Role Overview for Chief Marketing Officer – Industrial Manufacturing – Chicago, IL
JRG Partners, a premier executive search firm, has been exclusively retained to identify a transformative Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for our client, a distinguished and rapidly growing leader in the industrial manufacturing sector. Based in the vibrant business hub of Chicago, IL, our client has built a legacy of engineering excellence, product innovation, and unwavering customer commitment. They are now at a pivotal inflection point, poised to leverage digital transformation and modern marketing methodologies to accelerate their market leadership and global expansion.
This is not just a marketing leadership role; it is a strategic business partnership. The CMO will be a key member of the executive team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and will serve as the primary architect of the company’s brand narrative, market positioning, and demand generation engine. You will be tasked with transforming the marketing function from a traditional, sales-support department into a data-driven, strategic powerhouse that directly contributes to revenue growth and enterprise value. The ideal candidate is a visionary B2B marketing leader with a deep, demonstrable understanding of the complexities and nuances of the industrial manufacturing landscape. You must possess the strategic foresight to build a long-term vision and the tactical acumen to execute flawlessly, inspiring a high-performing team to achieve unprecedented results.
Success in this role requires a unique blend of classic marketing principles and cutting-edge digital expertise. You will be responsible for everything from brand stewardship and go-to-market strategy for highly engineered products to implementing sophisticated account-based marketing (ABM) campaigns and building a robust marketing technology stack. This is a career-defining opportunity for a leader who is passionate about building world-class brands and is eager to make a tangible impact on a company’s growth trajectory.
Key Responsibilities of Chief Marketing Officer – Industrial Manufacturing – Chicago, IL
Strategic Marketing Leadership & Planning
Develop, articulate, and execute a comprehensive, integrated marketing strategy that aligns with and accelerates the company’s overall business objectives. Conduct in-depth market analysis, competitive intelligence, and customer segmentation to identify new market opportunities and growth vectors.
Brand Management & Corporate Communications
Evolve and champion the company’s brand identity, value proposition, and messaging architecture. Ensure brand consistency and integrity across all internal and external touchpoints, including public relations, investor relations support, and crisis communications. Position the company as a definitive thought leader within its key verticals.
Digital Transformation & Demand Generation
Spearhead the company’s digital marketing evolution. Oversee the entire digital ecosystem, including the corporate website (UX/UI, SEO), marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo), CRM integration (e.g., Salesforce), and paid media strategies (SEM, LinkedIn). Build and scale a world-class lead generation engine that delivers a predictable pipeline of qualified leads to the sales organization.
Content Strategy & Thought Leadership
Direct the creation of compelling, high-value content tailored to a technical B2B audience of engineers, procurement managers, and C-level executives. Oversee the development of white papers, case studies, technical articles, webinars, and video content that addresses customer pain points and showcases the company’s expertise.
Product Marketing & Go-to-Market Strategy
Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Sales teams to develop and execute powerful go-to-market strategies for new and existing product lines. Craft compelling product positioning, messaging, and sales enablement materials (e.g., datasheets, presentations, battle cards) that empower the sales force to win.
Data Analytics & Performance Measurement
Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making within the marketing organization. Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) across all marketing functions, including MQLs, SQLs, pipeline contribution, and marketing ROI. Deliver regular, insightful reports to the executive team and board of directors. Stay abreast of industry trends and economic indicators, leveraging insights from organizations like the National Association of Manufacturers to inform strategy.
Team Leadership & Development
Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing, agile marketing team. Cultivate a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented culture. Provide clear direction, professional development opportunities, and performance management to build a team capable of meeting future challenges.
Channel & Partner Marketing
Design and implement effective co-marketing programs with key channel partners, distributors, and strategic allies to extend market reach and drive mutual growth.
Budget & Resource Management
Develop and manage the annual marketing budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to maximize impact and deliver a strong return on investment. Evaluate and manage relationships with external agencies, vendors, and technology providers.
Requirements for the Chief Marketing Officer – Industrial Manufacturing – Chicago, IL
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is highly preferred.
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive B2B marketing experience, with at least 7 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., VP of Marketing, Senior Director) overseeing a multifaceted marketing function.
Industry Expertise
Non-negotiable experience within the industrial manufacturing, heavy equipment, automation, engineering services, or a closely related technical B2B sector. A deep understanding of complex products, long sales cycles, and the specific personas involved in the industrial buying process is absolutely essential.
Proven Track Record of Growth
Demonstrable success in creating and executing marketing strategies that have resulted in significant, measurable revenue growth, market share gains, and enhanced brand equity.
Digital Marketing Acumen
Mastery of modern B2B marketing principles and technologies. Hands-on experience with marketing automation systems, CRM platforms, SEO/SEM, account-based marketing (ABM) strategies, and data analytics tools.
Exceptional Leadership
Proven ability to build, inspire, and lead high-performing teams. An executive presence with outstanding communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing and building consensus at all levels of the organization, from the shop floor to the boardroom.
Strategic & Analytical Mindset
A highly strategic thinker with the ability to translate complex market data and business goals into a clear, actionable marketing vision. Strong financial acumen and a rigorous, analytical approach to problem-solving and budget management.
Location
The ability to work on-site at the corporate headquarters in the greater Chicago, IL area is required.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier executive talent and offers a comprehensive and highly competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
Executive Compensation
A highly competitive base salary and a significant annual performance-based bonus structure tied to individual and company performance.
Long-Term Incentives
A meaningful equity or long-term incentive plan (LTIP) that provides a stake in the company’s success and long-term value creation.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your eligible dependents, along with company-sponsored wellness programs.
Retirement Savings
A robust 401(k) retirement plan with a generous company matching contribution.
Paid Time Off
A generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick days, and company holidays, to support work-life balance.
Professional Development
A dedicated budget for executive coaching, industry conferences, and continuing education to foster your professional growth.
Relocation
A comprehensive relocation assistance package is available for an exceptional candidate.
Additional Perks
Other executive-level benefits, including life insurance, disability coverage, and a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative corporate culture.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is leading the exclusive search for this Chief Marketing Officer position. To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience in the industrial manufacturing sector and your specific accomplishments in driving marketing-led growth.
All inquiries and applications will be handled with the utmost discretion. We invite you to learn more about our expertise in this sector by visiting our Manufacturing CMO Executive Search practice area page. JRG Partners and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
