Contractor-Marketing (Director Level)

Position Summary

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) is seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly collaborative Marketing Director (Contractor) for 90+ days to lead high-impact marketing initiatives that strengthen the ACM brand, engage fans, support members, and elevate the Academy's year-round programs and signature events.

This contractor will serve as a senior marketing leader, partnering across departments, including Awards, Industry Relations, Events, Membership, ACM Lifting Lives, Communications, and Partnerships, to develop integrated marketing strategies that drive awareness, audience engagement, and measurable business results.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, brings strong entertainment or live event marketing experience, and is equally comfortable developing strategy and executing campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Marketing Leadership

• Develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with ACM's organizational goals.
• Build integrated campaigns supporting the ACM Awards, ACM Lifting Lives, membership initiatives, and yearround programming.
• Identify new opportunities to grow brand awareness, audience engagement, and revenue.
• Establish campaign objectives, KPIs, reporting, and postcampaign analysis.

Campaign Management

• Lead planning and execution of multichannel marketing campaigns across: o Digital
• Social Media oEmail Marketing
• Paid Advertising oOrganic Content
• Experiential Marketing oPartnerships
• Manage campaign timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Ensure consistency across all consumer and member touchpoints.

Brand Management

• Protect and strengthen the Academy of Country Music brand.
• Ensure messaging remains consistent across departments.
• Collaborate on creative development, visual identity, and storytelling initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner closely with:

• Communications and PR
• Awards
• Membership
• Industry Relations
• Events
• Development
• Finance
• Executive Leadership

to ensure alignment across organizational priorities.

Data and Analytics

• Analyze campaign performance and audience insights.
• Utilize marketing analytics to optimize future initiatives.
• Present recommendations and performance reports to leadership.

Vendor and Agency Management

• Manage relationships with external agencies, freelancers, media partners, and production vendors.
• Negotiate scopes of work and oversee project execution.

Budget Oversight

• Develop and manage marketing budgets.
• Monitor expenditures and maximize return on investment.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field.
• Over 5 years of progressive marketing leadership experience.
• Directorlevel experience leading integrated marketing campaigns.
• Experience managing largescale events or entertainment brands.
• Strong digital marketing expertise.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.

Preferred

• Experience within: o Entertainment
• Music Industry oLive Events
• Sports oNonprofit organizations
• Familiarity with country music industry audiences.
• Experience working with celebrity talent and brand partners.
• Knowledge of CRM platforms, email marketing systems, and marketing analytics tools.
• Experience overseeing creative agencies and media buying.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Executive Presence
• Leadership and Influence
• Brand Strategy
• Campaign Development
• Creative Problem Solving
• Collaboration
• DataDriven Decision Making
• Budget Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Adaptability
• Attention to Detail

Success in This Role

Within the contract period, the Marketing Director will:

• Develop and implement highimpact integrated marketing campaigns.
• Increase audience engagement across key ACM initiatives.
• Strengthen collaboration across departments.
• Deliver measurable marketing performance through datadriven decision making.
• Elevate the Academy's visibility while supporting its mission to celebrate, promote, and advance country music.