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Environmental Marketing Director Analyzing Data

How To Become A Marketing Director That Uses Green Marketing

Want to know how to become a marketing director that uses green marketing? Green marketing is marketing that focuses on sustainability. Green marketing directors can lead by example by adopting sustainable business practices and highlighting sustainability in marketing campaigns. Keep reading to learn what’s a marketing director and how to become one. 

a marketing director in an office with a folder in her hand

If you enjoy looking at the big picture, leading your peers, and expressing yourself creatively, then a career as a green marketing director may be right for you. Green marketing is an industry that melds marketing and environmental science. Consider pursuing a career in green marketing if both fields appeal to you. This guide covers how to become a marketing director, job description, salary, and more for general marketing directors and specifically for environmental marketing directors. 

Career Path Overview for Environmental Marketing Director

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree recommended

Recommended Degree Program

M.P.S. in Environmental Marketing and Behavioral Economics 

Average Salary (2021)

$133,380

Workers Employed in U.S. (2021)

347,000

Projected Job Openings (2021-31)

33,700

Projected Growth Rate

10% (Faster than average)

Other Job Titles

Marketing Director, Green Marketing Director, Marketing Manager

Related Careers

Sustainability ManagerMarketing Specialist

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Does A Marketing Director Do?

A marketing director manages all marketing operations for a company or client. This is a senior-level position, so many years of experience is one of the main marketing director requirements. They work closely with top executives to help drive growth and revenue for the company. 

The most important director of marketing skills are leadership, analytics, and creativity. Marketing directors have a lot of influence over the goals, strategies, and budgets of their marketing team. Their success means increased exposure, reputability, and profits for the company.

Marketing Director Job Description 

To understand how to become a successful marketing director, you must understand exactly what the job entails. In large companies, marketing directors may oversee multiple marketing managers or teams. They often answer to a vice president of marketing. In smaller companies, they may take on the role of marketing managers, helping with all aspects of the marketing campaigns as needed. 

Typical duties of a marketing director:

  • Understanding consumer trends 
  • Identifying potential markets
  • Creating data-driven marketing plans and reports
  • Presenting marketing plans and reports to executives
  • Managing marketing team members
  • Managing the implementation of marketing strategies
  • Overseeing the collection of data 

Environmental Marketing Director Job Description

Environmental marketing directors focus on highlighting the sustainable elements of a business or product in their marketing efforts. If you run a marketing agency, you can be selective in which clients you work with based on their goals and practices. Also, you can influence companies you work with to adopt more sustainable practices.

An aspiring environmental marketing director should have a base knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, and current conditions in order to make sustainable marketing decisions. Day-to-day activities will look similar to that of any other marketing director. However, green marketing directors may consult environmental scientists and research to inform their decisions. 

What Is Green Marketing?

Green marketing emphasizes sustainable business practices. Companies that are founded on sustainable principles as well as those that have more recently “gone green” can benefit from green marketing. Examples of green marketing in action include:

  • Labeling packaging as sustainable and/or recyclable
  • Highlighting a company’s low carbon footprint
  • Highlighting sustainably-sourced ingredients
  • Creating content that educates consumers on environmental issues
  • Showing how the company supports conservation efforts 

With the increase in consumer demand for eco-friendly products and businesses, part of how to be a good marketing director involves incorporating green marketing into your strategies. The ability to leverage green marketing can make you stand out among the competition when applying for manager and director positions. 

Where Do Environmental Marketing Directors Work?

Companies that are known for green marketing, such as Patagonia and TOMS, often hire in-house environmental marketing directors. Other companies may hire marketing agencies that focus on green marketing to help them become more eco-friendly or highlight recent company shifts towards sustainability. 

While most directors may travel to meet with clients and leads, they usually work in offices and work regular, full-time hours. The job may require overtime hours near project deadlines. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the largest industries that employ marketing directors are:

  • Professional, scientific, and technical services: 22%
  • Management of companies and enterprises: 12%
  • Finance and insurance: 11%
  • Manufacturing: 7%
  • Wholesale trade: 7%

Environmental Marketing Manager Strategizing

Average Marketing Director Salary

The median salary for all marketing managers in 2021 was $135,030. The highest 10% of directors earned more than $208,000. Environmental marketing directors can expect to earn somewhere between $61,250 and $208,000 a year, depending on the company and their experience level. Marketing managers who work for smaller companies or non-profits will likely make closer to the lower end of that range.

