Head of Brand Strategy and Communications

Head of Brand Strategy and Communications (Onsite in Irvine, CA)

Overview:

As the Head of Brand Strategy & Communications, you are responsible for the overall development, alignment, implementation, and advancement of the brand strategy, experience, voice, campaigns, and capabilities of our brand and our products. We are seeking a digitally savvy and classically trained brand strategist to create user-centric, culturally relevant, and memorable strategies and tactics that engage end users and/or clients at every touchpoint. Cannabis experience, preferably from the brand-side or retailer-side, is required. You are a methodical thinker and a pragmatic doer who can motivate/enroll internal and external stakeholders to deliver measurable results in a lean, fast-paced environment.  

The impact you'll make:

• In alignment with company key Initiatives, author marketing strategy briefs defining the value proposition, positioning, target and messaging.
• Extract actionable insights from research, business, and campaign performance data to understand the needs and the opportunities in the business, and in marketing effectiveness.
• Lead Brand Strategy function in developing and executing comprehensive programs and campaigns across the full spectrum of owned, earned, physical and digital, experiential, and paid channels.
• Lead PR function by developing multi-disciplinary communications strategies for business, consumer, and internal audiences that advance and protect the organization’s corporate and executive reputation and enhance connection with our consumers.
• Ensure integration across disciplines and be the keeper of a centralized marketing roadmap/calendar to optimize investment.
• Collaborate with the Brand Creative and Content team in the creative manifestation of brand strategy.
• Plan holistically and forward-thinking, yet be nimble and address the needs to change. 
• Plan and direct workflow to avoid “fire drills” and is actively ready to discuss any aspect of brand programs.
• Actively initiate, moderate, and streamline conversations to drive consensus leading to actions.
• Lead overall team towards high-performance and ignite talent by mapping developmental roles and assignments for self and members of your team. Provide coaching to enable your team to hit performance goals and maximize their potential.

What you've accomplished:

• 10-15 years of brand marketing, brand management, marketing communications, or advertising experience. Must have CPG and marketplace experience managing multi-channel, multi-million dollar brands delivering high volume results in lean organization under severe resource constraint.
• Knowledge of authentic cannabis culture.
• Experience with research methodologies such as brand health studies, customer tracker studies, segmentation studies, maxdiff studies, focus groups, ethnographies, copy testing, survey design, and conjoint analysis.
• Experience with syndicated research such as Nielsen, MRI, Simmons. 
• Must have experience managing a team of 10+ people towards high performing achievements.
• Experience working for both a large enterprise and either a start-up or high-growth organization is a plus.
• Hands-on experience developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns.
• Experience utilizing data and measurement to drive decisions.
• Experience in PR/communication strategy and media planning.
• Detail-oriented and organized
• A proactive problem solver with a strong work ethic
• Ability to react quickly to new information and inspire teams to do the same
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills to work with and influence individuals at all levels of the organization.

Bonus points:

• Global or multicultural experience
• Strong track record of success managing partnerships such as agency relationships

The base pay range for this position is $198,000 - $218,000 per year

2024 Benefits for Full Time, Regular Employees:

• Physical Health benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision:
• Employee - employer paid premium 100%
• Company contribution to a HSA when electing the High Deductible Health Plan
• For plans that offer coverage to your dependents, you pay a small contribution
• Mental Health benefits:
• Free access to CALM app for employees and dependents
• Employee Training
• Mental Health seminars and Q&A sessions
• Basic Life & AD&D - employer paid 1x salary up to $250,000
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (with employer match contribution)
• Generous PTO, Paid Sick Leave, and Company Holidays
• Supplemental, voluntary benefits
• Student Loan Repayment/529 Education Savings - including a company contribution
• FSA (Medical, Dependent, Transit and Parking)
• Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Short- and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Family planning/fertility
• Identity theft protection
• Legal access to a network of attorneys
• Paid parental leave

Why Work at Weedmaps?

• You get to work at the leading technology company in the cannabis industry
• You get to play a meaningful role in helping to advance cannabis causes, including helping improve the lives of patients who rely on the benefits of cannabis
• You get an opportunity to shape the future of the cannabis industry
• You get to work on challenging issues in a collaborative environment that encourages you to do your best 
• You get to work in a casual and fun environment; no fancy clothes required, but you are free to dress to the nines!
• Generous PTO and company holidays
• Numerous opportunities and tools to learn and grow your professional skills
• Endless opportunities to network and connect with other Weedmappers through speaker series, Employee Resource Groups, happy hours, team celebrations, game nights, and much more!

Weedmaps is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. The Company prohibits unlawful discrimination against employees or applicants based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion and religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, military status, veteran status, uniformed service member status, sexual orientation, transgender identity, citizenship status, pregnancy, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Applicants  are entitled to reasonable accommodations under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state/local laws, unless the accommodation presents undue hardship. Please email us at peopleoperations at weedmaps.com if you would like to confidentially discuss a potential accommodation during the interview process.

About Weedmaps:

WM Technology, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: MAPS) mission is to power a transparent and inclusive global cannabis economy. Now in its second decade, WM Technology has been a driving force behind much of the legislative change we’ve seen in the past 10 years.

Founded in 2008, WM Technology, is a leading technology and software infrastructure provider to the cannabis industry, comprising a B2C platform, Weedmaps, and B2B software, WM Business. The cloud-based SaaS solutions from WM Business provide an end-to-end operating system for cannabis retailers. WM Business’ tools support compliance with the complex, disparate, and constantly evolving regulations applicable to the cannabis industry. Through its website and mobile apps, WM Technology provides consumers with the latest information about cannabis retailers, brands, and products, facilitating product discovery and driving engagement with our retail and brand customers.

WM Technology holds a strong belief in the power of cannabis and the importance of enabling safe, legal access to consumers worldwide. Since inception, WM Technology has worked tirelessly, not only to become the most comprehensive platform for consumers, but to build the software solutions that power businesses compliantly in the space, to advocate for legalization, social equity, and licensing in many jurisdictions, and to facilitate further learning through partnering with subject matter experts on providing detailed, accurate information about the plant.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, WM Technology supports remote work for all eligible employees. Visit us at www.weedmaps.com.

Notice to prospective Weedmaps job applicants:

Our team has been made aware of incidents involving LinkedIn, Telegram, and Facebook accounts impersonating Weedmaps recruiters. These individuals are attempting to use our company name to solicit payment from prospective candidates interested in applying for jobs at our company. Our team is actively working to combat these attempts, but in the meantime, please be mindful of the following:

• Our recruiters will always communicate with candidates through an @weedmaps.com email address.

• CORRECT: [email protected]

• INCORRECT: [email protected]

• Our recruiters will NEVER ask for or attempt to solicit payment from applicants in order to apply, interview, or work for Weedmaps.

• If you are interested in a role at Weedmaps, please apply through our established channels.

• Weedmaps Careers Page or LinkedIn

If you are unsure if a communication is legitimate, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected] and they will happily confirm for you. Thank you for your vigilance and we appreciate your interest in working with us!