Chief Marketing Officer (Chicago)

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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