Last Updated: November 4, 2020
Exceptional marketing initiatives need exceptional leaders to ensure the smooth operation and management of multiple departments working together. With sales, marketing, advertising, research, and public relations specialists all contributing to the marketing mix, it can be hard to stay on task and organized without strong leadership.
Vice presidents of marketing have years of experience and education that allow them to implement strong marketing strategies, coordinating and executing all marketing plans at a company. As high-level executives, these professionals oversee marketing initiatives from the brainstorming phase to their final implementation.
What do they do?
Location and Opportunity
According to Indeed.com, companies across the country are looking to hire on vice presidents of marketing. Some of the top-hiring companies are located in areas, such as:
If you can think of any aspect of marketing, the vice president has a say in it. They organize marketing plans at a company, injecting themselves into the entire process. They might initially contact market researchers and analysts to determine what products are in demand, work with product designers to meet that demand, and brainstorm advertising campaigns with marketing specialists.
These individuals are the primary modes of communication between lower-level marketing managers and high-level corporate executives, managing various departments through the marketing process. They measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and report what methods work or what methods need adjustment.
As the vice president of the marketing department, this executive is held responsible for a marketing initiative’s success or failure. Given the high degree of responsibility they’re assigned, they work with multiple managers and directors who help them implement their ideas. Some professionals they work with include:
Qualifications
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Grand Canyon University (GCU)
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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
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Before they become vice presidents, these individuals gain years of experience in other marketing management positions. They must understand multiple aspects of the marketing mix, and have worked between departments to successfully initiate campaigns. Most companies look for professionals who have gained between 10 and 15 years of experience in marketing.
A vice president of marketing must also show they have the educational background needed to make good, research-backed decisions, as well as possess necessary leadership skills. Most vice presidents earn master’s of business administration degrees before taking on the position.
Becoming a Vice President of Marketing
Because they are so important to the overall success of a business or company, vice presidents of marketing are high paid executives. The median income of a vice president of marketing in August 2012 was $205,000. Executives in large companies stand to earn even higher wages depending on their effectiveness.
If you’re interested in learning more about a career as a marketing executive, contact schools offering business or marketing degree programs.