Role Overview for Chief Marketing Officer with an Apparel Brand – Portland, OR

JRG Partners is proud to partner with a pioneering and rapidly growing apparel brand based in the vibrant city of Portland, Oregon. Our client has carved a niche in the market by blending sustainable practices with cutting-edge design, creating a loyal community of brand advocates. They are at a pivotal moment of expansion, poised to become a global leader in their category. To spearhead this next chapter of growth, we are seeking a visionary, data-driven, and inspirational Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to join their executive leadership team.

This is a rare opportunity to take the helm of a beloved brand and shape its future narrative on a global scale. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CMO will be the principal architect of the company’s marketing and brand strategy. You will be responsible for driving significant revenue growth, expanding market share, and building unparalleled brand equity across all channels. The ideal candidate is a seasoned marketing executive with a profound understanding of the apparel industry, a digital-first mindset, and a proven track record of scaling consumer brands. You will lead a talented team of marketing professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and performance. This role requires a strategic leader who can seamlessly blend the art of storytelling with the science of data analytics to create compelling customer experiences and measurable business impact.

Key Responsibilities of Chief Marketing Officer with an Apparel Brand – Portland, OR

The Chief Marketing Officer will have a broad and impactful scope of responsibilities, overseeing all aspects of the marketing organization. Success in this role will be defined by the ability to build a world-class brand and drive sustainable, profitable growth.

Global Brand Strategy & Vision

Develop and execute a comprehensive, long-term global brand strategy that elevates the brand’s position in the market. Define and govern the brand architecture, identity, voice, and messaging to ensure consistency across all touchpoints. Champion the brand’s story and mission, creating powerful narratives that resonate with target audiences and build lasting emotional connections.

Integrated Marketing & Go-to-Market Leadership

Lead the planning, development, and execution of all marketing initiatives. Oversee the entire marketing mix, including digital marketing (performance, SEO/SEM, email, affiliate), content strategy, social media, public relations, influencer marketing, brand partnerships, and retail/channel marketing. Craft and implement innovative go-to-market strategies for new product launches and international expansion.

Digital Transformation & E-commerce Growth

Serve as the primary driver of the company’s digital-first strategy. Own the e-commerce P&L and develop robust strategies to accelerate online sales growth. Oversee the optimization of the customer journey, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and the implementation of advanced personalization tactics. Manage the marketing technology (MarTech) stack to ensure the right tools are in place to support growth.

Data-Driven Decision Making & Analytics

Champion a data-centric culture within the marketing organization. Utilize customer data, market research, and competitive analysis to uncover actionable insights that inform strategy and product development. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and build sophisticated attribution models to measure the effectiveness and ROI of all marketing investments. Present findings and strategic recommendations to the executive team and board.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary marketing team. Attract and retain top-tier talent. Foster a collaborative, creative, and results-oriented work environment. Establish clear goals and development paths for team members, promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

Financial & Budget Management

Develop and manage the annual marketing budget, ensuring efficient and effective allocation of resources to achieve strategic objectives. Provide accurate forecasting and reporting on marketing spend and performance. Identify opportunities for cost savings and investment optimization to maximize profitability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Partnership

Act as a key strategic partner to the executive leadership team. Work in close collaboration with the heads of Product, Sales, Design, and Operations to ensure a cohesive commercial strategy. Align marketing plans with product roadmaps, sales targets, and inventory management to create a seamless customer experience and drive integrated business success.

Requirements for the Chief Marketing Officer with an Apparel Brand – Portland, OR

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a deep passion for brand building and a demonstrated ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-growth environment. The successful candidate will possess a unique blend of creative vision and analytical rigor.

Executive Experience

A minimum of 15+ years of progressive marketing experience, with at least 7 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., VP of Marketing, SVP of Marketing, or CMO) managing a significant team and budget.

Industry Expertise

Extensive experience within the apparel, footwear, fashion, or a closely related consumer goods/DTC industry is mandatory. The candidate must have a deep understanding of the global fashion landscape, including seasonal cycles, trend forecasting, and the nuances of consumer behavior in this sector.

Proven Track Record of Growth

Demonstrated, quantifiable success in scaling a consumer brand, driving substantial revenue growth through both digital and traditional channels. Experience successfully launching products and entering new geographic markets is critical.

Digital & E-commerce Mastery

Deep, hands-on expertise in digital marketing disciplines is essential. This includes performance marketing, e-commerce optimization, CRM/email marketing automation, SEO, content marketing, and social media strategy. Experience managing a multi-million dollar digital advertising budget is required.

Inspirational Leadership

Exceptional leadership and team-building skills. A proven ability to attract, develop, and inspire top talent. Must be a low-ego, collaborative leader who can effectively influence and align stakeholders across the organization.

Strategic & Analytical Acumen

Superior strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Must be highly analytical and data-fluent, with a strong command of marketing analytics, customer segmentation, and financial modeling. Experience with modern analytics and business intelligence tools is expected.

Communication Skills

World-class communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. The ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision and translate complex ideas into actionable plans for a wide range of audiences, from the board of directors to the entire company.

Education

A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is highly preferred.

Benefits & Perks Offered

Our client believes in investing in their people and offers a comprehensive and competitive package designed to support the well-being and growth of their team members.

Executive Compensation

A highly competitive compensation package including a generous base salary, an annual performance-based bonus, and a significant equity/long-term incentive component.

Comprehensive Health & Wellness

Full medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your eligible dependents. Access to wellness programs and mental health resources.

Retirement Planning

A 401(k) retirement savings plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.

Generous Time Off

A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, in addition to company-paid holidays, to encourage work-life balance.

Product Discount

A substantial employee discount on all company apparel and products.

Relocation Support

A comprehensive relocation assistance package is available for the right candidate.

Work Environment

A creative, collaborative, and fast-paced work environment located in a state-of-the-art headquarters in the heart of Portland, OR. The opportunity to make a significant impact on a rapidly growing, mission-driven brand.

How to Apply

JRG Partners has been exclusively retained for this critical executive search. To be considered for this exceptional opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate to lead this brand’s marketing efforts into the future.

We invite qualified candidates to learn more about our expertise in this space by visiting our Consumer Goods and Retail executive search practice. All inquiries and applications will be held in the strictest confidence. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.