Marketing Lead

 The Marketing Lead will lead marketing strategy and execution for Hijack Poker, the digital poker platform from Texas Card House, which operates six physical poker rooms across Texas. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer and serving as the CMO's right hand, this leader will oversee most of Hijack's marketing efforts. That includes finding new growth opportunities, building on the strategies already in place, and scaling the platform during a pivotal growth phase. This is a critical leadership role at a fast-growing gaming and hospitality company. You'll lead a marketing team, manage agency and vendor partners, own media planning and budget, and make sure Hijack's brand and campaigns turn TCH's established poker community into lasting growth on the platform. The role calls for deep expertise in performance and brand marketing, people leadership, agency management, and marketing in regulated categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Marketing Strategy & Growth: Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy for Hijack Poker that drives player acquisition, engagement, and retention. Identify and evaluate new growth opportunities across channels, audiences, partnerships, and promotions, and scale proven programs.
• Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing marketing team. Set clear goals, manage performance, and foster a culture of experimentation, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Agency & Vendor Management: Select, manage, and optimize relationships with agency partners and vendors. Own scopes of work, creative briefs, budgets, and performance accountability.
• Media Planning & Budget Ownership: Lead media planning and buying strategy across paid social, search, programmatic, influencer, and emerging channels. Manage the marketing budget, with clear visibility into CAC, payback period, and return on spend by channel.
• Social Media & Content: Oversee social media strategy, content development, and creator and influencer partnerships that build brand awareness and an authentic connection with the poker community.
• Brand & Creative Direction: Maintain a high standard for brand consistency and creative quality across all channels. Provide strong design direction and constructive creative feedback to internal teams and agency partners.
• Lifecycle & Retention Marketing: Partner with Product to develop CRM, lifecycle, and promotional programs that convert new players into retained, depositing members and increase player lifetime value.
• AI & Marketing Innovation: Bring AI tools and emerging technology into marketing workflows, including creative production, audience insights, campaign testing, and reporting, to improve speed and efficiency.
• Omnichannel Integration: Work with Texas Card House operations and hospitality teams so marketing is aligned between the Hijack platform and TCH's physical poker rooms, creating seamless player pathways between digital and in-venue play.
• Metrics & Analytics: Define and track key marketing KPIs, including new player acquisition, depositing players, CAC by channel, and D1/D7/D30 retention. Deliver clear, data-driven reporting and recommendations to the CMO and executive leadership.
• Compliance & Responsible Gaming: Ensure all marketing activities comply with applicable advertising regulations, platform policies, and responsible gaming standards.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Finance, Compliance, and Operations to align marketing initiatives with business priorities, product launches, and regulatory requirements.

 Qualifications

• 8+ years of marketing experience, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role (Senior Manager, Director, or above) managing direct reports.
• Proven track record managing agency partners and vendors, including scope, budget, and performance accountability.
• Extensive experience in media planning and buying across digital channels, with direct ownership of significant marketing budgets.
• Strong background in performance marketing, user acquisition, and data-driven campaign optimization.
• A strong eye for design and brand, with the ability to lead creative direction.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to executive leadership.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, high-growth environments with evolving priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience marketing in gaming, iGaming, sweepstakes, sports betting/DFS, or mobile gaming.
• Agency-side experience in a strategic or account leadership role.
• Deep expertise in social media marketing and creator and influencer partnerships.
• Hands-on experience bringing AI tools into marketing operations and creative workflows.
• Experience marketing in regulated categories with advertising restrictions (gaming, financial services, or similar).
• Background in hospitality, entertainment, or omnichannel consumer brands.
• Passion for poker, gaming culture, and community-driven brands.