VP, Retail Media

Open position in Swell office locations; Portsmouth, NH, St Louis, MO, Kansas City, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Columbia MO or Dallas, TX; Hybrid work schedule

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, now or in the future. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis without requiring employer sponsorship.

Overview:

Swell Media is looking for a rare type of retail commerce and Retail Media Networks (RMN) leader.

Someone who doesn't need platform reps to tell them what to do. Someone who understands not just what to do across major marketplace algorithms and retail media platforms, but why it works, when it works, and how to adapt when retail dynamics shift.

Brands look to you to help them with their retail strategy, content, and marketing plan execution.

The person we're looking for has spent 10+ years deep in the trenches scaling brands across 3rd party marketplaces like Amazon, as well as traditional retail ecommerce powerhouses like Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Home Depot. You've managed accounts where millions of dollars in inventory and ad spend are on the line. You've navigated 1P vendor relationships, 3P seller environments, shifting retail algorithms, and crowded ad auctions, and you've figured out how to win anyway.

You'll join an integral, seasoned team that has partnered with 100+ brands and maintains a vibrant roster of active clients. This is a focused, hands-on group of ad professionals, retail commerce specialists, and project managers. As part of Swell's broader Digital Marketing group, you will also collaborate directly with our team handling DTC, Social Media, and overall go-to-market strategies.

• You're equal parts strategist, operator, and teacher.
• People come to you when commerce growth plateaus.
• Clients trust you when retail negotiations and ad efficiency get difficult.
• Teams follow you because you've actually done the work.

This isn't a "manage from a distance" leadership role. You'll lead the agency's most important retail relationships, mentor the next generation of commerce and RMN specialists, and remain deeply involved in solving the hardest retail growth challenges our clients face.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned)

Product & Process Leadership

You'll oversee strategy across complex retail environments:

• Marketplace platforms (Amazon 1P & 3P, Walmart 1P & 3P, Target 1P & 3P)
• Traditional retail ecommerce sites (Kroger, Home Depot, etc.)
• Multi-channel retail media networks
• High-growth product brands and omnichannel organizations

You'll be accountable for:

• Total commerce revenue growth and marketplace market share
• Retail ad spend efficiency (ROAS/iROAS) and TACoS optimization
• Digital shelf visibility, buy-box health, and inventory productivity
• Unified retail strategy across 1P vendor and 3P seller models

Platform & Automation Expertise

You should possess deep expertise in:

• Amazon (1P Vendor Central & 3P Seller Central)
• Walmart (1P & 3P / Walmart Connect)
• Target (1P & 3P / Roundel)
• Retail Media Networks (Kroger Precision Marketing, Home Depot Media Network, Instacart, etc.)
• Automation & Optimization Tools (PacVue, Opmtyzr, etc.)

You understand:

• Retail campaign architecture and bid management automation
• Share of Voice (SOV) and digital shelf positioning
• Content optimization, catalog management, and detail page conversion drivers
• Retail media DSPs and off-site retail ad extensions
• Inventory forecasting, margin protection, and chargeback prevention

Measurement & Cross-Functional Alignment

You know how to connect retail media to holistic business outcomes:

• Experience integrating retail media with broader DTC, Paid Social, and go-to-market initiatives
• Advanced retail analytics, clean room data, and incrementality testing
• Channel margin analysis, total sales vs. ad sales attribution, and omnichannel impact reporting

Technical Problem Solving

You are the escalation point.

When retail performance stalls, catalog listings get suppressed, or RMN attribution gets messy, you're the person who can diagnose the issue and build a path forward. You don't accept "the retail platform changed" as an explanation.

Leadership

You'll lead a hands-on team of ad professionals, retail commerce specialists, and project managers while building systems, playbooks, and training that elevate everyone around you.

• We're looking for a player-coach.
• Someone who still loves opening retail consoles.
• Someone who enjoys commerce audits.
• Someone who gets excited about testing automation rules.
• Someone who can teach.

What Success Looks Like

• Clients grow faster and more profitably across major retail channels.
• Teams become stronger and more agile through your direct leadership.
• Complex retail and marketplace problems get solved instead of explained away.
• Swell expands its reputation as a premiere powerhouse in Retail Media Networks and retail commerce execution.

Who Thrives Here

• Curious operators and builders who love the complexity of modern retail.
• Leaders who thrive in a close-knit, hands-on team environment.
• People who question "standard agency practices" and focus on net revenue.
• Marketers who care more about profitable growth than just ad metrics.
• Experienced strategists who still love the craft of retail media.

Qualifications - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 10+ years of experience in retail commerce and marketplace management.
• Proven hands-on success with Amazon (1P and 3P), Walmart (1P and 3P), and Target (1P and 3P).
• Extensive, demonstrated experience running campaigns across multiple Retail Media Networks (e.g., Kroger, Home Depot, Instacart).
• Deep understanding of retail media dynamics, digital shelf management, inventory operations, and commerce metrics.
• Proven capability to partner cross-functionally with DTC, Paid Social, and general brand go-to-market teams.
• Strong leadership skills with a dedicated player-coach approach.

Bonus Points

• Hands-on experience with automation platforms such as PacVue and Opmtyzr.
• Agency experience managing multi-brand client portfolios.
• Brand side experience dealing directly with Amazon, Walmart, Target and agencies.
• Deep experience with retail data clean rooms (e.g., Amazon Marketing Cloud) and advanced incrementality testing.
• Strong opinions on retail media architecture backed by real-world performance data.

Total Perks Package

• The chance to be a part of a growing company and the next success story
• Amazing opportunities for career development
• Recognition programs
• Employee referral bonus
• Hybrid work schedule; 2 days in the office, 3 days working from home
• Fun and collaborative work environment
• Casual dress code
• Insurance Coverage (medical, dental, vision, life, and disability)
• 401(k) retirement plan, with employer 4% match
• Work/life benefits, including mental health and wellbeing support
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Paid holidays, including agency soft closing Christmas Eve-New Year's Day
• Paid leave options, including sick leave, medical leave for self and family, and parental leave