Director of Brand Activation, Sponsorships and Partnerships
Chicago, IL, US, 60631
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Director of Brand Activation, Sponsorships and Partnerships will drive the activation and scaling of brand activities across the North American market including through paid media, brand experiences, sponsorships, partnerships, events, and more. This role involves leading cross-functional efforts to operationalize brand strategies, ensuring seamless execution and alignment across all channels and touchpoints. This position combines strategic oversight with operational expertise to deliver exceptional brand experiences that drive growth, engagement and reputation. The position will serve as a key member of the Communications Leadership Team and will support the Head of Branding.
WHAT YOU’LL ACCOMPLISH
Brand Activation Leadership
- Act as the in-market powerhouse of the global brand team located in Switzerland, ensuring alignment and localization of brand strategies.
- Lead the end-to-end activation of the new brand portfolio, ensuring consistency and excellence in execution across all regions and channels, including through paid media, brand experiences, sponsorships, partnerships, events and more.
- Develop and oversee implementation plans, timelines, and budgets for brand initiatives, ensuring alignment with overarching business goals.
- Partner closely with the Communication and Digital teams to ensure cohesive storytelling and seamless brand experiences across all platforms.
Operational Excellence
- Establish and refine processes to scale brand operations efficiently, balancing agility with quality control.
- Monitor and evaluate the performance of brand activations, using data-driven insights to optimize and improve results
- Manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and partners, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and maximizing ROI.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Serve as a central point of contact for all brand activation efforts, fostering collaboration between marketing, sales, supply chain, and other key teams.
- Facilitate regular communication and updates to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment throughout the activation process.
- Drive go-to-market strategies by coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches and brand rollouts.
- Champion a unified brand vision, promoting understanding and buy-in across the organization.
Innovation and Adaptability
- Stay ahead of industry trends and consumer insights to inform and inspire brand activation strategies.
- Experiment with innovative activation approaches (incl. brand partnerships), leveraging emerging technologies and platforms to enhance engagement.
- Adapt and tailor activation plans to regional market needs while maintaining brand consistency.
Demonstrate a commitment to communicating, improving and adhering to health, safety and environmental policies in all work environments and areas. Promote a culture of safety and exhibit these behaviors.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Field of Study Preferred: Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or related field
Required Work Experience:
- 10+ years of experience in brand management, marketing operations, or related roles, with a proven track record of leading large-scale brand activation initiatives
- Experience in FMCG is preferred; experience in construction, real estate, architecture, or design is an advantage
Required Technical Skills:
- Familiarity with campaign analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, social media insights) and proficiency in MS Office.
- Familiarity with brand management and digital marketing platforms (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Salesforce Marketing Cloud).
- Knowledge of emerging trends in brand activation, including experiential marketing and digital innovation.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Fluent in English; proficiency in French is an advantage
Travel Requirements: Regular travel is required to support brand campaigns and collaborate with regional teams (up to 20%)
Additional Requirements:
- Strategic Thinker: ability to connect long-term brand vision with operational realities, translating strategies into actionable plans.
- Project Management Expertise: strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex projects under tight deadlines.
- Collaborative Leader: exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and inspire cross-functional teams.
- Data-Driven Decision Maker: proficient in analyzing performance metrics and using insights to drive continuous improvement.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for building and scaling brands.
- Adaptability to navigate ambiguity and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
- Advocate for Change Management: proven ability to implement new ways of working and drive organizational transformation.
- Commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence.
Successful candidates must adhere to all safety protocols and proper use of Holcim approved Personal Protection Equipment ("PPE"), including but not limited to respirators. Employees that are required to wear respirators must be clean shaven where the respirator seal meets the face in order to pass the qualitative and quantitative fit tests
WHAT WE OFFER
- Competitive salary
- Retirement Savings: Choose from 401(k) pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax savings
- Medical, Dental, Disability and Life Insurance
- Holistic Health & Well-being programs
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for health and dependent care
- Vision and other Voluntary benefits and discounts
- Paid time off & paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave (maternity & paternity)
- Educational Assistance Program
- Dress for your day
Nearest Major Market: Chicago