How Do I Become a Marketing Director?

A degree in marketing or communications, from five to 10 years of marketing experience and experience in management are normally required to become a marketing director. While some companies might accept a degree in another field, such as business administration, most require at least a four-year degree in marketing. Marketing directors are also normally required to have experience implementing marketing strategies as a team member in the marketing department. Managing a team and a department is also part of the job, so previous experience as a manager or supervisor of others is also necessary if one wants to become a marketing director.

A marketing director is charged with developing a company’s overall marketing strategy and a brand that supports it. The marketing director must be able to implement the strategy by creating and managing several campaigns through multiple marketing channels. The director leads a department that handles the day-to-day tasks of the implementation and documentation of the strategy and its results. To become a marketing director, one must be able to both devise the strategy and implement it successfully by managing the efforts of a team of marketers and marketing assistants.

Previous experience developing marketing campaigns is usually required to become a marketing director. Most marketing directors are able to show a history of successful projects that advanced a company’s overall marketing strategy. This experience normally comes from working as a team member in a marketing department. Potential marketing directors stand out by designing creative campaigns for their team and seeing the campaign through to completion.

Experience developing or working within an assigned budget is also important if one is to become a marketing director. The company’s marketing strategy must be accomplished within specific financial parameters and the director often is responsible for defining those parameters. The director is also responsible for ensuring that the marketing department does not go over budget by managing the resources available to implement the strategy.

To become a marketing director, one must also have experience managing or supervising others. The marketing director leads an entire department of managers, supervisors and marketing assistants. Most marketing directors gain their management experience by acting as a manager or supervisor within a marketing department, though managing personnel in another department or capacity is normally acceptable for the role of marketing director.

Marketing directors need to have broad experience with many marketing channels. In addition to the traditional channels of print and broadcast media, it is common that marketing directors be well versed in social media marketing. It is important that one be technologically savvy if he wants to become a marketing director.