Role Overview for VP, Global Marketing with an Industrial Automation Co. – Detroit, MI
JRG Partners is proud to represent a pioneering leader in the industrial automation sector in their search for a visionary and results-driven Vice President of Global Marketing. Based in the dynamic hub of Detroit, MI, our client is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions that power the future of manufacturing, robotics, and smart factories worldwide. This is a rare opportunity to join a highly successful, technology-driven organization and shape its global brand narrative, market penetration, and revenue growth trajectory.
As the VP of Global Marketing, you will be a critical member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. You will be the chief architect of the company’s global marketing strategy, responsible for building a world-class marketing function that drives brand equity, generates qualified demand, and enables sales success across all international markets. You will lead a talented team of marketing professionals and collaborate closely with Sales, Product Development, Engineering, and regional leadership to ensure a cohesive and powerful go-to-market approach.
The ideal candidate is a strategic innovator with a deep understanding of B2B marketing in a complex, technical industry. You are a data-driven decision-maker who is equally adept at high-level brand building and tactical demand generation. You possess exceptional leadership skills, with a proven track record of inspiring teams, managing significant budgets, and delivering measurable results that directly impact the bottom line. This role requires a leader who can navigate the nuances of a global marketplace, translating complex technological advantages into compelling value propositions that resonate with a diverse C-suite and engineering audience. If you are a transformative marketing leader ready to make a significant impact in a high-growth industry, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Global Marketing with an Industrial Automation Co. – Detroit, MI
Global Marketing Strategy & Leadership
Develop and execute comprehensive global marketing strategies that align with the company’s long-term business objectives. Establish marketing KPIs and performance metrics that measure ROI and drive continuous improvement across all initiatives. Provide visionary leadership and mentorship to a global team of marketing professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high performance.
Brand & Corporate Communications
Evolve and strengthen the company’s global brand positioning to solidify its status as an industry leader. Oversee all corporate communications, public relations, analyst relations, and thought leadership initiatives to enhance brand visibility and reputation. Ensure brand consistency and integrity across all channels and geographic regions.
Demand & Lead Generation
Design and implement a sophisticated, multi-channel demand generation engine to fuel the sales pipeline. Oversee the development of integrated campaigns leveraging digital marketing, account-based marketing (ABM), content marketing, SEO/SEM, email marketing, and events to attract, engage, and convert target accounts.
Product Marketing & Go-to-Market Strategy
Partner with the Product Management and Sales teams to develop and execute compelling go-to-market strategies for new product launches and existing solution portfolios. Oversee the creation of impactful sales enablement materials, including presentations, case studies, white papers, and competitive intelligence, to empower the global sales force.
Digital Marketing & Technology
Champion a digital-first marketing approach, overseeing the company’s global digital footprint, including corporate websites, social media channels, and marketing automation platforms. Manage the MarTech stack, ensuring the right tools and technologies are in place to optimize marketing operations, analytics, and customer engagement.
Content Strategy & Execution
Direct the global content strategy to create and distribute high-value, relevant content that positions the company as a thought leader and addresses the needs of key buyer personas at each stage of their journey. This includes overseeing the production of technical papers, blog posts, videos, webinars, and research reports.
Market Intelligence & Analytics
Lead the market intelligence function to provide deep insights into market trends, customer behavior, and the competitive landscape within the industrial automation sector. Utilize data and analytics to inform strategy, optimize campaign performance, and demonstrate marketing’s contribution to revenue.
Budget & Resource Management
Develop and manage the annual global marketing budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to achieve strategic goals. Negotiate with and manage external agencies, vendors, and partners to maximize impact and efficiency.
Executive Collaboration & Reporting
Serve as a key strategic partner to the executive team, providing regular, insightful reporting on marketing performance, market trends, and strategic recommendations. Collaborate closely with the VP of Sales to ensure tight alignment between marketing and sales activities, from lead generation to customer acquisition and retention.
Requirements for the VP, Global Marketing with an Industrial Automation Co. – Detroit, MI
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive B2B marketing experience, with at least 7-10 years in a senior leadership role (Director, Sr. Director, or VP level) managing a global marketing function.
Industry Expertise
Proven experience within the industrial automation, manufacturing, enterprise software (SaaS/PaaS), robotics, or a related complex B2B technology sector is highly required. Must be comfortable marketing highly technical products to a sophisticated audience of engineers, operations managers, and C-level executives.
Educational Background
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field is required. An MBA or other advanced degree is strongly preferred.
Strategic & Analytical Mindset
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a cohesive global marketing strategy. Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making; proficient in using marketing analytics tools and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo) to measure and report on performance.
Leadership & Team Building
Exceptional leadership and people management skills with a proven ability to recruit, develop, and motivate a high-performing, geographically dispersed team. A collaborative and influential leader who can build strong relationships across the organization.
Marketing Mastery
Deep, hands-on expertise across the full marketing stack, including brand strategy, product marketing, demand generation, digital marketing (SEO, SEM, ABM), content marketing, marketing operations, and public/analyst relations.
Global Acumen
Experience developing and implementing marketing programs across multiple international regions (e.g., North America, EMEA, APAC) with an understanding of cultural and market nuances.
Communication Skills
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision and present complex information effectively to a variety of audiences, including the board of directors, customers, and internal teams.
Location
Ability to work from the Detroit, MI metropolitan area, with a willingness to travel globally as required (approximately 20-30%).
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to investing in their employees and offers a highly competitive executive compensation and benefits package, including:
Competitive Base Salary & Executive Bonus Plan
A lucrative compensation package designed to reward performance and contribution to company growth.
Equity/Long-Term Incentive Plan
Meaningful equity participation, providing a stake in the company’s long-term success.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your eligible dependents.
Retirement Savings
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
Generous Paid Time Off
A flexible and generous PTO policy, including vacation, sick days, and company holidays.
Professional Development
A significant budget for continuous learning, including executive coaching, industry conferences, and advanced training.
Relocation Assistance
A comprehensive relocation package is available for the ideal candidate.
Modern Work Environment
A collaborative and innovative work culture in a state-of-the-art facility.
How to Apply
This is an exclusive, retained search conducted by JRG Partners. To be considered for this pivotal leadership role, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and your vision for leading a global marketing organization in the industrial automation space.
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply directly through our confidential portal. For more information about our expertise in this area, please visit the JRG Partners’ Industrial Practice team page. We look forward to reviewing your application. JRG Partners is an equal opportunity employer.
