Assess and restructure certain teams to improve workflow, collaboration, and output.
• Drive a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Establish KPIs and success metrics to track marketing operational performance.
• Present insights and data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.
• Implement reporting dashboards to improve visibility into marketing effectiveness and operational efficiencies.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in marketing operations, project management, or marketing transformation roles, preferably within financial services or an established fintech.
• Experience leading large-scale marketing operations transformations with a focus on automation, AI, and workflow optimization.
• Strong understanding of MarTech stacks, AI-powered content tools, and project management software (e.g., Workfront, Asana, Adobe Workfront, etc.).
• Proven experience in leading and restructuring teams to improve efficiency and collaboration.
• Deep expertise in agency/vendor governance and budget management.
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively with executive leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate insights into action.