Fractional CMO (Retail) — Build & Own a High-Performance Marketing Engine - Contract to Hire

Description If you’ve never built a marketing machine from zero to scale in a competitive retail environment, this is not for you. We are building Directly.io — and we are looking for a true operator, not a consultant. Directly.io is a next-generation supply chain platform designed to replace the traditional distributor model by giving brands direct access to a fully integrated, end-to-end retail ecosystem in the U.S. market. Combining infrastructure, AI-powered operations, and embedded execution teams, it enables brands to seamlessly enter, operate, and scale across retail and e-commerce without relying on fragmented intermediaries. Someone who has already done it. Someone who knows exactly what to build, in what order, and how to execute without friction. ⸻ The Opportunity This is a high-leverage, strategic role with direct impact on the trajectory of the company. You will not be “advising.” You will be designing, building, and owning the entire marketing system. From positioning to acquisition, from structure to execution — you are responsible for making it work. ⸻ Scope of Work You will lead and execute across:

• Positioning & Brand Architecture Craft a clear, differentiated market position that converts
• Acquisition Strategy & Execution Paid, organic, partnerships — designed for scale and efficiency
• Growth Systems & Funnels Build a coherent, high-performance acquisition engine
• Marketing Operations Tracking, attribution, tooling, performance visibility
• Go-To-Market Execution From strategy to deployment — fast, structured, measurable ⸻ Non-Negotiable: Retail Expertise You must have deep, hands-on experience in retail. We are not interested in adjacent experience. You understand:
• DTC and/or marketplace dynamics
• Product-driven growth and conversion mechanics
• Customer behavior in competitive retail environments
• Scaling acquisition with real budget constraints and performance pressure If this is not your background, do not apply. ⸻ Profile We’re Looking For
• Former or current CMO / Head of Marketing / Senior Growth Operator
• Proven track record of building and scaling marketing systems
• Strong execution capacity (not just strategic thinking)
• Comfortable operating in high-expectation, fast-paced environments
• Ability to own results end-to-end ⸻ This Is Not For You If
• You are purely strategic and don’t execute
• You rely on teams to “figure it out”
• You’ve only worked in low-performance or slow environments
• You cannot clearly demonstrate past results ⸻ Application Requirements (Strict) We only review high-quality, substantiated applications. Include: 1. Concrete case studies → What you built, how you built it, and the measurable results 2. Retail experience breakdown → Companies, role, scale, channels managed 3. Your operating approach → If you had to build a marketing system from scratch today, what are your first 3 moves and why? 4. Proof of execution → Metrics, dashboards, examples, or anything tangible Apply To this Job