US Director, Partner Comms

Marcom is the creatively-led global team that oversees Apple's consumer-facing marketing. We ensure the flawless development and execution of world-class communications across all medias and platforms. Every day, hundreds of millions of Apple customers around the world interact with our products. We drive the strategy and creative work that provide both new and existing customers with simple, engaging and inspiring marketing experiences. The Partner Communications team amplifies Apple's brand and drives customer engagement through strategic marketing initiatives with our partners. We collaborate with some of the world's leading companies to create innovative campaigns and experiences that reach customers in new and impactful ways, ultimately contributing to Apple's overall marketing success.

Description

The Director for US Partner Communications leads the US partner marketing communication strategy, planning and execution for Apple products and services across a broad spectrum of partners including Carriers, Retailers, Banks, Marketplaces etc. This role drives the creation of innovative partner marketing strategies and best-in-class execution that showcase Apple throughout the entire customer journey. The Director for US Partner Communications collaborates across many teams, both internally at Apple and externally with partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead a seasoned team to develop and implement comprehensive and innovative partner strategies and impactful creative work for Apple products and services through a deep understanding of the Apple brand, our Partners' brands, commercial priorities, market trends, and challenges.
• Deeply understand the business and brand of Apple, as well as each partner, and have a holistic view of the US market. This allows you to identify and action opportunities and challenges, enabling you to influence at scale across various groups.
• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, internationally and locally, both internally at Apple (WW CPC, Sales, Analytics, Media, Strategy), and with external partners such as Carriers, Retailers, Banks, SMB's and Enterprise Resellers, Media Content Providers and more.
• Lead, encourage, and contribute to the large global CPC network, sharing standard processes, takeaways, and case studies.
• Lead the development and delivery of annual planning with partners' senior marketing teams and agencies.
• Communicate effectively with leadership and team members to ensure alignment and progress towards goals.
• Work across the global organization to understand macro business and consumer insights, as well as the specific communication strategies for Apple products and services. Synthesize findings into insights to inform optimization of future advertising, digital, and in-store efforts, internally and externally with Partners.
• Help partners manage and optimize customer relationships using CRM systems and tools to improve customer engagement, satisfaction, and retention, by implementing CRM strategies, defining metrics and measurement frameworks, analyzing data, and generating insights.
• Domestic travel may be required 1-2 times per quarter.

• 15+ years experience in international account management and/or strategy at a creatively-driven ad agency or in-house marketing communications firm, with a minimum of 5 years of experience directly managing and developing high-performing teams
• Expertise in brand communications - from strategy to execution to analysis of results.
• History of success working in cross-functional teams, building strong relationships, and confidently influencing stakeholders across a matrixed organization to drive results.

• Passion for great work, seeing potential and nourishing it, with ability to inspire and advocate for the best creative work.
• Proven ability to deeply understand a partner's business, product strategy, marketing approach, and consumer insights to identify challenges and opportunities, and to develop effective global communications strategies.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to knit together disparate sources of information into succinct insights, a strong strategic narrative, and clear action plans.
• Possesses a deep understanding of digital platforms (social, eCRM, e-commerce platforms, content, performance marketing, digital in-store) and how they can be leveraged to deliver the most compelling product experience throughout the customer journey.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and presentation skills with ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all organizational levels, including executive leadership.