Director, Digital Marketing
Job Description
Darktrace is seeking a strategic, data-driven Director, Digital Marketing/Performance Media to lead global paid media strategy and execution across the full digital ecosystem. This role is responsible for driving pipeline generation, optimizing media investment, and ensuring paid media programs directly contribute to revenue growth across Darktrace's cybersecurity portfolio.
About The Role
This role reports to the SVP, Revenue Marketing and is responsible for owning performance media strategy across paid search, paid social, programmatic display, retargeting, account-based marketing (ABM) syndication, and intent-driven activation programs. The successful candidate will work in close partnership with Product Marketing, Integrated Campaigns, Marketing Operations, Analytics, Field Marketing, Sales, and external agency partners to maximize campaign performance and marketing ROI.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Own the global digital/performance media strategy across paid search, paid social, programmatic display, retargeting, ABM syndication, and intent-based targeting platforms.
Build and manage a multi-million dollar performance media budget across regions, products, and campaign priorities, ensuring efficient allocation against pipeline and revenue targets.
Develop channel-specific media strategies that align with integrated campaign objectives, target audiences, product priorities, and business goals.
Translate campaign narratives and audience strategies into scalable paid media programs that drive awareness, engagement, pipeline generation, and customer acquisition.
Lead account-based marketing media orchestration efforts, including account targeting, intent signal activation, audience segmentation, and coordinated outreach programs aligned with Sales and Field Marketing priorities.
Identify and evaluate emerging channels, technologies, and paid media opportunities that can accelerate growth and improve marketing performance.
Performance, Measurement & Optimization
Own performance media reporting and accountability across key metrics including pipeline generated, pipeline influenced, cost per opportunity, customer acquisition cost, return on ad spend (ROAS), and channel efficiency.
Partner with Marketing Operations and Analytics teams to design and maintain attribution models that connect media investments directly to pipeline creation and revenue outcomes.
Continuously analyze channel performance and optimize spend allocation to maximize business impact.
Develop executive-facing performance dashboards and reporting that communicate business impact and inform investment decisions.
Ensure media investments are measured against clear performance objectives and aligned with revenue targets.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration
Partner closely with Product Marketing and Integrated Campaigns teams to ensure paid media programs amplify key campaign themes, product launches, and strategic initiatives.
Collaborate with Creative and Brand teams to ensure paid media assets maintain brand consistency while maximizing platform-specific performance.
Work with Field Marketing and Partner Marketing teams to support regional programs, event amplification, and co-marketing initiatives.
Partner with Revenue Operations, Demand Generation, and Digital teams to create seamless campaign execution and lead management processes.
Provide strategic guidance on audience strategy, segmentation, targeting, and channel planning across Darktrace's marketing organization.
Agency & Vendor Management
Lead relationships with media agencies, technology vendors, publishers, and platform partners.
Establish performance benchmarks, service expectations, and accountability measures for agency and vendor partners.
Evaluate and manage paid media technologies, platforms, and vendor relationships to maximize efficiency and performance.
Negotiate vendor investments and opportunities that support growth initiatives and enhance marketing performance.
Leadership & Team Development
Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing performance media team focused on business impact, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Establish clear objectives, success metrics, and development plans for team members.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, experimentation, and data-driven decision making.
Serve as the performance media leader within annual and quarterly planning processes, providing strategic recommendations on budget allocation and growth opportunities.
Champion best practices across digital marketing, media optimization, measurement, and marketing technology adoption.