Okay, I've searched for Marketing Director roles in Minneapolis, MN that are full-time, require 4-5 years of experience, emphasize digital marketing skills such as Meta Ads and email marketing, and offer a salary starting at $90,000 per year. I have found several relevant positions for you.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Marketing Director role at Thrifty Traveler is fundamentally designed to drive growth by elevating the company's marketing efforts in a hands-on, leadership capacity. This position uniquely blends strategic vision with tactical execution, requiring the individual to not only design effective marketing campaigns but also to roll up their sleeves and manage day-to-day operations across multiple channels such as email, Meta Ads, Google Ads, influencer/affiliate marketing, and referral programs. The emphasis on a sharp data mindset and continuous testing reflects the company's commitment to optimizing performance through actionable insights rather than intuition alone. Given the hybrid, small-team environment, collaborations across contractors and internal teams will be frequent, meaning the candidate needs strong communication and project management skills to navigate overlapping priorities and scale initiatives effectively. Success in this role means not only meeting campaign performance metrics such as lead generation and acquisition costs but also laying the groundwork for a growing, efficient marketing team that supports Thrifty Traveler's mission. The ideal candidate will thrive in a builder's role—comfortable taking ownership of projects, experimenting with new technologies like AI and automation, and balancing creativity with analytical rigor. They will face challenges such as fine-tuning multiple paid marketing channels, coordinating cross-functional campaigns, and pioneering new marketing tactics in a fast-paced, value-driven culture focused on sustainable growth and loyal membership expansion.

Company Analysis:

Thrifty Traveler operates within the competitive travel and flight deal space, positioned as a trusted resource that helps customers travel more frequently and affordably. Since its inception in 2015, it has grown into a niche leader with a highly engaged subscriber base, particularly for its Premium flight deal alert service. The company is a mission-driven, agile organization with a strong culture rooted in travel passion, innovation, and collaboration. Their relatively small, mid-sized team setup in Minneapolis fosters a hybrid work environment emphasizing flexibility, well-being, and teamwork. This culture favors employees who are self-starting, data-driven, and eager to contribute beyond defined roles—qualities essential for a role like Marketing Director that demands both strategic leadership and hands-on involvement. Thrifty Traveler’s growth-stage posture means the Marketing Director will have significant influence, working closely with leadership to expand the team and refine marketing structures while navigating the evolving digital marketing landscape. The company’s focus on stretching travel budgets aligns with a values-driven approach that prizes customer-centricity and authenticity, which the Marketing Director must internalize. Ultimately, the role sits at the intersection of the company’s growth ambitions and its commitment to delivering value, making it a pivotal hire for both scaling operations and preserving the brand’s unique voice and mission.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you led a marketing campaign from concept through execution that required close collaboration with external contractors. How did you ensure alignment and achieve your goals?
• Behavioral: Describe a situation where your data analysis led you to pivot a marketing strategy mid-campaign. What was the outcome?
• Behavioral: Can you share an example of when you had to balance being hands-on with managing a team or contractors? How did you prioritize your time and responsibilities?
• Behavioral: How have you adapted your marketing methods when working in a fast-paced or growth-stage company environment?
• Technical: How would you design and optimize an email marketing funnel to improve lead generation and subscriber retention in a subscription-based offering?
• Technical: Explain your approach to managing and evaluating paid campaigns across multiple platforms such as Meta Ads, Google Ads, and podcasts. How do you allocate budget and measure success?
• Technical: What tools or methodologies have you used to leverage AI and automation in digital marketing? Can you give an example of the results achieved?
• Technical: How do you integrate affiliate and influencer marketing strategies with overall demand generation efforts?
• Situational: Imagine a key paid campaign is underperforming halfway through its run. What steps would you take to diagnose and address the issue?
• Situational: You're tasked with growing the marketing team over the next year. How would you prioritize roles, responsibilities, and structure to support company growth and culture?
• Situational: If two cross-functional team members disagree on the best approach for a marketing initiative, how would you handle the conflict to drive consensus?
• Company Fit: What about Thrifty Traveler’s mission and culture excites you most, and how do you see yourself contributing to it?
• Company Fit: How do your past experiences align with the challenge of building and scaling marketing efforts in a travel-focused, subscription-based business?
• Company Fit: Given our hybrid work environment and team size, how do you maintain effective communication and collaboration remotely and in-person?
• Questions to Ask Interviewer: How does the marketing function currently measure success, and what KPIs are most important to leadership?
• Questions to Ask Interviewer: What are the biggest growth opportunities and challenges Thrifty Traveler anticipates in the next 12 months?
• Questions to Ask Interviewer: How does the company support professional development and innovation within the marketing team?