At rue21, we believe fashion should be fun and accessible to all. As a leading specialty retailer, we’re different, we’re unique—just like you. rue21 combines a shopping experience designed to fit the individuality of our customers with a community to foster love, advocate change and empower each other through what we wear and what we do. Join our team and be #YOUinrue.

LIVING OUR VALUES:

Inclusivity: rue21 embraces all of you. We promote individuality and celebrate our differences. All are accepted, respected and welcome. Integrity: We own our words, our actions, and our results. We set our standard high by thinking big. It matters how we show up and how we play the game. Collaboration: Together we are rue21. We listen and support each other and achieve our collective goals together. Curiosity: We don’t ask why, we ask why not? We are agile and are driven by new ideas and original thinking. We are passionate and believe anything is possible. Community: Our power is our people; our community of customers, associates and partners. We care, we connect, we listen and we deliver.

The Brand Marketing Director is a key leadership role within the Marketing organization. We are looking for an autonomous self-starter who brings curiosity and passion to drive brand strategy. The Brand Marketing Director is responsible for creating customer-relevant marketing strategies that drive profitable business growth. This individual will lead seasonal strategy and drive go-to-market execution, ensuring a cohesive brand message across all customer-facing channels. This role oversees social media, brand media/partnerships, marketing operations, and retail marketing. 

•Commits to supporting rue21’s vision, mission, and values of an inclusive environment and sets an example for their team or sphere of influence. 
Brand and Seasonal Strategy
•    Maintain strong proactive knowledge of target customer, retail, and marketing trends, grounded in a deep understanding of business and customer insights. 
•    Proven experience and ability to plan across currently loved, and anticipated new, Gen Z media and social channels. 
•    Translate business strategies into integrated, effective marketing plans and omni-channel content strategies that fuel brand awareness and increase customer acquisition, retention, and engagement.
•    Lead seasonal marketing campaigns and collaborate with key cross-functional partners to bring to life (merchandising, creative, ecommerce, email, digital marketing, loyalty/CRM); manage and lead content strategy and creative briefing process; translate into customer-facing messaging; ensure cohesive execution across all touchpoints.
•    Lead, mentor and manage the PR/Brand Outreach, Partnerships, and Social Media team.
•    Oversee social media strategy and plan by channel.
•    Build and execute timely and relevant marketing/influencer-PR programs to increase awareness of the brand and create buzz.
•    Lead and manage relationships with key agency and media partners.
•    Work with analytics teams to monitor and assess performance of social content against defined goals/KPIs, reporting results and recommended actions to key stakeholders.
•    Own the evolution of marketing strategies through a deep understanding of the changing retail landscape.
Marketing Operations
•    Take on full marketing budgeting & planning responsibilities across retail channel and brand marketing. Define budgets and strategy according to annual targets, market trends and launches.
•    Lead, mentor, and manage marketing operations team, including print marketing operations.
•    Oversee seasonal campaign planning and hind sighting process, and own key cross-functional milestones.
•    Lead in-season business optimization process and facilitate promo execution (alignment, cascade, creative briefing).
•    Own relationship with print vendor and set creative/print timelines and budgets to ensure they’re aligned with brand and business needs.
•    Ongoing evolution to identify efficiencies and process improvement across marketing ops and print.

•    Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, business, communication, or another related field
•    7-10 years' experience in brand marketing, preferably with retail/brand strategy experience
•    Proven ability to manage high-performing internal team and strategically oversee external agency partnerships
•    Work collaboratively with senior management, leveraging executive-level communication skills
•    Ability to craft and deliver presentations/recommendations that resonate with audiences and further brand strategy’s impact on the business
•    Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving, and presentation skills
•    Ability to operate independently while establishing strong working relationships with co-workers and cross-functional team
•    Curious and motivated to contribute above and beyond what is asked of you
•    Demonstrated experience growing social media channels 
•    Ability to adapt well to change in direction and priority in a fast- paced and deadline-oriented environment

#LI-MM

Please be aware that the Company requires employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19.  This position will require the successful candidate to show proof that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.  The Company is an equal opportunity employer, and will provide reasonable accommodation to those individuals who are unable to be vaccinated consistent with federal, state, and local law.

At rue21 we believe everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. Inclusion is in our DNA, and we embrace each individual’s unique story they have to tell.

Our Benefits include:

• Employee Discount
• Generous PTO Allowance
• Energetic & Innovative Culture
• Casual Dress Code
• Tiered Medical/Dental/Vision Plans & Life Insurance
• 401k Retirement