The Director of Digital Marketing will lead the strategy, execution, and optimization of integrated digital marketing initiatives across Central Garden & Pet’s Dog & Cat portfolio of brands. This role is responsible for driving consumer awareness, engagement, acquisition, and conversion through a comprehensive digital media ecosystem spanning paid media, owned media, influencer and creator marketing, affiliate, and digital content.

The Director will oversee media investments, campaign performance, and a team of digital marketing professionals, leveraging data-driven insights to maximize marketing effectiveness and business growth. The ideal candidate is a strategic, results-oriented leader with deep expertise across established and emerging platforms, including Google, Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit, and a proven ability to identify new opportunities, innovate, and scale high-performing digital marketing programs.

This position is an onsite position based out of our Neptune, NJ facility 5x a week.

Measures of Success:

Digital Marketing Strategy & Leadership:

Develop and execute comprehensive, full-funnel digital marketing strategies across multiple brands, aligning investments with brand and commercial objectives.
Lead and develop a team of digital marketing professionals, overseeing agencies, technology partners, and cross-functional initiatives.
Drive integrated campaign planning across paid, owned, influencer, and affiliate channels to maximize reach, engagement, and conversion goals for each brand or business.

Paid Media & Performance Marketing:

Own paid media strategy, planning, execution, and optimization across paid search, paid social, display, programmatic, video, and emerging platforms.
Manage media budgets and investment allocation across brands and channels, optimizing for performance, efficiency, and ROI.
Drive audience targeting, segmentation, retargeting, creative testing, and full-funnel campaign optimization.
Partner with E-Commerce, DTC and Retail Media leads to align consumer media investments with retailer priorities and promotional activations.

Organic Social, Influencer & Affiliate Marketing:

Lead organic social media strategy, audience development, community engagement, and platform-specific content planning.
Oversee influencer, creator, and affiliate marketing strategies to expand brand reach, engagement, and consumer acquisition.
Identify opportunities in social commerce, creator-led content, and emerging platforms to drive discovery and conversion.

Digital Content & Consumer Engagement:

Partner with Brand Marketing and Creative teams to develop compelling, digital-first content across paid, owned, and creator-led channels.
Drive content performance through creative testing, platform optimization, and consumer insights.
Oversee email marketing strategy, audience segmentation, and campaign performance in partnership with DTC leadership.

Marketing Technology & Emerging Channels:

Lead digital marketing technical capabilities, including campaign tracking, analytics, attribution, technical SEO, and conversion measurement.
Partner with Web Development and DTC teams on marketing integrations and website optimization initiatives.
Evaluate and pilot emerging channels, technologies, and advertising opportunities, including TikTok, Reddit, AI-driven marketing, and evolving search behaviors.

Analytics & Performance Optimization:

Establish and monitor digital marketing KPIs, including engagement, traffic, customer acquisition, ROAS, conversion, and incremental sales.
Analyze investment effectiveness and optimize through data-driven insights, testing, and measurement.
Deliver actionable performance reporting and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Ideal Candidate Attributes:

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field.
8–10 years of progressive digital experience, including leadership of integrated paid/owned media strategies.
5+ years of experience managing teams, agencies, and cross-functional initiatives.
Advanced expertise in paid search, paid social, performance marketing, and budget management.
Strong working knowledge of Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, TikTok Ads, YouTube, and emerging platforms such as Reddit, LLMs.
Demonstrated experience in managing teams owning organic social, influencer and creator marketing, affiliate programs, and digital content strategy, across multiple brands simultaneously.
Strong analytical capabilities, including GA4, attribution, campaign measurement, and marketing ROI.
Experience in eCommerce, consumer brands, or omnichannel retail environments preferred.
Proven ability to translate consumer insights and marketing performance into actionable growth strategies.
Strong leadership, communication, and strategic problem-solving skills.
Understanding of role as a key support point for eComm channel.
Ability to adapt and respond to multiple incoming requests and shifting priorities.
Experience owning analysis and reporting of campaigns.
Eagerness to test and learn, with a willingness to fail, but the drive to succeed.

At Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT and CENTA), we believe home is at the center of our lives, and our employees are driven by our purpose to nurture happy and healthy homes. Our company is made up of thousands of people across North America, with an emerging footprint across the U.K., Mexico, China, and Canada - all dedicated to helping gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. We are united by our mission to lead the future of the garden and pet industries…one blade of grass and one wagging tail at a time. Visit our website at www.central.com to learn more.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Central Garden & Pet

Director of Digital Marketing

About the Job