Senior Specialist, Influencer Marketing

This is a full-time, hybrid on-site role in Columbus, Ohio with remote flexibility on Mondays and Fridays. The client is open to both in-house and agency backgrounds and will consider candidates willing to relocate to Columbus. Experience in retail, fashion, or beauty is ideal.

About the role

The Senior Influencer Marketing Specialist will drive all influencer-related marketing programs, working closely with cross-functional partners (Legal, Strategy, Creative, Social Media, Product, CRM, Loyalty, Paid) and external partners to lead programs that align with the global marketing strategy and goals. Responsibilities include project management, strategy and optimization, managing product sampling, event coordination support, and growing the brand advocate roster.

Responsibilities

• Manage and drive the growth of the creator ecosystem while implementing innovative tactics aligned with the broader marketing strategy.
• Lead seasonal planning sessions to integrate creator activations into overarching marketing campaigns, maintaining open communication throughout execution to ensure cohesion with other brand tactics.
• Manage strategy and execution of influencer programs for brand and/or product campaigns, including managing agency relationships, building campaign briefs, maintaining promotion calendars, product seeding, and campaign performance reporting.
• Oversee casting, campaign briefs, travel logistics, and campaign performance for all Brand Strategy events, including single-event attendance, campaign photoshoots, and multi-day influencer trips.
• Manage strategy and execution of the ambassador program, focusing on growing and nurturing a community that builds brand loyalty, product awareness, customer insights, and community engagement; oversee the Associate Specialist role executing this program.
• Lead reviews and approvals of influencer content to ensure deliverables follow brand standards and adhere to FTC guidelines.
• Source new and nurture existing relationships to create partnerships with creators who drive brand awareness, build affinity, and encourage product consideration and conversion, including vetting and risk management.
• Work alongside the product team to develop and execute gifting and product seeding strategies focused on priority products.
• Negotiate contracts with creators, talent agencies, and new vendors.
• Actively manage external vendors/agencies on strategy, briefing, tactics, execution, and optimizations.
• Collaborate with internal creative teams on casting and creator projection when appropriate.
• Liaison with brand strategy and affiliate teams to strategically plan creator content calendars and briefs.
• Partner with other channel owners (PR, social, paid media, e-commerce, etc.) to maximize the exposure of influencer content.
• Integrate program plans and deliverables into existing cross-functional processes.
• Actively participate in cross-functional marketing planning processes for total team visibility and leadership buy-in.
• Drive clear program performance goals and fully own reporting processes, platforms, and partners both internally and externally, including weekly, monthly, and seasonal reporting.
• Share status and insights with the Senior Influencer Manager, Marketing Leadership, and cross-functional parties.
• Drive a robust test-and-learn strategy to maximize effectiveness and present findings to the Senior Influencer Manager.
• Continuously monitor industry trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activity.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in influencer marketing, preferably for large lifestyle, fashion, retail, or beauty brands.
• 3+ years of experience with program development/management, with influencer or ambassador programs preferred.
• Experience managing an external agency vendor/partner is preferred.
• Some existing relationships with relevant influencers expected.
• High level of critical thinking ability and curiosity, particularly in balancing multiple projects and priorities.
• Proven ability to analyze abstract data to build a comprehensive story about product or content performance.
• Very strong project management skills (including timeline development/management and budget).
• Collaborative team player, able to rally cross-functional team members to work effectively and efficiently together.
• Strong relationship development/management and written/verbal communication skills.
• High familiarity with integrated marketing disciplines (advertising, media, content, social, digital/e-commerce, direct, CRM, PR, activation/events, in-store, etc.).
• Consistent engagement with the marketing industry and its best practices (e.g., industry media, involvement in industry organizations/events, awareness of industry trends).
• Superb presentation skills and comfortable ideating/presenting ideas with all levels of an organization (up to and including C-level).

This position may require access to client or customer systems, confidential and/or proprietary information or data. It is onsite and requires close collaboration with other individuals in a team environment. Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa.