Marketing Director - Zondervan Books / Harper Catholic (Nashville, TN Hybrid or Remote US) at HarperCollins Publishers

Job description

Join a big-five publisher and be part of our mission to inspire the world. The Zondervan Books team at HarperCollins Christian Publishing prides itself on strong author relationships, award-winning content, and a cohesive team environment and is currently seeking a Director of Marketing for our new imprint, Harper Catholic. The Zondervan Books team is proud to partner with authors such as Rick Warren, Dr. Anita Philips, Lee Strobel, Craig Groeschel, and numerous others. The Marketing Director is a strategic, senior-level leader responsible for developing and executing integrated marketing strategies for key frontlist and select backlist titles within Zondervan Books. This role blends title marketing leadership with deep digital, content, and audience expertise to drive revenue, reader engagement, and long-term author brand growth. The Marketing Director leads high-impact campaigns across channels, grounded in a strong understanding of audience behavior, felt needs, and platform dynamics. They operate as the central strategist—aligning positioning, messaging, content, and channel execution—while partnering cross-functionally and coaching authors to connect meaningfully with their audiences in an increasingly algorithm-driven landscape. In addition to author and title responsibilities, the Director of Marketing will assist with other initiatives to support the Zondervan Books team. We are open to remote candidates, as well as candidates based in Nashville, TN who prefer to work from our Nashville office on a hybrid basis. Travel is required based on the need of the business. • Lead development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns across multiple titles and seasons • Own positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategy informed by audience insight and market analysis • Develop deep understanding of target audiences, including motivations, behaviors, and felt needs • Apply platform and algorithm knowledge to shape content and channel strategy • Guide transformation of long-form content into high-performing digital and social assets • Coach authors on audience engagement, content strategy, and platform best practices • Partner cross-functionally with editorial, publicity, sales, and digital teams to align strategy • Direct development of creative assets and campaign materials • Manage budgets, forecasts, and campaign performance against revenue goals • Analyze campaign performance and optimize based on data and insights • Lead innovation in marketing strategy, adapting to evolving consumer and platform trends • Present marketing plans and results to internal stakeholders and leadership • Participate in acquisitions, evaluating projects for market potential and marketing approach • Builds and sustains strong relationships with Catholic authors, agents, clergy, scholars, and institutional partners • Represents Harper Catholic at conferences and industry events, serving as a visible ambassador for the imprint • 7+ years of experience in marketing, with demonstrated leadership in campaign strategy and execution. Strong background in both traditional title marketing and digital/content marketing required. • Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field • Required: Knowledge of marketing, digital strategy, audience development, and analytics best practices. Demonstrated familiarity with the Catholic Church and its teachings. Deep understanding of Catholic readerships, institutional structures, and current publishing landscape. Conversant in consumer demand, retail environments (physical and online), and competition. • Preferred: Book publishing and Christian audience experience. Experience in client-service role. Existing relationships with advertising reps and media outlets who serve Catholic readers. Skills: • Strategic leadership and campaign ownership • Deep audience insight and consumer understanding • Platform fluency across social and digital ecosystems • Content strategy and storytelling • Data-driven decision making and testing mindset • Strong communication and author-facing presence • Cross-functional leadership and collaboration • Technical proficiency with marketing tools and platforms HarperCollins Publishers is a company full of people who are passionate about books. When you apply for a position, we want to know why you want to work here, and why you are interested in the job. That’s why cover letters are strongly preferred. The salary range for this position is $90,000-$100,000 . We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process. In addition to cash compensation, the company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce. Visit our careers webpage for more information. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is an equal opportunity employer. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at TalentManagement@harpercollins.com . Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests.

Requirements

Must-haves

In addition to author and title responsibilities, the Director of Marketing will assist with other initiatives to support the Zondervan Books team.
We are open to remote candidates, as well as candidates based in Nashville, TN who prefer to work from our Nashville office on a hybrid basis. Travel is required based on the need of the business.
Lead development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns across multiple titles and seasons
Own positioning, messaging, and go-to-market strategy informed by audience insight and market analysis
Develop deep understanding of target audiences, including motivations, behaviors, and felt needs
Apply platform and algorithm knowledge to shape content and channel strategy
Guide transformation of long-form content into high-performing digital and social assets
Coach authors on audience engagement, content strategy, and platform best practices
Partner cross-functionally with editorial, publicity, sales, and digital teams to align strategy
Direct development of creative assets and campaign materials
Manage budgets, forecasts, and campaign performance against revenue goals
Analyze campaign performance and optimize based on data and insights
Lead innovation in marketing strategy, adapting to evolving consumer and platform trends
Present marketing plans and results to internal stakeholders and leadership
Participate in acquisitions, evaluating projects for market potential and marketing approach
Builds and sustains strong relationships with Catholic authors, agents, clergy, scholars, and institutional partners
Represents Harper Catholic at conferences and industry events, serving as a visible ambassador for the imprint
7+ years of experience in marketing, with demonstrated leadership in campaign strategy and execution. Strong background in both traditional title marketing and digital/content marketing required.
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field
Strategic leadership and campaign ownership
Deep audience insight and consumer understanding
Platform fluency across social and digital ecosystems
Content strategy and storytelling

Nice-to-haves

Preferred: Book publishing and Christian audience experience. Experience in client-service role. Existing relationships with advertising reps and media outlets who serve Catholic readers.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

Platform: icims
Effort: medium