Assoc Director of Children's Marketing and Publicity

Chronicle Books is seeking an experienced and strategic Associate Director of Children’s Marketing and Publicity to lead overall list strategy and work directly with the team on title-specific campaigns and the School and Library market.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director of Marketing and Publicity, this role helps shape strategy for the Children’s list and oversees campaigns across frontlist and backlist, including bestselling series Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, Tiny T. Rex, and the graphic novel program. The Associate Director leads and develops the Children’s Marketing, Publicity, and School & Library teams, serves as a senior partner to the Children’s Publishing Group and cross-functional teams, and translates market and audience insights into campaigns that build awareness, support sell-in and sell-through, strengthen Chronicle Books’ marketplace position, and contribute to profitable growth.

The Associate Director will help establish the vision, goals, and strategy for Children’s marketing and publicity, serve as the senior Marketing and Publicity representative, identify trends and convert them into actionable strategies, establish team and campaign priorities, and communicate key strategies and information to Sales. They will lead integrated plans, oversee media positioning, collaborate with authors, illustrators, and agents, and identify, evaluate, and execute strategic partnerships with organizations.

Other duties include managing the Children’s M&P team, fostering a culture of creativity and open communication, assessing workflows and team practices, and partnering with Editorial, Sales, Brand Design, and Social Media. The role also involves leading digital strategies for the Children’s list, guiding Amazon A+ content, setting strategic direction for school and library and bookseller outreach, and partnering with Sales to understand account and channel needs and identify opportunities.

Additionally, the Associate Director will partner with the Executive Director to develop and administer the annual Children’s marketing and publicity budget, manage tracking of campaign activity, and use sales reporting to identify trends, evaluate results, and improve decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall list strategy and title-specific campaigns for the Children’s list, including frontlist and backlist.
• Develop and implement marketing and publicity strategies to build awareness, support sell-in and sell-through, and strengthen marketplace position.
• Manage and mentor the Children’s Marketing, Publicity, and School & Library teams.
• Serve as a senior partner to the Children’s Publishing Group and cross-functional teams.
• Translate market and audience insights into actionable campaign strategies.
• Establish team and campaign priorities and communicate key strategies to Sales.
• Lead integrated marketing and publicity plans, including media positioning and author/illustrator collaborations.
• Identify, evaluate, and execute strategic partnerships with organizations.
• Assess workflows and team practices to foster a culture of creativity and open communication.
• Partner with Editorial, Sales, Brand Design, and Social Media teams.
• Lead digital strategies for the Children’s list, including Amazon A+ content.
• Set strategic direction for school and library outreach and bookseller engagement.
• Develop and administer the annual Children’s marketing and publicity budget.
• Track campaign activity and use sales reporting to evaluate results and improve decisions.
• Travel as needed for business purposes.

Requirements

• 6-8 years of progressive experience in children’s book marketing, publicity, or a related publishing role, including leadership of major campaigns and contribution to department-level strategy.
• Strong knowledge of the children’s publishing marketplace, including consumer, trade, school & library media, social, and influencer marketing.
• Management experience, including team leadership and development.
• Experience managing budgets, allocating resources, and interpreting campaign, audience, and sales data.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Creative, curious, proactive, and solutions-oriented approach.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Airtable, Salesforce, Edelweiss, and relevant reporting platforms.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Profit share plan.
• Three weeks of paid vacation to start, plus two weeks of sick time per year.
• Company holidays, including a paid winter break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
• Paid family, maternity, and paternity leave.
• Commuter benefits.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Annual tuition assistance.
• Annual wellness stipend.

Pay

Hiring salary range: $101,000–$121,250. This range represents the anticipated low and high end of the expected salary for this position and will be determined by factors including, but not limited to, an applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Schedule

Hybrid schedule requiring at least three (3) in-office days per week and up to five (5) in-office days per week, depending on project and business needs. Position is based in either the San Francisco or New York City office.

About Us

Founded in 1967 in San Francisco, Chronicle Books is one of the world’s most admired publishers and distributors of illustrated books, gifts, and games for all ages. Its highly acclaimed list spans art, photography, food, lifestyle, pop culture, humor, self-help, wellness, children’s books, and stationery, among other categories. Chronicle is the home of numerous award-winning authors, bestselling series, and trend-setting titles. The company is committed to partnering with artists, writers, and business partners who represent the diversity of our world and to fostering an inclusive company culture that respects and promotes diverse backgrounds and points of view.