Brand marketing Jobs in Phoenix, AZ

Director of Marketing - Retail & Brand

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Story Cannabis was built by misfits on a mission people bold enough to shift the cannabis narrative and create something better. Founded in 2021 by industry veterans, Story is a vertically integrated company headquartered in Phoenix, operating across Arizona, Maryland, Ohio, and Louisiana, and we're just getting started.

Our vision is to bring hope, happiness, and healing to the world through cannabis, and we're doing it one state, one store, and one customer at a time.

Leadership defines how we show up. Data drives how we grow. Gratitude keeps us grounded. Unity fuels our momentum. And growth, in every sense, inspires everything we do.

If you're ready to challenge what's expected and shape the future of cannabis, your next chapter starts with Story.

Overview

The Director of Marketing will oversee the brand and retail marketing activation teams while partnering with Ecommerce and CRM/Loyalty. The role will own the retail marketing strategy nationwide with a designated state of Arizona. This is a management role grounded in driving store traffic, basket size, and repeat visits, with accountability for turning national strategy into consistent, high-performing local execution at the store level with support teams. Beyond retail, this role extends the Story brand across the full consumer journey, connecting in-store experiences to community, culture, and lifestyle touchpoints that build lasting loyalty.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the marketing team by establishing goals, coaching employees, managing performance, and supporting professional development.
• Develop and manage the annual marketing budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and strong financial stewardship.
• Own national retail marketing strategy with a clear mandate to drive store traffic, transaction volume, and customer retention across all markets and formats.
• Build and manage national promotional calendars, campaign toolkits, and execution playbooks that store teams can activate with consistency.
• Identify market-level performance gaps and deploy targeted retail tactics to close them; localizing national programs where needed.
• Define and enforce standards for in-store merchandising, visual storytelling, signage, and retail environment across all locations.
• Lead the development of campaign toolkits, POS materials, and store-ready assets that execute brand strategy at the shelf and budtender level.
• Own the retail marketing playbook for new store openings from pre-launch community awareness through grand opening and ramp-up periods.
• Establish and manage brand partner and wholesale vendor marketing programs that drive in-store visibility, trial, and sell-through.
• Track and report on key retail marketing KPIs including store traffic, conversion, basket size, promotional lift, and customer retention.
• Use sales data, customer insights, and campaign results to continuously refine strategy and reallocate spend toward highest-performing programs.
• Present performance updates and strategic recommendations to the VP of Marketing and cross-functional leadership.
• Drive consumer engagement through integrated omnichannel strategies; including events, grassroots activations, and community partnerships; that extend the brand beyond the store.
• Plan and execute local market events and community activations that build brand awareness, trial, and affinity in each Story market.
• Collaborate with digital and lifecycle teams to ensure a connected consumer journey from online discovery through in-store visit and post-purchase engagement.
• Analyze campaign performance and customer data to optimize marketing effectiveness, return on investment (ROI), and customer engagement.
• Support acquisition integration efforts by developing marketing transition plans, brand migration strategies, and communication plans for newly acquired markets.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of marketing experience with a strong retail focus; cannabis experience required.
• Proven track record driving measurable store-level results (traffic, revenue, retention) across multiple markets.
• Experience managing new store openings, retail brand launches, and promotional programs at scale.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing consumer events, grassroots activations, or community marketing programs.
• Deep fluency in retail marketing mechanics: promotional strategy, in-store execution, local marketing, and omnichannel integration.
• Strong grasp of brand experience principles; able to connect retail strategy to the broader consumer journey.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate sales and campaign data into actionable strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to execute and communicate enterprise-level retail marketing strategies and briefs.
• Strong executive communication and cross-functional collaboration and influence skills.
• Advanced project management capabilities; able to run multiple high-priority programs simultaneously.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth-stage environment.
• Familiarity with design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Express) and strong collaboration with creative teams/agencies.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods during in-store visits, events, or vendor meetings.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, or transporting of marketing materials, signage, or event supplies (up to 25 lbs).
• Ability to travel nationally to support key launches, store openings, and market visits.
• Availability to support occasional evenings or weekends for major launches or events.

Our Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO) including 8 paid holidays per year*
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
• 401k retirement savings plan*
• Company paid Short-Term & Long-Term disability*
• Company paid Life Insurance*
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee referral program
• Commuter benefits*
• Product discounts
• Additional compensation incentives (tips, bonuses, etc.)

*For full-time positions only

We want our story to be one that fosters an inclusive culture and provides an enriching employee experience. As an equal-opportunity employer, we embrace individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all individuals, including those who may have encountered legal issues related to previous marijuana laws. We understand that these laws have disproportionately impacted certain communities and individuals. We are committed to considering all candidates based on their qualifications, skills, and potential to contribute to our team, rather than focusing solely on past legal encounters. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with past involvement with the legal system, to apply for positions within our organization.