Director of Growth Marketing ACE (WagWay)

Access Holdings Management Company LLC is a Baltimore-based middle-market investment firm with over $2.8 billion in assets under management. Founded in 2013, Access provides direct investment opportunities to create concentrated portfolios of essential service-based businesses in North America. We undertake active build-and-buy strategies, pursuing what we want to own, great markets and distinct business models. In doing so, Access partners, scales, and innovates to build enduring businesses. For more information, please visit www.accessholdings.com.

Access Executive Development Program Overview:

Access is seeking outstanding candidates for its Access Creating Executives Program ("ACE Program"). The position provides hands-on experience and exposure to key operational best practices and tactics of Access' portfolio strategy execution.

Candidates ("ACEs") join the ACE Program as senior team members of an Access portfolio company, directly supporting and reporting to C-Suite executives in key operational functions including Finance, M&A / Strategy, Development and Marketing. ACEs are expected to improve, execute, and document best practices within the key roles, developing a meaningful operational skillset.

ACEs will attend and participate in Access activities, training sessions, and summits with other executives and ACEs across the Access portfolio. ACEs will work with Access to build skillsets, report out to other ACEs, develop playbooks, and train executives where appropriate. They will leverage key learnings across the current and future portfolio, while also driving projects and new investment opportunities.

The portfolio Company and Access will jointly evaluate each ACE's performance; top performers may have the opportunity to progress into other areas of the Access Holdings ecosystem. ACEs will be well-positioned to move into a C-Suite position within one of Access' portfolio companies or on the Access investment team.

Company Overview

WagWay Group LLC ("WagWay") is a leading private equity-backed pet wellness company with a mission to build a national network of pet care providers across the United States. We focus on delivering high-quality boarding, daycare, grooming, training, wellness services and preventative veterinary care to serve the unique needs of pet parents. With 17 locations across six states, WagWay is expanding rapidly through strategic mergers, acquisitions, and new site development. Our commitment to service excellence, health monitoring, and innovative care sets us apart as we build a premier, scaled brand in pet wellness.

Position Overview

The Director of Growth Marketing will lead WagWay's efforts to drive customer acquisition, engagement, and retention, growing a loyal base of pet parents who choose WagWay's trusted brands. This ROI-focused leader will leverage data, performance marketing, and CRM insights to deliver sustained customer growth (20%+ YoY) and increase customer lifetime value. This role requires an analytical, creative problem-solver skilled in multichannel marketing, performance optimization, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Demand Generation & Retention: Lead marketing campaigns across digital and physical channels, managing all aspects of demand generation and retention, including ad spend, creative, metrics tracking, and optimization.
• Marketing Channel Optimization: Execute data-driven marketing across community engagement, digital performance channels, SEO, email, SMS, direct response, and in-app, optimizing each for maximum engagement, retention, cross-selling, and win-back.
• Testing & Experimentation: Design and execute A/B and multivariate tests to enhance digital ads, website performance, and in-app engagement, driving continuous improvement.
• Agency & Partner Management: Oversee external marketing partners and agencies to ensure alignment on WagWay's goals, performance advertising and SEO strategies, and cost efficiency.
• Support In-Store & Program Launches: Provide marketing resources, scripts, and tools for GMs and customer service teams to drive up-sell, cross-sell, and consistent customer experience across all locations. Lead marketing efforts for new store launches to ensure seamless community engagement and digital presence.
• Budget & ROI Management: Manage marketing budgets effectively, maximizing ROI and ensuring optimal resource allocation to achieve growth targets.
• Market & Customer Insights: Regularly analyze customer and market data to inform marketing strategy and respond to industry trends, ensuring WagWay remains at the forefront of pet wellness.
• Stakeholder Communication: Leverage corporate reporting frameworks to communicate marketing insights and support rapid decision-making with executive stakeholders.

Competencies

• Problem Solving: Quickly identifies issues, analyzes data, and implements solutions in a proactive manner.
• Project Management: Effectively coordinates complex projects, tracks progress. Holds team members accountable to deadlines and outcomes.
• Strategic Thinking: Understands market trends and competitive landscape, adapting strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Innovation & Adaptability: Demonstrates creativity, meets challenges with resourcefulness, and consistently tests new ideas to enhance performance.
• Communication: Communicates clearly, whether in written, verbal, or data formats, delivering compelling presentations to various audiences.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, data science, or a related field.
• Experience: 7+ years in marketing roles with progressive responsibility, ideally within multi-unit retail, consumer services, or comparable industries (e.g., fitness, veterinary, med-spa).
• Technical & Analytical Skills: Proven ability to manage multi-channel marketing programs, run cohort analyses, and leverage insights to drive customer value. Familiarity with data visualization tools and MarTech platforms.
• Performance-Driven: Demonstrated success in managing agencies and budgets, executing large-scale performance marketing initiatives.
• Executional Agility: Proven ability to balance high-level strategy with hands-on execution in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to Travel: Regular travel to WagWay's pet wellness locations as required.