Director, Marketing Strategy - Center Core and Gifting

Be Part of an Amazing Story

Macy’s is more than just a store. We’re a story. One that’s captured the hearts and minds of America for more than 160 years. A story about innovations and traditions…about inspiring stores and irresistible products…about the excitement of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, and the wonder of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’ve been part of memorable moments and milestones for countless customers and colleagues. Those stories are part of what makes this such a special place to work.

Job Overview

The Director, Marketing Strategy — Center Core & Gifting will be a strategic leader responsible for defining how Macy’s brings Center Core & Gifting to life across the customer journey. This role will translate business priorities, customer insights, merchandise strategies and cultural trends into connected marketing strategies that drive relevance, discovery and sales.

As a key partner to the Center Core Merchandising teams, the Director will establish annual and seasonal marketing strategies, identify opportunities for category growth, and align storytelling, promotional events, content, media, digital, CRM, stores and experiences. This leader will help strengthen Macy’s position as a destination for discovery, curation and gifting, giving customers compelling reasons to shop across everyday needs, special occasions and moments worth celebrating.

What You Will Do

Set the Center Core and Gifting Marketing Strategy

• Develop annual and seasonal marketing strategies for Center Core & Gifting, establishing clear business objectives, customer priorities, strategic territories and measures of success.

• Translate merchandising priorities, customer insights, market trends and competitive intelligence into actionable marketing opportunities.

• Identify and prioritize the biggest opportunities to drive traffic, engagement, conversion and category growth.

• Define how Macy’s can create greater customer value through curation, expertise, convenience and inspiration—not solely through promotion.

• Build Macy’s authority as a destination for discovery, everyday style, gifting and the moments that matter to customers.

Lead Seasonal & Campaign Strategy

• Own integrated seasonal strategies and campaign briefs across Center Core & Gifting.

• Connect key seasonal moments, gifting occasions, promotional events, content and experiences into cohesive customer journeys.

• Identify and develop opportunities around key gifting occasions, life moments and customer needs, creating relevant reasons to shop throughout the year.

• Define the role of key marketing channels—including media, creative, social, digital, CRM, stores, PR and partnerships—to ensure messaging and investment work together.

• Optimize plans throughout the season based on business performance, customer response and emerging opportunities.

Lead & Elevate the Team

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Center Core & Gifting Marketing Strategy team, setting a high bar for strategic thinking, collaboration and execution.

• Develop and coach talent, fostering ownership, curiosity, accountability and continuous growth.

• Create clarity across complex business challenges and stakeholders, making thoughtful trade-offs and focusing resources on the highest-impact opportunities.

• Raise the quality of strategic thinking across the organization by challenging assumptions, bringing new perspectives and inspiring teams to think differently about Center Core & Gifting marketing.

Partner Across the Organization

• Serve as the marketing strategy partner to Center Core Merchandising leadership, influencing priorities and driving alignment around key business opportunities.

• Build strong partnerships across Creative, Media, Site Merchandising, CRM, Stores, Digital, PR, Social and other marketing functions to drive integrated execution.

• Influence cross-functional partners without direct authority and ensure strategic priorities translate into clear, connected action.

Turn Insights & Data into Action

• Leverage customer, category, competitive and cultural insights to inform strategic decisions and identify opportunities for growth.

• Use performance data to evaluate marketing effectiveness, optimize plans and inform future strategies.

• Identify emerging customer behaviors, trends and cultural moments that can create a competitive advantage for Macy’s Center Core and Gifting businesses.

Build the Future of Center Core & Gifting Marketing

• Challenge traditional approaches to marketing Center Core & Gifting and identify new ways to drive discovery, relevance and conversion.

• Identify new opportunities to make Center Core categories more visible, connected and relevant to customers throughout the year.

• Bring an external perspective to Macy’s by staying closely connected to retail, culture, competitors and evolving customer expectations.

Skills You Will Need

Marketing Strategy Development – Expertise in developing enterprise, divisional, or category-level marketing strategies that align business priorities, customer insights, merchandising objectives, and growth opportunities.

Fashion & Retail Acumen – Deep understanding of center core, gifting, merchandising, consumer behavior, and retail market dynamics to identify opportunities that drive relevance and growth.

Strategic Storytelling & Narrative Development – Ability to translate complex business objectives, customer insights, and market trends into clear, compelling strategic narratives that inspire action and alignment.

Integrated Marketing Leadership – Proven capability to develop cohesive strategies across media, digital, CRM, social, content, stores, PR, partnerships, and experiential channels to achieve business goals. 

Executive Influence & Stakeholder Management – Strong executive presence with the ability to build alignment, influence senior leaders, and drive collaboration across diverse cross-functional teams. 

Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making – Skilled at leveraging business performance data, customer insights, and market intelligence to evaluate opportunities, inform strategy, and guide investment decisions.

Consumer & Cultural Insight – Strong awareness of emerging fashion trends, cultural influences, competitive dynamics, and evolving customer preferences to shape relevant marketing strategies.

Executive Communication & Presentation – Exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas through persuasive presentations, strategic recommendations, business cases, and executive-level storytelling. 

Strategic Agility & Operational Execution – Balances long-term strategic thinking with disciplined execution, prioritization, and a bias toward action to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Leadership & Team Development – Demonstrated success building, coaching, and developing high-performing teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and strategic thinking.

Who You Are

• 10+ years of experience in marketing strategy, brand marketing, retail marketing, category marketing or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience developing enterprise or divisional marketing strategies.

• Strong understanding of Center Core and/or Gifting merchandising and retail.

• Proven ability to translate complex business objectives and insights into a clear, compelling strategic narrative.

• Experience leading integrated marketing strategies across multiple channels and functions.

• Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional partners.

• Highly analytical and comfortable using data and insights to inform strategic decisions.

• Strong understanding of the Center Core, gifting, retail and cultural landscape.

• Exceptional communication, presentation and storytelling skills.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with strong execution and a bias toward action.

• Experience leading and developing teams, with a track record of building high-performing, collaborative organizations.

• This role involves performing essential job functions such as communication, collaboration, and use of office and computer systems. Responsibilities include the ability to access and review written and electronic information, and to move within the work environment and interact with workplace materials as needed to carry out job responsibilities.
• Able to work a flexible schedule based on department and company needs.

What We Can Offer You

Join a team where work is as rewarding as it is fun! We offer a dynamic, inclusive environment with competitive pay and benefits. Enjoy comprehensive health and wellness coverage and a 401(k) match to invest in your future. Prioritize your well-being with paid time off and eight paid holidays. Grow your career with continuous learning and leadership development. Plus, build community by joining one of our Colleague Resource Groups and make a difference through our volunteer opportunities.

Some additional benefits we offer include:

• Merchandise discounts
• Performance-based incentives
• Annual merit review
• Employee Assistance Program with mental health counseling and legal/financial advice
• Tuition reimbursement

Access the full menu of benefits offerings here.

About Us

This is a great time to join Macy’s! Whether you’re helping a customer find the perfect gift, streamlining operations in one of our distribution centers, enhancing our online shopping experience, buying in-style and on-trend merchandise to outfit our customers, or designing a balloon for the Thanksgiving Day Parade, we offer unique opportunities to be part of some of the most memorable moments in people’s lives. 

Join us and help write the next chapter in our story - apply today! 

This job description is not all-inclusive. Macy's, Inc. reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. Macy's, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

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