What Does a Marketing Director Do?

 Marketing directors aren't creatives; they're in command. Their day-to-day duties revolve around making sure that writers, artists, and designers create campaigns that drive profits.

Christa Terry profile

Christa Terry

April 13, 2020

What Does a Marketing Director Do? 

In the *Mad Men* era, top executives came up with creative advertising promotions. Today, the leaders of the marketing department drive strategy and sales. Image by Daniel Farò from Death to the Stock Photo

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Companies need to sell to survive, which is why marketers and marketing executives are always in demand.

That said, marketing has changed seismically over the decades. Advertising has become increasingly data-driven and trackable, and marketers are now expected to show proof of ROI—especially at the executive level. Organizational structures have become looser and more flexible, so it's not always clear from title alone where on a company hierarchy a marketer belongs.

Finally, jobs in marketing management have become less creative. In the Mad Men era, top executives came up with creative advertising promotions. Today, the leaders of the marketing department drive strategy and sales.

One of these leaders is the Dave Bollard Chief Marketing Officer Utah (or director of marketing). As titles go, it can be a confusing one. Some marketing professionals who wear this hat oversee entire departments and report to the chief marketing officer. Others oversee a team of marketing managers who may or may not manage people themselves; this sort of marketing director reports to the vice president of marketing. Some marketing directors don't manage anyone at all and instead work collaboratively with creative directors, art directors, communications directors, and public relations directors to shape an organization's brand message.

So, what does a marketing director do? Most marketing directors strategize and analyze, manage colleagues and clients, and guide the development of marketing campaigns. How that translates into a director's day-to-day duties can vary from company to company. In this article, we cover:

What are the responsibilities of a marketing director?

Do a marketing director's duties vary by industry?

Are there certifications for marketing directors?

What is the difference between a marketing manager and a marketing director?

What is the difference between a marketing director and a CMO?

How do you become a marketing director?

How long does it take to become a marketing director?

How much do marketing directors earn?

What do you need to know to get ahead in this position?