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AKIRA Chief Marketing Officer

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 30+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com.) AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position

Chief Marketing Officer

Location

Chicago, IL (On-site)

Position Overview

This is not a role for traditional marketers or consensus-seekers. We need a transformational CMO with both proven vision and flawless execution-someone who has personally architected a fashion brand's meteoric rise. You'll sit at the leadership table as a true peer, driving AKIRA's evolution into a household name through omnichannel dominance.

What It Takes

Brand Vision & Leadership

Develop and drive a clear, audacious vision for AKIRA's national expansion-maintaining our bold identity while creating mainstream magnetism
Command respect with a definitive point of view and the backbone to defend it-you're respected, not necessarily universally liked
Function as a true executive leader, not just a marketing tactician-your voice shapes company direction
Craft distinctive competitive positioning that differentiates AKIRA from established national brands

Omnichannel Excellence

Architect seamless customer experiences that drive both explosive e-commerce growth and thriving retail expansion
Demonstrate mastery of the digital-to-physical customer journey similar to how Reformation's Yael Aflalo unified digital buzz with compelling store experiences
Leverage AI and emerging technologies to create competitive advantages in personalization, trend forecasting, and operational efficiency
Collaborate closely with merchandising, product, and operations to ensure brand consistency at every customer touchpoint

Digital Dominance

Own the entire digital marketing ecosystem with the intuitive understanding of what creates viral moments
Navigate social platforms like TikTok with the fluency and cultural intelligence of Depop's Peter Semple
Build authentic influencer relationships that transcend transactional partnerships-creating a cultural movement, not just content
Architect and implement a sophisticated marketing technology stack that scales with our ambitions

Growth Execution

Demonstrate a bias toward action with the calculated risk-taking approach that defined Away's Jen Rubio
Deliver measurable results through sophisticated performance marketing strategies
Balance creative ambition with analytical discipline-your decisions are data-informed but visionary-led
Own P&L responsibility for marketing, optimizing budget allocation to maximize ROI across channels
Drive customer acquisition while building retention programs that foster long-term loyalty

Market & Customer Intelligence

Establish voice-of-customer programs and customer research initiatives that inform product and marketing strategy
Develop sophisticated segmentation models that power personalized marketing at scale
Monitor competitive landscape continuously, adapting strategies to maintain AKIRA's distinctive positioning
Create an innovation pipeline that keeps AKIRA at the forefront of fashion marketing trends

Communication & Reputation

Oversee PR strategy, media relations, and external communications to amplify brand awareness
Develop crisis management protocols that protect brand reputation
Articulate AKIRA's values, including sustainability initiatives, as integral elements of brand storytelling
Build relationships with fashion media, industry influencers, and potential strategic partners

Team Leadership

Attract, develop, and retain world-class marketing talent across specialties
Create a high-performance culture balanced with mentorship and professional development
Foster cross-functional collaboration that breaks down traditional marketing silos
Establish centers of excellence in key marketing disciplines that drive the organization forward

What You Bring

Proven Transformation Experience: You've personally led a fashion or retail brand through explosive national growth with tangible results.
Digital + Physical Fluency: Deep expertise across e-commerce and physical retail-not just theory, but hands-on success.
Leadership Presence: You operate as a true member of the leadership team, pushing the business forward with conviction and vision.
Cultural Intelligence: You intuitively understand what's driving fashion culture now and what will drive it next.
Execution Mindset: Your playbook isn't theoretical-it's built on victories you've personally engineered and can replicate.
Strategic Vision: You see around corners, anticipating market shifts before competitors
Global Perspective: Experience that will eventually support international expansion ambitions.
Financial Acumen: Sophisticated understanding of marketing economics, CAC, LTV, and growth modeling.
10+ Years: Senior marketing leadership in fashion, consumer brands, or retail with progressive responsibility.

The Opportunity

Direct partnership with the leadership team to architect AKIRA's national expansion
Autonomy to build and execute your vision with meaningful resources
Competitive compensation reflecting true executive partnership, including equity
The platform to create your legacy by transforming an emerging brand into a national powerhouse

This role is for marketing leaders who don't just want to contribute to a brand's story-but to author it entirely. If you've got the track record, vision and backbone to drive transformational growth, AKIRA is your canvas.

