Ace Program Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Sr. Marketing Specialist - New Stores engages with new store owners (New Investors, branching out, conversions and change of ownerships) to successfully on-board 300+ stores educating them on national and local Ace marketing programs, costs and execution along with owning the Grand Opening/Grand Re-Opening process for these new stores.

Working cross-functionally with Retail Operations, District Managers, Retail Business Managers, Market Development Managers, Promotions, RSC's, vendors and all other key business partners to effectively and efficiently onboard New Stores to Ace Marketing and plan their Grand Opening strategy and event is a critical component of this position.

What You'll Do:

• Planning and executing new store marketing timelines, activities, events and execution of onboarding all marketing programs for 300+ new stores per year. Collaborating with vendors, cross-functional corporate teams (Merchandising, marketing, inventory, creative services, etc.) to ensure all marketing programs are properly and timely activated (BOPIS, BODFS, online, Ace Rewards, promotions, Etc.).
• Coordinating and planning Grand Opening events for all new stores Including creative development, offer creation, securing inventory, deploying creative (Print and digital) on behalf of the retailer.
• Execute 18-month marketing roadmap for all new stores to include National and Local Marketing strategies to help drive store awareness and build consumer confidence and loyalty for all new stores.
• Work cross-functionally with the Retail Operations field staff including DMs and the Retail Business Coaches as well as the Consumer Marketing field staff on all new store projects for each stores onboarding, first-year marketing plan and Grand Opening event.
• Conduct Store webinars to onboard and train multiple new stores at one time and/or individually. Training and educating all new retailers on all Consumer Marketing programs (Sign Kit, ecomm, Ace Rewards, Digital/Local Lift Max, Marketing Muscle, Local Email, SOCi, etc.)
• Update all New Store training, education and onboarding materials throughout the year to contain the most up-to-date information. Take ownership of all New Owners Institute trainings each year, this includes conducting the training and preparing all training materials and presentations specific to each training.
• Attend 2 conventions per year which includes travel within the United States talking to new investors, educating on all Ace marketing programs and planning Grand Openings/Events.
• Attend at least 5 Ace Grand Openings/Grand Re-openings per year and 2-4 competitive Grand Openings per year - What's working/Not, how to be more impactful for Ace Retailers and ensuring everything runs smooth for the new store owners.
• Execute event plans for 100+ Elevate store projects - Special offers, creative, demo ideas, etc. for stores completing store projects.

Required Skills:

• 3 years' experience
• BA Degree in Marketing, or a Business-Related Field
• Project and detail driven with a sense of urgency
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with ability to interact and influence all organizational levels
• Excellent teamwork skills with proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without formal authority
• Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to develop strategically sound, well thought through programs that demonstrate the benefits to all new retailers and field staff
• Merchandising, Marketing and/or Analytics experience
• Strategic thinker that questions the status quo
• Passion and energy to build relationships and programs
• Ability to travel to Grand Openings
• Ability to travel to 2 Ace conventions per year

WORK AUTHORIZATION: This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

#LI-JK1

Compensation Details:

$76300 - $95550 per year

Why should you join our team?

We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.

In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life's necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:

• Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!)

• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10% of total eligible compensation

• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability - up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents

• 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire

• Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions

• Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It's a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities - and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation

• Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review

• We know the work environment matters. That's why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales

• We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!

• Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more

• Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off

• Adoption cost reimbursement

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events

• Identity theft protection

* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.

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We want to hear from you!
When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Ace Hardware Corporation is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.

Disclaimer

The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.

Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.

This written "Position Description" is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.