Vice President, Product Marketing Return Path

The Return Path Experience

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not easy to land a gig at RP. You’re going to have to learn the ins and outs of our business before you even get here. Here’s the good news: only the best and brightest minds in email work here. So, once you’re in, this is a place where you’ll be challenged, inspired, rewarded and transformed. Really you ask? Yes, really. The Return Path experience is a two-way exchange. We ask you to give us your very best every day. We expect a lot from you. We challenge you with interesting work, stretch assignments, a collaborative work environment and a ton of learning and growth. The pace is fast and furious. In exchange, we give you everything you need to live a happy, balanced life. This includes great pay, open vacation (yup, you heard that right!), great benefits, flexibility and, well, whatever else you need. Everyone is unique and we pride ourselves on not having one-size-fits-all solutions. At Return Path you’re a person, not a title. What’s important in your life right now? Kids, pets, triathlons, tango, karate, yoga, parents, Pilates, pre-natal â€" we will support you through it all. Give and take. That’s a Return Path career path.

The Impact You’ll Have at RP

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Return Path is seeking a VP of Product Marketing to develop and deliver a compelling Product-line go-to-market strategies, establishing a differentiated market positions, compelling positioning and messaging and build demand and market awareness of the company’s market-leading solutions. The ideal candidate will bring both strategic vision and solid execution skills, willing to roll up their sleeves and do what it takes to create Product line Revenue growth, lasting value.

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 Responsibilities

• Reporting to the SVP of Marketing, the VP of Product Marketing will define the markets for Return Path’s products and solutions and define then execute the go-to-market strategy and deliver results aimed as at achievement of customer adoption, client satisfaction and revenue growth objectives, per product line.
• The VP Product Marketing has a wide range of intra- and inter-departmental, company and Industry responsibilities such as market analysis, strategy, solution definition, positioning, competitive analysis, communication, pricing, packaging and promotion of key products and solutions being undertaken by the business.
• The individual will have a leadership role working across Return Path to drive joint initiatives across sister teams such as product management, sales, channels, client services, operations and other functions within marketing.Â
• Responsible for creating content for collateral, sales tools, sales training and other outbound deliverables and educating an external and external community.
• Drive product marketing integration with data, channel and product partners important to Return Path solutions.
• Drive product marketing initiatives relative to industry analysts, thought leaders and influencers important to Return Path solutions.
• Drive global demand for the entire suite of applications across the marketplace â€" including clients, prospects, partners.
• Fluent in dealing with complexity at a global level, across multiple channels, across multiple product lines, with regard to multiple competitors and partners, and broadly with the market as a whole.
• This is a senior role that will have tremendous visibility with and will be heavily relied upon by the company senior staff and executive management and will be a member of the Operating Committee.
• Lead the development and effective execution of end-to-end product marketing programs that support business priorities and goals;
• Cultivate and manage Product-Line Customer references for Sales, Marketing and Client Services

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What does it take to be successful in this role?

• 8+ years of relevant Product Marketing & increasingly responsible experience. A significant amount of this experience should include work in both early-stage private company environments as well as in a publicly traded company, with a successful track record of building strong product franchises and creating product marketing strategies to maintain sustained competitive advantage.
• 10+ years of increasingly responsible experience in product and solutions marketing.Â
• Deep experience with and knowledge of email-related marketing solutions, marketing analytics and campaign performance applications.Â
• Has served as a product or solutions marketing executive (VP level) in a multi-product, B2B SaaS solutions company growing revenues to >$100M.
• Demonstrated ability to create world-class sales tools and educate a global sales force.
• Strong speaking, writing and presentation skills.
• Strong creative and content creation talents, capable of shaping product marketing strategy and leading a product-driven culture then delivering compelling content products in support.
• The demonstrated ability to manage both local and remote product marketing staff, and build strong camaraderie throughout the marketing organization, emphasizing collaboration.
• Capable of working effectively within a matrixed management environment â€" able to drive progress forward in such an environmentÂ
• A combination of visionary, strategic and pragmatic skills, encompassing both strong strategic product marketing abilities and hands-on tactical involvement.Â
• The ability to relate to people at all levels in the organization, from senior executive management to entry level staff.
• High tolerance for change, with an ability to thrive in a fast-moving, dynamic environment.
• Experience crafting product marketing solutions to vertical markets such as Retail, eCommerce, Travel/Hospitality, Financial, Social/New Media, etc.
• Track record of excelling working with pres, analyst, partners, and other influencer communities.
• Skilled at researching, evaluating and presenting market requirements and overall MRD process.
• Skilled at researching, evaluating, developing and presenting product marketing selling content including positioning, messaging and solution selling concepts.
• Travel required â€" 25%

Role Specific Competencies:

• Negotiation Skills - Conducts positive negotiations, ability to compromise, resolves conflict, seeks common ground, articulates own and others goals, stays focused on positive outcome that benefits the customer and Return Path mutually.
• Client Leadership (or Championship) â€" Ability to champion the voice of the client and the market to drive product marketing outcomes and to influence all internal partners. Fully understand the client’s point of view, and develop strategies around product marketing and service delivery to achieve Return Path’s customer vision.
• Global Business Perspective: The ability to provide strategic vision and tactical guidance to the global sales, service and marketing teams, in all business channels, globally. This includes overseeing the positioning of RP and the brand for market awareness and recognition, as well as lead generation. Ability to optimize direct and channel sales resources and functions to ensure maximum business growth and profitability; and ensuring high levels of client satisfaction, retention and renewal.
• Product Marketing Best Practices: Has deep Product Marketing skills and knowledge of best practices , developed standards and procedures, and implementation experience across multiple product lines. Capable of creating and delivering a Product Marketing Plan and Methodology across multiple product lines within a fast growing, B2B company. Is familiar with Pragmatic Product Marketing concepts and constructs and can create an appropriate vision for the same for Return Path.

What it's like to work here

It's great! From the CEO and senior management team to the newest entry-level employee, we are a company that cares a lot about fostering a great work environment and a fun, energetic, success-oriented culture. We have a strong philosophical belief that our people are our most important assets. And we don't just pay lip service to that phrase -- we incorporate it into our policies, and we live it every day. Yes, that philosophy means we have generous 'traditional' benefits, and it also means we take a lot of time to focus on high quality management and leadership, and time to make sure everyone in the company is in the right job, knows how his or her job contributes to the overall company mission, and has a clear sense of learning and career growth. We have great employee retention over the years because people love coming to work here and really feel like they're part of something special. For more information visit www.returnpath.net.