Position Overview

At Ave Maria Press, our work is about more than books—we exist to set hearts on fire through content that forms, inspires, and serves the Church. Ave Maria Press is seeking a Director of Marketing Strategy & Growth to help shape the next stage of growth for one of the country's most established Catholic publishers.

We're looking for a creative, curious, growth-oriented marketing leader who sees opportunity in change. This person will be both strategic and hands-on, someone who generates ideas but also knows how to make them happen.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who understands audiences, books, content, media, and what makes people pay attention. The right person will combine strong marketing instincts with an entrepreneurial mindset—continually bringing new ideas, identifying opportunities, experimenting, building relationships, and finding ways for Ave's books, authors, and mission to reach more people and set hearts on fire.

The Director of Marketing Strategy & Growth will lead a team of marketing professionals as well as work in close partnership with Ave's Director of Marketing Operations and Digital Performance. Together, they ensure Ave can both create demand and turn that demand into lasting relationships with our audiences.

What You'll Lead

Marketing Strategy & Growth

Help develop and lead Ave's marketing and growth strategy.
Maintain a deep understanding of the Catholic publishing and media landscape, competitors, consumer behavior, emerging platforms, and cultural trends.
Identify new audiences, market opportunities, partnerships, channels, and growth initiatives.
Bring ideas proactively and turn the strongest opportunities into action.
Establish and be accountable for achieving established marketing KPIs—including revenue growth, campaign performance, audience and customer growth, and return on marketing investment—using performance insights to continually refine strategy and resource allocation

Books, Campaigns & Audiences

Lead positioning, messaging, audience strategy, and go-to-market planning for priority books and publishing initiatives.
Develop creative, integrated campaigns built around the specific audience and opportunity for each project.
Develop campaign ideas capable of breaking through a crowded media environment.
Partner with Ave's digital marketing and operations team to translate strategy into effective digital, email, ecommerce, social, and paid campaigns.
Use results and audience insights to continually improve marketing strategy.

Authors & Platform Development

Build strong relationships with Ave authors and serve as a strategic marketing partner.
Help authors understand and grow their audiences, strengthen their platforms, develop compelling content, and connect more effectively with readers.
Identify opportunities to extend successful authors and ideas beyond an individual book.
Partner with Editorial during acquisitions and development to assess audience, positioning, platform, competitive environment, and market opportunity.

Publicity, Content & Media

Lead Ave's approach to publicity, earned media, creators, influencers, and strategic content.
Build relationships with Catholic and Christian media, creators, ministries, clergy, thought leaders, organizations, and other potential partners.
Develop strategies for using social, video, creators, and emerging platforms to increase discovery.
Identify opportunities to transform Ave's books and intellectual property into compelling content that reaches audiences beyond the book itself.

Partnerships & New Opportunities

Identify and develop strategic partnerships that can significantly expand Ave's audience, impact, or revenue.
Explore new products, formats, content opportunities, audiences, and business models.
Develop smart experiments that allow Ave to test opportunities before making significant investments.
Stay current on AI, technology, and changing marketing practices and identify practical ways they can expand Ave's creative and competitive capability.

The strongest candidates will bring

7+ years of progressively responsible marketing experience, including leadership of significant campaigns or growth initiatives.
Strong strategic marketing instincts and demonstrated ability to translate audience insight into effective positioning and campaigns.
A deep understanding of modern marketing best practices, content, social platforms, audience development, and changing consumer behavior.
A track record of generating new ideas, testing approaches, learning from results, and driving measurable growth.
Strong communication skills and the presence to work effectively with authors, creators, media, partners, and senior leaders.
The ability to use data and market intelligence without allowing analysis to replace creativity and action.
Curiosity about competitors, culture, technology, media, and how audiences discover and engage with content.
An entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to challenge established approaches when better opportunities exist.
A strong understanding of the Catholic Church and Catholic audiences and enthusiasm for the mission of Ave Maria Press.

Position Details

This is a full-time salaried position. The expected work hours are 37.5 hours per week, between the business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. Travel required, including occasional weekends.
This role is based in Notre Dame, Indiana. This Director will be part of our Core leadership team and participate in the strategic visioning and direction of Ave Maria Press.
Publishing experience is ideal, but we are also very interested in exceptional marketers from media, consumer brands, nonprofits, ministries, or other content-driven organizations who can bring fresh thinking to publishing.
This role offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off and a 403(b) retirement plan.

Why Join Us?

Founded in 1865, Ave Maria Press is a ministry of the Congregation of Holy Cross and one of the longest-standing Catholic publishing houses in the United States. We have a strong publishing program, talented authors, growing digital capabilities, and an ambitious vision for the future.

How to Apply?

If you’re ready to help shape Ave’s next stage of growth and extend the reach of our mission, we’d love to hear from you!

Please email both your resume and cover letter to Lisa Hanback at lhanback@nd.edu.

A cover letter is required along with your resume. Please highlight your relevant experience, qualifications, and motivation for pursuing this leadership opportunity, including what draws you to Ave Maria Press’s mission and how you would help extend its reach.

Your application is complete when we receive both your resume and cover letter.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Ave provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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Director of Marketing Strategy & Growth