At AKIRA, we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. The starting pay for this position is $250,000.00 annually, and may be adjusted based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.Seniority level

Seniority levelNot Applicable

Employment type

Employment typeFull-time

Job function

Job functionMarketing and Sales
IndustriesRetail Apparel and Fashion

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Qualifications

Command respect with a definitive point of view and the backbone to defend it-you're respected, not necessarily universally liked
Architect seamless customer experiences that drive both explosive e-commerce growth and thriving retail expansion
Demonstrate mastery of the digital-to-physical customer journey similar to how Reformation's Yael Aflalo unified digital buzz with compelling store experiences
Digital Dominance
Own the entire digital marketing ecosystem with the intuitive understanding of what creates viral moments
Balance creative ambition with analytical discipline-your decisions are data-informed but visionary-led
Proven Transformation Experience: You've personally led a fashion or retail brand through explosive national growth with tangible results
Digital + Physical Fluency: Deep expertise across e-commerce and physical retail-not just theory, but hands-on success
Leadership Presence: You operate as a true member of the leadership team, pushing the business forward with conviction and vision
Cultural Intelligence: You intuitively understand what's driving fashion culture now and what will drive it next
Execution Mindset: Your playbook isn't theoretical-it's built on victories you've personally engineered and can replicate
Strategic Vision: You see around corners, anticipating market shifts before competitors
Global Perspective: Experience that will eventually support international expansion ambitions
Financial Acumen: Sophisticated understanding of marketing economics, CAC, LTV, and growth modeling
10+ Years: Senior marketing leadership in fashion, consumer brands, or retail with progressive responsibility

Benefits

Direct partnership with the leadership team to architect AKIRA's national expansion
Competitive compensation reflecting true executive partnership, including equity
The starting pay for this position is $250,000.00 annually, and may be adjusted based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors
Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process
Chicago, IL $170,000 - $250,000 1 month ago
Chicago, IL $130,000 - $170,000 1 week ago
Chicago, IL $200,000 - $250,000 2 weeks ago
Director of Marketing and CommunicationsVP of Marketing (OTE $215,000/year USD), CXT Software

Responsibilities

You'll sit at the leadership table as a true peer, driving AKIRA's evolution into a household name through omnichannel dominance
Leverage AI and emerging technologies to create competitive advantages in personalization, trend forecasting, and operational efficiency
Collaborate closely with merchandising, product, and operations to ensure brand consistency at every customer touchpoint
Navigate social platforms like TikTok with the fluency and cultural intelligence of Depop's Peter Semple
Build authentic influencer relationships that transcend transactional partnerships-creating a cultural movement, not just content
Architect and implement a sophisticated marketing technology stack that scales with our ambitions
Demonstrate a bias toward action with the calculated risk-taking approach that defined Away's Jen Rubio
Deliver measurable results through sophisticated performance marketing strategies
Own P&L responsibility for marketing, optimizing budget allocation to maximize ROI across channels
Drive customer acquisition while building retention programs that foster long-term loyalty
Market & Customer Intelligence
Establish voice-of-customer programs and customer research initiatives that inform product and marketing strategy
Develop sophisticated segmentation models that power personalized marketing at scale
Monitor competitive landscape continuously, adapting strategies to maintain AKIRA's distinctive positioning
Create an innovation pipeline that keeps AKIRA at the forefront of fashion marketing trends
Communication & Reputation
Oversee PR strategy, media relations, and external communications to amplify brand awareness
Develop crisis management protocols that protect brand reputation
Articulate AKIRA's values, including sustainability initiatives, as integral elements of brand storytelling
Build relationships with fashion media, industry influencers, and potential strategic partners
Attract, develop, and retain world-class marketing talent across specialties
Create a high-performance culture balanced with mentorship and professional development
Foster cross-functional collaboration that breaks down traditional marketing silos
Establish centers of excellence in key marketing disciplines that drive the organization forward
Autonomy to build and execute your vision with meaningful resources
The platform to create your legacy by transforming an emerging brand into a national powerhouse
IndustriesRetail Apparel and Fashion

Chief Marketing Officer (Chicago)

Job Type