Vice President Marketing

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for managing all Fine Art Marketing efforts including managing all FA product brands, distribution channels, and marketing activities. This position reports to the CEO and is responsible for developing the strategic marketing plans consistent with company/corporate goals that will promote sales growth and customer satisfaction for the organization.

Summary of Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop the appropriate strategies and initiatives to deliver the growth goals identified in the North American and corporate strategies.


• Collaborate with the Sales Team to develop, review, update and implement Fine Art strategic plans to produce the highest possible market share and profitability.


• Responsible for managing the marketing activities within the Fine Art division, including advertising & promotions, brand and product category management, new product development, and distribution channel management.


• Analysis of sales activities, costs, operations and forecast data to monitor the Fine Art division progress toward stated goals and objectives:

1.  Develop and administer marketing budgets and plans, implement and allocate resources in collaboration with staff to meet or exceed those budgets/plans.


2.  Directly Responsible for the Fine Art P&L and indirectly for the Working Capital management for the Fine Art division.


3.  Provide leadership and direction for all market and consumer research, product innovation and channel, customer, product category and sku analysis.


4.  Actively involved in providing insight for capital expenditures and acquisitions, including being a part of the ongoing management process for acquisitions.


5.  Ongoing management and evaluation of pricing programs to maximize the Fine Art Division profitability and meet or exceed the division and corporate goals.

• Lead and develop the Fine Art Marketing Team, make recommendations for staffing, development growth opportunities, conduct performance evaluations, etc.


• Benchmark key performance indicators and major processes in a way that supports best practices and ensure consistency of these indicators across the group.


• Utilize continuous quality improvement philosophies, techniques and tools in all aspects of the organization.


• Establish and maintain relationships with key customers, industry influencers and key strategic partners.

Minimum Experience Requirements:

• Qualified candidates will have 10 years or more of progressively responsible business experience, including several years of P&L responsibility with success.


• Direct experience in Marketing in the Fine Art or Craft market, or similar markets such as Cosmetics or Fashion, with strong business to consumer and business to business marketing skills. Ideal candidate will have experience with an array of retail formats including: Mass, Craft, Specialty, Drug, Club, Grocery, e-Commerce. Sales experience is a plus.


• Direct experience managing new product development activities and experience in implementing best practices that deliver innovative and creative products.


• Direct experience in acquisitions and post-acquisition integration is a plus.


• Qualified candidates may have professionally risen through any combination of functional disciplines (e.g., sales, marketing, finance, etc.), but in any case must have outstanding Marketing, Financial and strategic thinking abilities.


• An Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate discipline; MBA is a plus.

Travel Requirements:

• 10-20%, some internationally.

Core Competencies Required:

• Personal Leadership - Professional, with excellent personal integrity and business ethics.  Direct, respectful and truthful, walks the talk.  Promotes and projects a positive image of the organization.


• Results Driven - Sets stretch goals, aligns resources and delivers upon commitments.  Addresses barriers to achieving results and sources of lagging performance.  Effectively balances the needs of the team and of the organization.


• Decision Making/Problem Solving - Demonstrates a mastery of critical thinking skills.  Calculated risk taker.  Manages well with ambiguity - is comfortable making quick decisions with limited information.   A problem solver - resourceful and focused on results, rather than identifying the obstacles to success.


• Collaboration & Relationship Building - Knows how to get things done in a complex organization.  Proficient at building relationships across the business.   Creates an open supportive work environment and engages others to discuss and debate though issues.  Conveys confidence in others and celebrates and rewards achievement.  Has a positive/can do attitude.


• Business/Job Acumen - Applies broad knowledge and seasoned experience to address complex/critical issues.  Displays deep insight into the competition’s strengths, weaknesses and strategies.


• Customer/Quality Focus - Commitment to organizational success; works to do what is best for all stakeholders (customers, shareholders, associates).  Effectively balances the competing priorities of different constituencies.


• Innovation/Champion of Change - Creates an environment that supports and rewards innovative thinking.  Thrives in a change environment.   Drives continuous improvement in all aspects of the business.


• Communication - Keeps others well informed.  Promotes open and frank discussions of tough issues and expresses opinions without intimidating others.  Delivers clear, concise, well organized communications and presentations to all levels of the organization including executive suite.

Leadership Characteristics

• Organizational Ability - Politically aware and effectively maneuvers within the organization to get things done through formal and informal channels. Builds key relationships throughout the organization.


• Intellectual Knowledge - Smart and strategic with intellectual capacity and curiosity. Deals with concepts and complexity comfortably.  Uses financial analysis to evaluate and create strategic choices and options.


• Talent Management - Creates a work environment that promotes continuous learning and development and where diverse points of view are encouraged, engaged and expected. Attracts and selects high caliber talent and takes an active role in coaching and mentoring others.


• Inspirational Leadership - Communicates a compelling vision that generates excitement, enthusiasm and commitment to the company vision and mission. Creates a highly engaged work environment which values innovation, fresh perspectives, and delivers strong results.


• Strategic Thinking/Foresight - Develops strategies to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Anticipates risk and has contingency plans.  Translates broad strategies into clear objectives and practical action plans.


• Fiscal/Financial Responsibility - Manages resources wisely and makes decisions that enhance the organization and stakeholder’s financial position. Holds self and team accountable for delivering commitments.