Senior Manager, Brand Strategy

Division Overview

The Publications Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS Publications) publishes over 85 high-quality scholarly journals focused on chemistry and chemistry-related topics. It provides its members and the worldwide scientific community with a comprehensive collection of high-quality information products and services for the practice and advancement of the chemical sciences.

Department Overview

The Global Marketing department within the ACS Publications Division is responsible for developing marketing strategies and integrated campaign plans to engage our target audience and strengthen our relationships with them. The department's objectives for engaging our audience are to increase brand equity and, ultimately, enable revenue capture for the Division's product lines of over 85 journals, eBooks, and a range of digital offerings. The current target audience includes researchers, authors, reviewers, editors, institutional/corporate librarians, administrators, funders, ACS members, and other end-users.

Position Summary

The Insights, Communications & Brand team within ACS Publications Global Marketing is seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Brand Strategy to lead brand strategy and development for the Division's product lines and manage a small team of creative services designers to deliver engaging, compelling visuals for our integrated marketing campaigns. This role will play a critical part in shaping how our brand is perceived by researchers, institutions, and industry stakeholders worldwide. You will partner closely with product, editorial, and marketing teams to align brand strategy with business goals, drive product engagement, and enhance the global visibility of our product lines.

Position Accountabilities

• Develop and lead brand strategies and architecture that elevate the visibility, reputation, and impact of the product lines to drive business results.
• Translate brand strategies into actionable guidelines that are adopted by creative services, product marketing, and product teams to deliver consistent visual, verbal, and written brand identity across all channels.
• Lead the rebranding of product lines that are not compliant with the new brand strategies.
• Collaborate with the Society's Communications and Marketing teams to ensure continued alignment between Society and Division brand guidelines.
• Ensure brand efforts are grounded in insight, creative thinking, and a shared narrative that reflects the Division's mission.
• Leverage market research to understand audience perceptions, competitive positioning, and market opportunities.
• Design and execute Division-level integrated marketing campaigns that build awareness, increase engagement, and expand influence to drive business results.
• Manage the internal creative services team and work with external agencies.
• Set clear objectives and key results for brand marketing initiatives; monitor brand performance; and apply insights to refine future strategy.
• Educate, mentor, and deliver cross-functional training on brand principles and best practices.

Education/Experience/Technological Knowledge

College degree or equivalent experience or formal training along with the following qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in brand strategy or product marketing, preferably in scholarly publishing or technology solutions, with at least 4 years in a people-leadership role at a multi-division organization.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing brand identity and positioning, ideally in a B2B or B2C product environment.
• Demonstrated success with complex, rebranding efforts across multiple product lines.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and stakeholders.
• Strong track record of building and managing high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Experience guiding creative development, campaign planning, managing creative agency vendors, and creating breakthrough creative, voice, and positioning.
• Experience leading brand efforts across different geographies and cultural contexts. Experience working in or supporting international markets is strongly preferred.
• Exceptional communicator and listener. Able to bring people together, build alignment, and navigate challenges with exceptional clarity, care, and attention to detail.
• High emotional intelligence, a strong sense of diplomacy, and a natural inclination toward collaboration.

Job location: ACS operates in a hybrid capacity, and this position is based in Washington, DC. There is an expectation for significant presence in the office. Relocation assistance is available.

A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is:

• Washington, DC office: between $140,000 - $190,000 per year.

*A minimal amount of travel is required, typically between Columbus, OH and Washington, DC. Additional travel requirements within the US and abroad for scheduled meetings and industry conferences may be required with advanced notice.