Mazda North American Operations

Compensation

Full Description

Job Description The Director of Brand Strategy and Communication is responsible for defining, governing and evolving Mazda North American Operations (MNAO)'s brand vision, strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate strategies, long-term goals and growth priorities. This role leads the development of enterprise-wide brand positioning strategies, campaigns to differentiate and acquisitions-focused initiatives to differentiate the brand in the marketplace and strengthen brand salience. As a senior marketing leader, the Director provides enterprise-level oversight across brand strategy, communications, public relations, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social media, experiential marketing, motorsports, and voice of the customer programs. The Director serves as the enterprise brand steward, accountable for brand health, governance of brand architecture, and ensuring that all strategies and agency partnerships reinforce MNAO' positioning and contribute to overall corporate objectives. Major Responsibilities (25%) Brand Strategy, Positioning and Communication Strategy Set the vision for, develop and implement comprehensive brand strategies aligned with MNAO's corporate objectives. Collaborate with and influence Mazda Corporation (MC) on brand strategy and brand style. Govern and steward Mazda Brand Architecture to ensure alignment and differentiation across the portfolio Anticipate, assess, and integrate emerging trends, technologies and data-driven insights to enhance Mazda’s competitive positioning, to manage brand health and drive innovation. Oversee external and internal communications strategy to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment. Direct the design and execution of integrated communications strategies to enhance brand visibility and desirability. (15%) Public Relations & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Shape the enterprise public relations agenda and cultivate high-impact relationships with media, influencers, and key stakeholders. Drive accountability for data-driven communications strategies grounded in consumer and market insights. Set strategic direction for and ensure execution of CSR initiatives that align with company values and enhance brand reputation. Measure and report on the impact of CSR initiatives, monitor trends and adjust strategies accordingly. (10%) Customer Insights Shape enterprise understanding of growth audiences and key customer segments. Champion adoption of advanced analytics, AI, and marketing automation tools to optimize customer segmentation and acquisition strategies. Direct governance of voice of customer programs to gather insights and refine brand strategies. Ensure customer insights inform enterprise-level marketing strategies and investment decisions to optimize engagement. (10%) Asset Strategy & Development Set strategic direction for content and asset strategies aligned with brand priorities and audience needs. Provide executive oversight of the governance, creation, and global standardization of brand assets across all touchpoints. Institutionalize a digital-first approach to asset development, ensuring omnichannel optimization (web, social, digital advertising, retail, etc.). (15%) Social Media Provide strategic oversight and governance of enterprise social media strategy to grow and engage the brand’s online community. Establish accountability for tracking, monitoring and reporting Corporate’s community engagement and net sentiment. (10%) Experiential Marketing & Motorsports Direct strategy and ensure execution of experiential marketing campaigns to create memorable brand experiences. Set the vision for integrating digital and physical experiential marketing strategies to enhance customer engagement beyond events. Provide strategic leadership for motorsports programs to enhance brand presence and partnerships. (15%) Leadership & Administration Inspire mentor and empower a high-performing team of internal marketers and external experts. Establish and lead cross-functional brand strategy task forces to align marketing with product, sales, and customer experience teams. Cultivate a culture of innovation, accountability, and enterprise-level collaboration. Serve as a trusted advisor to Marketing leadership, cross-functional leaders and external agencies, ensuring unified brand strategy execution. Ensure compliance with relevant policies and regulations. Oversee brand budget planning and management, ensuring fiscal accountability and alignment with corporate priorities. Provide strategic direction, governance and manage external agency relationships as strategic extensions of the brand team, ensuring all creative, media, and communications work aligns with brand governance standards and advances MNAO business priorities. Performs other duties as assigned Complies with all policies and standards The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job Work Experience 15+ years experience in marketing, brand strategy, or a related field, preferably within the automotive or premium consumer goods required 5+ years of proven and successful leadership experience, with a trach record of managing cross-functional teams and large-scale brand initiating required Required Education Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, engineering or related fields, or equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience in lieu of degree Knowledge and Abilities Strategic Thinking & Brand Development: Ability to develop long-term brand strategies aligned with corporate goals, including brand positioning, market differentiation, and brand health measurement. (Advanced-Authority) Communication & Public Relations: Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience in external/internal communications, media relations, and stakeholder management. (Advanced-Authority) Consumer Insights & Data Analytics: Proficiency in analyzing consumer data to drive marketing strategies and decision-making. (Advanced-Authority) Content & Asset Management: Experience in content creation, asset development, brand storytelling, and managing digital assets across multiple platforms. (Advanced-Authority) Social Media & Digital Marketing: Knowledge of social media trends, engagement strategies, performance metrics, and digital marketing best practices. (Advanced-Authority) Experiential & Event Marketing: Ability to design and execute high-impact brand experiences through events, activations, and partnerships, including motorsports marketing initiatives. (Advanced-Authority) Leadership & Team Development: Strong leadership skills to inspire, mentor, and develop a high-performing marketing team. (Advanced-Authority) Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders, external agencies, and cross-functional teams. (Advanced-Authority) Budget & Compliance Management: Experience overseeing budgets, contracts, and compliance requirements to ensure fiscal responsibility and adherence to company policies. (Advanced-Authority) Ability to drive innovation, think creatively, and adapt to an evolving market landscape. (Advanced-Authority) Physical Demands Communicate/Talking: Constantly Communicate/Hearing: Constantly Travel Requirements 20% Flying Domestic: Essential #LI-Remote We support Remote work in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin Pay Range $157,100.00 - $239,600.00 Salary to be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Learn more about MNAO’s comprehensive benefits package here Mazda was founded in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan. We are a multi-national company that embraces and celebrates multicultural environments. We are rebels in the automotive space which is part of our DNA that we call the Challenger Spirit. We put our customers first and offer a unique customer experience. Mazda’s products combine technology, design, and the joy of driving pleasure. https://www.mazdausabenefits.com https://insidemazda.mazdausa.com/ We have a driven and passionate working environment. One of our divisions gets to show off in a unique way, check out https://www.mazdausa.com/why-mazda/motorsports