Interim Chief Marketing Officer – Demand Generation & Modern Search/ Interim CMO/ Chief Marketing Officer/ Fractional CMO/ Interim Chief Marketing Officer (Growth & AI-Driven Discovery)

Job Title: Interim / Fractional Chief Marketing OfficerLocation: Remote

Duration: 6 months - with a possibility to extend

Job Type: Contract (20–40 hours per week (variable)

Job Description:

• Our client is seeking an Interim Chief Marketing Officer to provide decisive, hands-on leadership during a critical period of transition and transformation. This leader will stabilize marketing operations, drive short term performance improvements, and help position the organization to compete effectively in a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by AI-driven discovery, changing customer behavior, and increasing competitive pressure.
• The Interim CMO will step into a lean environment and serve as a builder and operator, not a caretaker. This role requires someone who can quickly assess current capabilities, align teams, strengthen demand generation, and modernize marketing practices while improving accountability and performance.
• This engagement is expected to last approximately six months while a permanent leadership search progresses.

Context for the Role

• The marketing leadership role has been vacant for several months, with senior leadership covering responsibilities in the interim. Marketing capabilities are distributed across functions and require stronger integration, clearer operating rhythms, and improved performance focus.
• Organic visibility has declined as the market shifts toward AI-powered discovery, increasing reliance on paid channels. The organization is seeking a leader who can strengthen technical SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), while improving overall marketing effectiveness.

What You Will Do

• Drive Growth and Performance
• Lead full funnel demand generation strategy to drive qualified demand and conversion
• Improve channel performance across paid, organic, and digital channels
• Drive short term performance improvements while strengthening long term foundations
• Rebalance channel mix toward sustainable organic growth
• Lead Modern Search and Discovery Strategy
• Strengthen technical SEO, content architecture, and site performance
• Lead strategy across SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
• Improve visibility across traditional search engines, AI answer engines, and large language model discovery environments
• Ensure content is structured for question based and AI mediated search behavior
• Stabilize Marketing Operations
• Establish clear operating cadence, priorities, and performance expectations
• Create accountability across teams and functions
• Improve coordination between brand, performance, analytics, and content teams
• Partner with executive leadership to align marketing with organizational priorities
• Provide Executive Leadership
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership
• Provide clear recommendations and decisive leadership
• Help guide the organization through a period of transition

Team Scope

• You will provide leadership and oversight across:
• Brand and product marketing
• Performance and demand generation marketing
• SEO and website strategy
• Marketing analytics and reporting
• External agencies and partners
• A small B2B marketing function, with primary focus on core growth initiatives

Technologies and Environment

• You will operate across a modern marketing ecosystem that may include:
• CRM and marketing automation platforms such as Salesforce or similar environments
• Digital analytics, dashboards, and attribution tools
• Performance marketing platforms supporting paid search and paid social
• SEO tools and content optimization platforms
• Content management systems
• AI and generative tools supporting content and workflow acceleration
• Experimentation and conversion optimization tools
• Video and digital distribution platforms including YouTube
• Collaboration tools supporting distributed teams
• You will assess current capabilities and ensure the technology environment supports performance, measurement, and future readiness.

Must Haves

• Proven experience operating at CMO or senior marketing executive level
• Deep expertise in demand generation and performance marketing
• Strong hands-on leadership style with ability to engage directly in execution
• Demonstrated experience stabilizing or transforming marketing organizations
• Deep expertise in technical SEO and organic growth strategy
• Strong understanding of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and AI driven discovery
• Experience improving visibility across both traditional search and emerging AI channels
• Experience working in lean or resource constrained environments
• Ability to drive short term performance improvements and create accountability
• Strong data driven mindset and executive presence

Preferred Background

• Experience in education, EdTech, or mission driven organizations
• Experience leading through periods of change or transformation
• Familiarity with complex customer or decision journeys

Leadership Style

• Action oriented and pragmatic
• Comfortable with ambiguity
• Low ego and collaborative
• Decisive and accountable
• Builder mindset focused on outcomes

Why This Role Matters

• This is an opportunity to step into a meaningful leadership role and help guide an organization through a period of change. The Interim CMO will play a critical role in strengthening marketing foundations, improving performance, and helping the organization adapt to evolving market dynamics shaped by AI and changing discovery behaviors.