Head Of Marketing Jobs in California
Head Of Marketing jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, consumer goods, and venture-backed startups, with openings at every level from associate marketing manager through senior vice president. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego account for the largest share of postings, with anchor employers like Apple, Google, and Disney maintaining consistent demand for marketing leadership. The most sought-after specialties are growth marketing, brand strategy, and integrated demand generation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Darkroom
Founded in 2017, we set out to redefine what a modern agency could be, by replacing the inertia of legacy advertising behemoths with a model built for speed, intelligence, and measurable impact.
At our core, Darkroom is a human services company powered by Shadow, a universal AI commerce layer that integrates executive-level strategy with proprietary agentic technology. This fusion enables our teams to deliver outsized returns by enhancing creative output, operational efficiency, and revenue generation across every stage of the customer journey.
Our track record speaks for itself: billions in attributable revenue driven across e-commerce marketplaces, media networks, DTC ecosystems, and social commerce platforms. Every engagement feeds into our proprietary data infrastructure, enabling a continuous feedback loop that accelerates growth, improves margins, and compounds results across our client portfolio.
What began as a boutique design studio has evolved into one of the fastest-growing private companies in America (Inc. 5000) and among the most effective performance media agencies of the 2020s (Varos). Our founders were recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for advancing the intersection of technology, marketing, and advertising, cementing Darkroom's role as a defining player in the future of media innovation.
About the Role
Our client is a fast-growing consumer AI company with a mobile app at the center of its business. They’re looking for a strategic, results-driven Head of Marketing to own user growth end to end: app installs, registrations, activation, engagement, and retention.
You’ll build and lead an integrated consumer marketing strategy spanning paid media, performance creative, organic social, website content, and lifecycle marketing. A central part of the role is serving as the primary strategic lead and point of accountability for the company’s external media, creative, and performance marketing agency of record. You’ll set objectives, guide creative and media strategy, manage investment decisions, and make sure the agency delivers measurable outcomes.
This is a role for someone who pairs strong consumer marketing and creative instincts with deep expertise in performance marketing, mobile app growth, and analytics.
What You’ll Own
The integrated consumer marketing strategy, aligning awareness, acquisition, activation, and retention with company growth goals
Performance against ambitious targets for app installs, registrations, efficient CAC, and downstream engagement and retention
The go-to-market calendar across product launches, feature releases, seasonal campaigns, and growth initiatives
The agency of record relationship: translating business goals into clear briefs, priorities, creative requirements, and KPIs, and holding the agency accountable to results
Paid acquisition strategy across Meta, Google, Apple Ads, TikTok, YouTube, and emerging platforms, including budget allocation, channel diversification, audience strategy, and testing priorities
Performance creative strategy that continuously tests messaging, value propositions, use cases, audiences, and formats
Weekly performance reviews, strategic planning sessions, and periodic business reviews with the agency
Organic social strategy and brand voice across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, and LinkedIn, making advanced AI feel accessible and relevant to everyday consumers
Creator, influencer, community, and partnership programs that drive authentic product advocacy
Lifecycle marketing from onboarding through activation, engagement, retention, and win-back, across email, push, and in-app messaging
Behavioral segmentation and activation milestones, in partnership with Product, tied to stronger retention
Website and app store content strategy, landing pages, and conversion optimization (visitor-to-registration, web-to-app)
Organic discoverability across SEO, ASO, and GEO, including AI-powered search and answer experiences
Brand positioning and messaging that translate complex AI capabilities into clear, emotionally resonant, accurately substantiated benefits
Integrated launches aligning creative, paid, organic, web, and lifecycle
The measurement framework connecting spend to installs, registrations, activation, retention, and LTV, including attribution, incrementality testing, and executive reporting
Marketing budgets, vendors, tooling, workflows, and a prioritized roadmap, plus recommendations on future team structure and hiring
Must Have
10+ years of progressive experience in consumer, growth, or digital marketing, with significant ownership of strategy and business results
Experience leading marketing for a consumer mobile app, subscription product, or high-growth consumer tech business
A proven track record driving measurable growth in app installs, registrations, acquisition, and activation
Deep knowledge of performance marketing across paid social, search, video, and mobile app advertising
Significant experience directing external media, creative, or performance agencies, with direct ownership of budget, strategy, and results
Strong creative judgment and the ability to give actionable creative direction that connects storytelling to performance
Hands-on experience with lifecycle and retention marketing (onboarding, CRM, segmentation, re-engagement)
Experience owning website content, landing pages, SEO, and CRO
Strong analytical fluency across attribution, funnel performance, cohort retention, and marketing ROI
Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to turn complex products into compelling consumer narratives
Nice to Have
Experience marketing AI, productivity, or other emerging consumer tech products
Hands-on experience with incrementality testing or MMM
Familiarity with mobile measurement and lifecycle tools (e.g., AppsFlyer, Adjust, Braze, Iterable)
Experience with ASO and optimizing for AI-driven search (GEO)
A background building organic social or creator programs centered on short-form video
Culture Fit
You own the number, even when execution sits with a partner
You’re comfortable moving between big-picture strategy and hands-on execution in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment
You hold a high creative bar and back decisions with data
You build strong working relationships across Product, Engineering, Data, Creative, and leadership
You default to experimentation and learn quickly from results
Not the bar: if your experience is mainly in B2B or ecommerce without mobile app growth, or you’ve managed agencies only from a distance without owning budget and outcomes yourself, this likely isn’t the right fit.
