Director, Marketing Strategy

Description

Are you looking to be part of a high-performing team of go-getters who make a difference both on and off the court? Join the Detroit Pistons as we harness the power of basketball to unite our city, elevate our fans, and drive lasting community impact.

The Director, Marketing Strategy is a strategic leader responsible for turning fan and market insights into business results — shaping how the Detroit Pistons show up in campaigns, culture, and partnerships. This leader will help define and articulate the Pistons' brand DNA — establishing what the organization stands for, what makes it distinctive, and the emotional connection we seek to create with fans. This foundation will guide how the brand communicates, engages, and comes to life across campaigns, content, social platforms, partnerships, and fan experiences.

Sitting at the intersection of brand strategy, audience intelligence, and marketing operations, this role will build the insights that drive campaign and messaging decisions, serve as a strategic partner to Corporate Partnerships to ensure sponsor relationships strengthen the brand, and establish marketing operations processes that bring structure, accountability, and measurable results to the Brand and Integrated Marketing team.

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this position will collaborate closely with Sales, Corporate Partnerships, Creative, Business Strategy & Analytics, Community Relations, and the broader Brand and Integrated Marketing team.

What You'll Be Doing

Brand Strategy & Campaign Leadership

• Help define and establish the Pistons' brand DNA, positioning, personality, and emotional connection with fans, translating these principles into consistent storytelling, messaging, and brand experiences.
• Lead the development and execution of integrated brand campaigns across the fan lifecycle, including season launches, franchise milestones, marquee games, and key business initiatives.
• Translate audience insights, brand positioning, and organizational priorities into compelling campaign strategies, creative briefs, and messaging frameworks.
• Guide lifestyle and cultural marketing strategies that authentically connect the Pistons to music, fashion, sneaker culture, Detroit pride, and other fan passions.
• Oversee influencer and creator strategies that expand the brand's cultural relevance and strengthen relationships with diverse audiences.

Audience Insights & Business Impact

• Translate audience research, CRM data, digital engagement, and brand health insights into actionable marketing strategies, messaging, and channel investment decisions.
• Partner with Business Strategy & Analytics to identify priority audiences, market opportunities, and strategies to expand brand awareness and fan engagement.
• Develop campaign performance scorecards and reporting frameworks that connect brand awareness, fan acquisition, engagement, and cultural reach to organizational KPIs and revenue opportunities.
• Present marketing performance, strategic recommendations, and business insights to senior leadership.

Partnership Strategy & Marketing Operations

• Partner with Corporate Partnerships to evaluate sponsorship opportunities, co-branded activations, and integrations for audience alignment, cultural relevance, and long-term brand value.
• Help establish brand guidelines and partnership standards that protect brand integrity while expanding reach and engagement.
• Build and lead marketing operations processes, including campaign intake, prioritization, creative briefing, timelines, and performance tracking.
• Develop scalable workflows and reporting practices that improve collaboration, efficiency, and accountability across the Brand and Integrated Marketing team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Lead and mentor the Brand & Lifestyle Marketing Manager, fostering a collaborative, creative, and results-driven team culture.
• Serve as a strategic brand steward, ensuring consistency across campaigns, partnerships, messaging, and fan experiences.
• Collaborate with Integrated Marketing, Creative, Sales, and other business teams to align brand strategy with marketing execution, fan engagement, and revenue objectives.

Requirements

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in brand marketing, marketing strategy, or a related field, including at least 4 years in a leadership capacity.
• Proven experience developing brand positioning, messaging frameworks, and integrated marketing campaigns across paid, owned, and earned channels.
• Strong ability to translate consumer insights, market research, and campaign performance data into actionable marketing strategies and business recommendations.
• Experience developing marketing operations processes, campaign measurement frameworks, and cross-functional workflows.
• Understanding of sponsorship strategy, brand partnerships, and evaluating opportunities for brand alignment and business impact.
• Strong knowledge of cultural marketing, lifestyle branding, and engaging diverse consumer audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and present strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to balance creative thinking and business performance.

Preferred

• Experience in professional sports, entertainment, consumer brands, or lifestyle marketing.
• Experience collaborating with sponsorship or corporate partnership teams.
• Familiarity with Detroit's cultural landscape, communities, and consumer audiences.
• Relationships with creators, cultural influencers, or community organizations in Detroit or other relevant markets.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are dedicated to ensuring equal access throughout the employment process. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable participation in the application and interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require an accommodation, please contact us to request assistance.