Executive Startup Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Trusted by more startups around the world, AWS makes the power of cloud computing and AI accessible for all by giving founders everywhere access to the same technology that powers the world's largest companies. With experience supporting hundreds of thousands of startups, we help founders prove that their world-changing ideas are possible - at any stage of growth or level of funding.
The Head of Startup Marketing, Americas leads a team of 8 to 10 marketers - owning startup marketing strategy and execution across AMER (NAMER + LATAM) spanning three of our most strategic motions: top-account ABM, startup community, and venture capital partnerships. This role owns the end-to-end marketing engagement for AWS's most strategic startup accounts and ecosystem partners, driving startup acquisition, pipeline, executive relationships, and customer affinity through high-touch 1:1, 1:few, and 1:many marketing programs.
The role serves as a key member of the AWS Startup Marketing leadership team, operating at the intersection of sales leadership, community development, VC partnerships, and field activation. You will help shape the overall vision and priorities for how AWS engages the startup ecosystem worldwide, represent your function in leadership planning, influence senior AWS and external stakeholders, and translate ambiguous, high-stakes goals into clear plans your team can execute with confidence.
Key job responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute the AMER startup marketing strategy, aligned with AWS Startup sales priorities and global marketing objectives
- Own account and audience tiering across three motions: 1:1 ABM for top strategic startups, 1:few cluster marketing for high-potential cohorts, and 1:many community engagement across key hubs
- Partner with Startup sales leaders, Business Development, and the AWS Startup Programs team to align marketing investments with portfolio-level and account-level business goals
- Set the direction and operating rhythm that keeps the team's three motions - ABM, community, and VC partnerships - aligned to a shared strategy and measurable outcomes
- Represent AMER startup marketing in global leadership planning, OLRs, MBRs, and cross-functional planning cycles
Team Management
- Lead and develop a team of 9 marketers spanning ABM, community marketing, and VC/investor partnerships, setting a high talent bar and fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture
- Hire, onboard, and mentor talent across multiple disciplines; manage performance and career development for individual contributors and managers
- Foster cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing across the three marketing motions
- Manage external agency and vendor relationships supporting event execution, creative, and field activation
- Establish clear roles, operating norms, and escalation paths across a geographically distributed team (NAMER + LATAM)
Startup ABM & Executive Engagement
- Own 1:1 and 1:few marketing engagement for AWS's most strategic startup accounts - driving executive relationships, pipeline, and customer affinity through high-touch programs
- Drive customer nominations for AWS flagship events (re:Invent Executive Summit, startup-specific programming)
- Manage cross-functional nomination, approval, and registration workflows for executive and hospitality events targeting startup founders and C-suite
- Develop and execute invitation strategy, contact enrichment, and post-event follow-up programs
- Coordinate hospitality and executive event participation - including AWS-owned properties, sponsored industry events, and partner-hosted activations
Community & Ecosystem Marketing
- Own community event programming including meetups, demo days, hackathons, founder roundtables, and co-hosted partner events
- Build and maintain relationships with the broader startup ecosystem - accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces, and founder networks
- Translate community insights into scalable marketing motions and content opportunities
VC & Investor Partnerships
- Lead the marketing partnership strategy with top-tier VC firms, accelerators, and incubators - driving mutual value through co-marketing, portfolio engagement, and thought leadership
- Develop partner marketing programs that leverage VC relationships to reach high-potential startups before they choose a cloud platform
- Own partnership KPIs: portfolio startup acquisition, co-marketing reach, and partner satisfaction
- Represent AWS credibly in investor and founder forums, positioning AWS as the cloud of choice for ambitious builders
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Global Startup Marketing on worldwide strategy, messaging, and program alignment
- Collaborate on nomination tooling, meetings programs integration, and Salesforce/SFDC campaign management
- Liaise with global and regional peers on account coordination and best practice publishing and adoption
- Interface with AWS PR, content marketing, analyst relations, and social teams on startup narrative and thought leadership
Operational Excellence
- Own budget management across ABM programs, community events, VC partnerships, hospitality, and agency spend
- Drive process improvement for nomination workflows, event tracking, and campaign attribution
- Establish and track KPIs: startup acquisition, pipeline influence, executive meeting conversion, community growth, and partner engagement
- Contribute to organization-wide startup marketing transformation initiatives and benchmarking
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in managing managers
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, business or equivalent
- 10+ years of professional non-internship marketing experience, including 5+ years leading and developing marketing teams
- Experience owning strategy across multiple concurrent marketing motions and scaling them across regions
- Experience using data and metrics to drive strategy and communicating results to senior leadership
- Deep familiarity with the startup ecosystem and venture capital landscape
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience leading cross-functional teams to drive marketing initiatives world-wide
- Breadth across ABM, community/field marketing, and VC/investor partnership marketing, with measurable results in engagement and startup acquisition
- Experience operating as part of a senior functional leadership team and influencing worldwide strategy
- Experience managing executive engagement or hospitality programs targeting founders and C-suite
- Experience with Salesforce CRM, event management platforms, and ABM/marketing automation tools
- Excellent written and verbal communication with a demonstrated ability to influence without authority and manage ambiguity
- Passion for startups, founders, and the venture community
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company's reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, San Francisco - 171,800.00 - 232,400.00 USD annually
USA, NY, New York - 171,800.00 - 232,400.00 USD annually