What It's Like to Work at Darkroom
Darkroom is not a typical agency. We are looking for A players who want to build something great. We move fast, think deeply, and expect every team member to bring insight and rigor to everything they touch. We hold a high bar for performance, creativity, and ownership, but we also support each other relentlessly. No egos, no red tape. Just world-class talent building something remarkable.
We believe in autonomy with accountability, truth over comfort, and outcomes over optics.
Unlimited PTO + US holidays: Rebooting is part of the work. Take the time you need to stay sharp.
Embedded with the client: This role is based in the San José Area and works from the client's office four to five days a week, as part of a 150-person independent agency.
Health & Wellness: Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Finances, growth, and retirement: Darkroom offers a robust 401(k) program with company match and profit-sharing opportunities to help you save and grow as the company grows.
Parental Leave: Flexible parental leave to support new parents during this important transition.
Growth: Our interdisciplinary model gives every Darkroomer exposure far beyond their core role. Grow your skills, expand your influence, and stay at the forefront of the industry.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Darkroom is an equal opportunity workplace. We are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
About Darkroom
Founded in 2017, we set out to redefine what a modern agency could be, by replacing the inertia of legacy advertising behemoths with a model built for speed, intelligence, and measurable impact.
At our core, Darkroom is a human services company powered by Shadow, a universal AI commerce layer that integrates executive-level strategy with proprietary agentic technology. This fusion enables our teams to deliver outsized returns by enhancing creative output, operational efficiency, and revenue generation across every stage of the customer journey.
Our track record speaks for itself: billions in attributable revenue driven across e-commerce marketplaces, media networks, DTC ecosystems, and social commerce platforms. Every engagement feeds into our proprietary data infrastructure, enabling a continuous feedback loop that accelerates growth, improves margins, and compounds results across our client portfolio.
What began as a boutique design studio has evolved into one of the fastest-growing private companies in America (Inc. 5000) and among the most effective performance media agencies of the 2020s (Varos). Our founders were recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for advancing the intersection of technology, marketing, and advertising, cementing Darkroom's role as a defining player in the future of media innovation.
About the Role
Our client is a fast-growing consumer AI company with a mobile app at the center of its business. They’re looking for a strategic, results-driven Head of Marketing to own user growth end to end: app installs, registrations, activation, engagement, and retention.
You’ll build and lead an integrated consumer marketing strategy spanning paid media, performance creative, organic social, website content, and lifecycle marketing. A central part of the role is serving as the primary strategic lead and point of accountability for the company’s external media, creative, and performance marketing agency of record. You’ll set objectives, guide creative and media strategy, manage investment decisions, and make sure the agency delivers measurable outcomes.
This is a role for someone who pairs strong consumer marketing and creative instincts with deep expertise in performance marketing, mobile app growth, and analytics.
What You’ll Own
The integrated consumer marketing strategy, aligning awareness, acquisition, activation, and retention with company growth goals
Performance against ambitious targets for app installs, registrations, efficient CAC, and downstream engagement and retention
The go-to-market calendar across product launches, feature releases, seasonal campaigns, and growth initiatives
The agency of record relationship: translating business goals into clear briefs, priorities, creative requirements, and KPIs, and holding the agency accountable to results
Paid acquisition strategy across Meta, Google, Apple Ads, TikTok, YouTube, and emerging platforms, including budget allocation, channel diversification, audience strategy, and testing priorities
Performance creative strategy that continuously tests messaging, value propositions, use cases, audiences, and formats
Weekly performance reviews, strategic planning sessions, and periodic business reviews with the agency
Organic social strategy and brand voice across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, and LinkedIn, making advanced AI feel accessible and relevant to everyday consumers
Creator, influencer, community, and partnership programs that drive authentic product advocacy
Lifecycle marketing from onboarding through activation, engagement, retention, and win-back, across email, push, and in-app messaging
Behavioral segmentation and activation milestones, in partnership with Product, tied to stronger retention
Website and app store content strategy, landing pages, and conversion optimization (visitor-to-registration, web-to-app)
Organic discoverability across SEO, ASO, and GEO, including AI-powered search and answer experiences
Brand positioning and messaging that translate complex AI capabilities into clear, emotionally resonant, accurately substantiated benefits
Integrated launches aligning creative, paid, organic, web, and lifecycle
The measurement framework connecting spend to installs, registrations, activation, retention, and LTV, including attribution, incrementality testing, and executive reporting
Marketing budgets, vendors, tooling, workflows, and a prioritized roadmap, plus recommendations on future team structure and hiring
Must Have
10+ years of progressive experience in consumer, growth, or digital marketing, with significant ownership of strategy and business results
Experience leading marketing for a consumer mobile app, subscription product, or high-growth consumer tech business
A proven track record driving measurable growth in app installs, registrations, acquisition, and activation
Deep knowledge of performance marketing across paid social, search, video, and mobile app advertising
Significant experience directing external media, creative, or performance agencies, with direct ownership of budget, strategy, and results
Strong creative judgment and the ability to give actionable creative direction that connects storytelling to performance
Hands-on experience with lifecycle and retention marketing (onboarding, CRM, segmentation, re-engagement)
