Director of Marketing

Description

Detroit Defense seeks a Director of Marketing to own the definition, discipline, and execution of the company's brand, messaging, and marketing portfolio. This Director of Marketing role serves as the enterprise owner of how Detroit Defense presents itself to the U.S. Government, prime contractors, industry partners, and prospective talent, with accountability for brand standards, message architecture, campaign roadmap, standard versus exception discipline on marketing collateral, and marketing budget performance.

The Director of Marketing position spans the full marketing function including brand and corporate identity, digital and web presence, capability collateral, trade shows and customer events, public relations and executive communications, business development and capture support materials, and employer brand across tactical and combat vehicle modernization, mission systems, and lifecycle sustainment offerings.

Join a dynamic team dedicated to national security through cutting-edge technology. Detroit Defense has a long history of delivering advanced solutions to the Department of War (DOW). Dive into innovation in Systems Engineering, Combat Vehicle Integration, Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and Software Development. Your journey to impactful work and rapid growth starts now—Behind the Mission Beyond the Challenge!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Brand Definition & Message Control

• Define and maintain the Detroit Defense brand standard, including visual identity, voice, capability narratives, and approved proof points used across the enterprise.
• Maintain the corporate message architecture and capability statement library, including brand value, differentiators, and approved claim language used by business development and program teams.

Marketing Roadmap Ownership

• Develop and maintain a multi-year marketing campaign roadmap that sequences brand, digital, content, and event investments based on ROI and pursuit priorities.
• Align roadmap timing with business development capture milestones and program demand, partnering with senior leadership on customer-facing milestones.

Demand Generation & Customer Engagement

• Own the corporate website, search performance, and digital presence as the primary front door for government and prime contractor audiences.
• Plan and execute the annual trade show and industry events.
• Build and execute account-based campaigns targeting program offices, primes, and teaming partners in support of named pursuits.
• Own and build following and engagement on all social platforms. Track KPI’s, run campaigns, create content, and report on progress in quarterly marketing metric meetings.

Communications & Reputation Management

• Direct public relations, media relations, award submissions, and crisis communications posture for the enterprise.
• Develop executive thought leadership, speaking placements, and byline content that position Detroit Defense leaders within the defense modernization community.
• Own internal communications and employer brand in partnership with Human Resources to support recruiting and retention.

Marketing Economics & Budget Discipline

• Understand cost drivers and return by channel, campaign, and events across the marketing portfolio.
• Partner with Finance and senior leaders to help create and maintain marketing budget.
• Identify cost reduction and asset reuse opportunities across campaigns, collateral, and event investments.
• Support marketing spend guidance through clear performance definition and reporting on agreed marketing KPIs.

Cross-Functional Alignment

• Provide Business Development with clearly defined ready-to-use capability packages, proposal graphics, and customer-facing briefs.
• Provide Programs Execution with stable messaging and customer communication support for milestone and delivery events.
• Partner with Engineering and Product Line Management on technical accuracy, product launch support, and standardized capability descriptions.
• Align with executive leadership on brand priorities and represent marketing in strategy forums, gate reviews, and roadmap decisions.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related discipline from an accredited college or university; MBA preferred.
• A Minimum of ten years of experience in marketing, communications, or related role, with at least three years leading a marketing function, team, or defined budget; experience in defense, aerospace, government contracting, or industrial B2B strongly preferred.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a United States Government Secret Security Clearance.
• Demonstrated success owning the full marketing lifecycle from positioning and message development through campaign execution and performance reporting.
• Strong fluency translating complex technical subject matter into clear, credible customer-facing messaging; familiarity with ground vehicle systems, mission systems, or comparable engineered products preferred. 
• Proven ability to enforce brand discipline, manage collateral complexity, and drive asset reuse across an enterprise portfolio.
• Experience with marketing budget ownership, including cost control, channel ROI analysis, and vendor and agency management.
• Proficiency with marketing technology including CRM, marketing automation, web content management, analytics, and creative tools.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for industry events, customer engagements, and site visits.

Detroit Defense offers an impressive compensation and benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits
• Company Paid Life and AD&D
• Company Paid Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending & HSA Accounts
• Legal & ID Shield Services
• 401k with Company Match
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

Why Detroit Defense:
At Detroit Defense, we deliver mission-critical solutions that enhance national security, protect the warfighter, and enable readiness through innovation, technical excellence, and end-to-end lifecycle support. 

Remaining steadfast in our core values of Trustworthy, Mission Driven, Creative, and Agile we are a complex systems integrator for the U.S. Government, Detroit Defense provides solutions to meet the technical and programmatic challenges faced by our customers. Our proven success in multi-domain cross-platform system-of-systems integration results in fielded capability for warfighters. From R&D to production, fielding, and sustainment, Detroit Defense provides services and solutions to Empower Those That protect Us.

Veterans Encouraged to Apply: Detroit Defense proudly supports those who have served. We welcome applicants with military experience, including those transitioning to civilian careers. Your leadership, adaptability, and mission-focused mindset are valued here. 

Detroit Defense is a proud recipient of the Hire Vets Gold Medallion Award since 2022.

Detroit Defense is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity or gender expression), age, mental or physical disability, creed, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic trait or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.