Small Business Growth & Marketing Strategist Director

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Small Business Growth & Marketing Strategist w/ 5+ years of experience to help develop, launch, and optimize marketing and advertising programs for small businesses. This person will be responsible for creating clear, practical marketing systems that generate awareness, leads, and sales while aligning with each business’s goals, budget, and stage of growth.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience building marketing programs for multiple small businesses and understands how to translate business goals into actionable campaigns across digital and traditional channels. This role requires both strategic thinking and executional ability, including brand positioning, campaign planning, content direction, advertising setup, and performance tracking.

Responsibilities

Marketing Strategy & Planning

Develop customized marketing strategies for small businesses based on industry, target audience, budget, and growth goals
Build marketing plans that include brand positioning, customer acquisition tactics, advertising channels, promotions, and content strategy
Help define ideal customer profiles, messaging, offers, and competitive positioning
Create launch plans for new services, products, or business initiatives

Advertising Program Development

Plan and set up advertising campaigns across channels such as Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, or other relevant platforms
Recommend ad budgets, campaign structures, audience targeting, and creative direction
Write or guide ad copy, campaign messaging, and call-to-action strategy
Monitor ad performance and optimize campaigns for lead generation, conversions, and return on investment

Brand & Content Direction

Help businesses clarify their brand voice, market message, and visual positioning
Develop content plans for email, social media, website updates, promotions, and lead magnets
Coordinate with designers, content creators, or internal teams to ensure brand consistency
Review websites, landing pages, and marketing materials for clarity, conversion, and alignment with campaign goals

Lead Generation & Growth Systems

Build or improve lead generation funnels to support business development
Recommend systems for capturing, tracking, and following up with leads
Help create marketing workflows that support repeatable growth
Identify opportunities for automation, retargeting, email nurture, and customer re-engagement

Performance Tracking & Optimization

Track campaign results using key performance indicators such as leads, cost per lead, conversion rate, and customer acquisition cost
Analyze results and provide recommendations for improving marketing effectiveness
Prepare reports or dashboards showing campaign performance and next steps
Continuously test and refine messaging, channels, creative, and audience targeting

Client/Stakeholder Collaboration

Work closely with business owners or leadership teams to understand priorities and growth goals
Present marketing recommendations clearly and translate complex ideas into practical action steps
Manage timelines, campaign deliverables, and cross-functional coordination where needed
Serve as a trusted advisor on marketing investment and advertising decisions

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Required Qualifications

Proven experience developing marketing and advertising programs for multiple small businesses
Strong understanding of small business marketing strategy, customer acquisition, and campaign planning
Experience with digital advertising platforms such as Google Ads and Meta Ads Manager
Ability to develop marketing plans and execute campaigns from concept reporting
Experience analyzing campaign performance and making data-driven recommendations
Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt strategies across industries

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience in working in an agency, consulting, freelance, or fractional marketing role
Familiarity with CRM systems, email marketing tools, and marketing automation platforms
Experience with website optimization, landing pages, and conversion-focused content
Basic knowledge of branding, graphic direction, and content production workflows
Ability to work with small teams and resource conscious businesses

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Key Skills

Marketing Strategy
Advertising Campaign Development
Lead generation
Brand positioning
Customer acquisition
Budget Planning
Digital Advertising
Campaign Analytics
Content planning
Conversion optimization
Small business consulting
Project Management

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Success in This Role Looks Like:

Building practical and effective marketing systems that small businesses can actually use
Launching campaigns that generate qualified leads and measurable business growth
Helping owners make smarter marketing decisions based on data, not guesswork
Creating repeatable marking and advertising processes that improve over time

Pay: $25.00 - $35.00 per hour

Benefits:

Paid time off

Experience:

Marketing: 5 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

Chicago, IL 60607 (Required)

Work Location: In person