Experience owning website content, landing pages, SEO, and CRO
Strong analytical fluency across attribution, funnel performance, cohort retention, and marketing ROI
Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to turn complex products into compelling consumer narratives
Nice to Have
Experience marketing AI, productivity, or other emerging consumer tech products
Hands-on experience with incrementality testing or MMM
Familiarity with mobile measurement and lifecycle tools (e.g., AppsFlyer, Adjust, Braze, Iterable)
Experience with ASO and optimizing for AI-driven search (GEO)
A background building organic social or creator programs centered on short-form video
Culture Fit
You own the number, even when execution sits with a partner
You’re comfortable moving between big-picture strategy and hands-on execution in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment
You hold a high creative bar and back decisions with data
You build strong working relationships across Product, Engineering, Data, Creative, and leadership
You default to experimentation and learn quickly from results
Not the bar: if your experience is mainly in B2B or ecommerce without mobile app growth, or you’ve managed agencies only from a distance without owning budget and outcomes yourself, this likely isn’t the right fit.
What It's Like to Work at Darkroom
Darkroom is not a typical agency. We are looking for A players who want to build something great. We move fast, think deeply, and expect every team member to bring insight and rigor to everything they touch. We hold a high bar for performance, creativity, and ownership, but we also support each other relentlessly. No egos, no red tape. Just world-class talent building something remarkable.
We believe in autonomy with accountability, truth over comfort, and outcomes over optics.
Unlimited PTO + US holidays: Rebooting is part of the work. Take the time you need to stay sharp.
Embedded with the client: This role is based in the San José Area and works from the client's office four to five days a week, as part of a 150-person independent agency.
Health & Wellness: Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Finances, growth, and retirement: Darkroom offers a robust 401(k) program with company match and profit-sharing opportunities to help you save and grow as the company grows.
Parental Leave: Flexible parental leave to support new parents during this important transition.
Growth: Our interdisciplinary model gives every Darkroomer exposure far beyond their core role. Grow your skills, expand your influence, and stay at the forefront of the industry.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Darkroom is an equal opportunity workplace. We are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
See All 77 Head Of Marketing Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Of Marketing JobsHead Of Marketing Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of Marketing Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Medical Devices
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Animal Care & Pet Services
- Banking & Financial Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of marketing jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, or a closely related field required
- Seven or more years of progressive marketing experience including team leadership
- Proven ability to build and manage integrated campaigns across digital and traditional channels
- Experience with performance analytics platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Google Analytics
- Strong background in brand positioning and go-to-market strategy for California consumer markets
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with product, sales, and executive stakeholders cross-functionally
Head Of Marketing Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of marketing in California?
There is no state-issued license required to work as a head of marketing in California. Most hiring managers expect a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or business, with an MBA valued for senior roles. California employers consistently prioritize candidates who have led marketing teams, managed significant budgets, and can show measurable revenue impact. Building experience in a growth-stage tech company or large consumer brand in the state is the most direct path to leadership.
How much do head of marketings make in California?
Head of marketings in California earn a median of about $193,620 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $104,370 for the lowest 10% to over $326,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of marketings in California?
Employers hiring head of marketings in California right now include Meta, Abbott, and SERVAL, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense mix of tech headquarters, entertainment studios, and consumer brands means demand comes from a wide range of industries beyond any single sector.
Which California cities have the most head of marketing jobs?
San Francisco, Irvine, and Los Angeles have the most head of marketing openings in California. Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment, media, and direct-to-consumer brands, while San Francisco and the broader Bay Area are driven by technology companies and venture-backed startups, and San Diego adds volume through its biotech and defense sectors.
Are there remote head of marketing jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 83% of head of marketing openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based, strategic nature of the role. Brand strategy, content leadership, and digital marketing functions tend to have the highest concentration of fully remote arrangements among California employers.
How can I get hired as a head of marketing in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a marketing coordinator or specialist role at a California technology company or consumer brand, then building toward management over time. Large employers like Salesforce, Meta, and major Los Angeles entertainment companies run structured associate and rotational marketing programs for early-career candidates. Adjacent roles in product marketing, content, or marketing operations offer a lateral route in, and a strong portfolio demonstrating campaign ownership gives candidates without formal leadership titles a measurable edge.
Where can I find and apply to head of marketing jobs in California?
You can find and apply to head of marketing jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your experience and location preference, then apply directly to the employer through each listing.
See All 77 Head Of Marketing Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Of Marketing Jobs