Director of Marketing

Director of Marketing

Location: Remote with regional travel
Company: The Helpful Hardware Co.
Reports To: CEO

About The Helpful Hardware Co.

The Helpful Hardware Co., a proud Ace Hardware affiliate operating 20+ stores across the Southeast, is built on the promise of being the “Helpful Place” in every community we serve. Our success is rooted in trusted products, personalized service, and deep local relationships.

We are seeking a Marketing & Community Engagement Manager to unify our local marketing, digital visibility, and community activation efforts into one measurable growth engine.

Position Overview

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role responsible for driving store traffic, strengthening brand awareness, elevating customer experience, and deepening community trust across all locations.

You will operate at the intersection of:

• Community engagement

• Local retail marketing

• Digital advertising and reputation

• Store-level activation

• ROI-driven reporting

This role translates brand strategy into real-world execution that produces measurable business impact at the store level.

Core Responsibilities

1. Local Retail Marketing & Campaign Activation

• Develop and execute integrated local marketing campaigns (digital + grassroots).

• Adapt Ace Hardware national campaigns into community-specific activations.

• Drive seasonal promotions and store-specific initiatives.

• Ensure alignment between marketing efforts and measurable store performance outcomes.

2. Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Identify, plan, and execute in-store and community-based events across all locations.

• Build and manage relationships with schools, nonprofits, chambers, youth organizations, and trade groups.

• Own sponsorships, workshops, seasonal activations, and grassroots initiatives.

• Serve as primary contact for inbound and outbound partnership opportunities.

• Maintain a structured event and sponsorship calendar by store and region.

• Support local media outreach and press visibility as needed.

3. Digital Advertising & Online Visibility

• Manage and optimize Google Ads and Meta campaigns.

• Coordinate localized social promotion tied to events and campaigns.

• Support Google Business Profile optimization and reputation initiatives.

• Monitor and respond to online reviews (Google, Yelp).

• Implement programs to increase positive sentiment and local visibility.

• Analyze digital performance and adjust strategies to maximize ROI.

4. Store-Level Collaboration & Execution

• Partner closely with store and regional managers to ensure marketing supports operations.

• Create practical playbooks and execution guides for store teams.

• Ensure events are supported with signage, photos, social content, and basic promotion.

• Act as liaison between stores and external vendors or resources.

• Protect brand consistency while allowing meaningful local customization.

5. Customer Experience & Brand Stewardship

• Support Net Promoter Score (NPS) improvement initiatives.

• Translate customer feedback into actionable marketing improvements.

• Serve as brand ambassador, ensuring alignment with Ace Hardware’s “Helpful” identity.

• Strengthen perception of each store as a trusted neighborhood partner.

6. Reporting, Optimization & ROI Measurement

• Track campaign and event activity by store and region.

• Measure impact including attendance, engagement, sentiment trends, and post-event results.

• Provide clear executive reporting tied to business outcomes.

• Identify scalable best practices and optimize underperforming initiatives.

• Operate within established budgets and timelines.

What Success Looks Like

• Stores are consistently visible and active in their communities.

• Marketing efforts translate into measurable foot traffic and brand lift.

• Reputation scores trend upward across locations.

• Community organizations proactively seek partnerships.

• Store leaders view this role as a strategic partner.

• Leadership has transparent insight into ROI of marketing and community engagement.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in retail marketing, community engagement, or event management.

• Experience managing digital advertising (Google Ads, Meta).

• Familiarity with Google Business Profile and online reputation management.

• Proven ability to manage multiple locations or stakeholders.

• Strong project management and organizational skills.

• Relationship-driven with strong communication abilities.

• Comfortable with regional travel.

• Experience with nonprofits or community organizations is a plus.

What You Bring

• A roll-up-your-sleeves, execution-oriented mindset.

• Strategic thinking paired with practical implementation.

• Data-driven decision-making.

• Passion for local retail and community connection.

• Ability to balance creativity with operational discipline.