Top 5 States for Marketing Director Salary in U.S.

State

Average Annual Salary

Average Hourly Rate

New York

$190,760

$91.71

New Jersey

$179,320

$86.21

California

$175,150

$84.21

Delaware

$171,420

$82.41

Virginia

$169,990

$81.73

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What is the Job Outlook for Environmental Marketing Directors? 

The job outlook for marketing directors is promising. The BLS predicts that the number of job openings will grow by 10% in the next ten years. That is double the average job growth for all occupations. There is no specific data on the job outlook for green marketing directors, but because there is a trend toward more businesses adopting sustainable practices, we expect to see continued demand for more leaders in green marketing in the future.

  • Estimate of jobs in 2021: 347,000 
  • Rate of projected job growth: 10% (faster than average)
  • New jobs to be added in the next 10 years: 35,300 per year
  • States with the highest concentration of jobs: Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Illinois, Connecticut

Environmental Marketing Director Education Recommendations

The steps to become a marketing manager start with the right education. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in marketing is required for most positions. Marketing directors also often hold master’s degrees, such as an MBA or an MPS in Environmental Marketing and Behavioral Economics.

How long does it take to become a marketing director? On average, it takes five to six years of school plus many years of work experience to become one. Your work history should include several years of management experience. 

After college, you will likely work your way up from an entry-level position to manager and then to director. Consider doing an internship in college to increase your work experience and professional network.

The journey to becoming an environmental marketing director is long. Use S.M.A.R.T. goals to help you stay on track.

Environmental Marketing Director High School Recommendations

There are several marketing director qualifications that you can begin working toward while you are still in high school:

  • Strong organizational skills
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work with a team

For students interested in a career in green marketing, take an environmental studies class if your high school offers it. Also, consider joining your school’s journalism club, newspaper, or yearbook staff to begin building your marketing skills. 

Environmental Marketing Director College Education Recommendations

What degree do you need to become a marketing director? The marketing director degree requirements vary depending on the company. Some require a bachelor’s, while others require a master’s. Some companies want you to have a specific marketing degree, while others may accept degrees from related fields such as communications or business. 

Undergraduate

You will need a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field to work as a marketing manager or director. A degree in sustainable business management from Unity Environmental University is a great way to jumpstart a career as a green marketing director. Courses include Environmental Marketing and Branding and Global Chain Supply Operations: Greening Your Business.

Postgraduate

Wondering how to become a better marketing director? A master’s degree may not be required for this career, but it can help you hone your skills and give you an edge over the competition. Unity Environmental University is one of the few graduate schools in the country that offers an environmental marketing degree. This flexible online program is tailored to help you reach your goal of being an environmental marketing director. 

Additional Certifications and Licenses

There is no license required for marketing management positions, but there are a number of online marketing director training options to choose from if you want to gain additional skills and certifications. One of the most common is the Professional Certified Marketer program from the American Marketing Association (AMA).

Are you interested in how to become a digital marketing director and lead your own digital marketing campaigns? These certifications can improve your employability as a digital marketing director:

  • Digital Marketing Pro Certification from AMA and Digital Marketing Institute (DMI)
  • Digital Marketing Expert Certification from AMA and DMI
  • Digital Marketing Certification from Online Marketing Certified Professionals (OMCP)
  • Fundamentals of Digital Marketing Certification from Google
  • Inbound Certification from HubSpot

Environmental Marketing Director In Meeting

Recommended Unity Degrees and Courses

Master’s in Environmental Marketing and Behavioral Economics

This online master’s degree will prepare you to be a leader in the green marketing industry. You can help shape the future of the planet by promoting pro-environmental business practices and consumer choices with the skills and practices you learn in the marketing director courses.

Master’s in Environmental Studies and Sustainability

This degree will give you a holistic perspective on sustainability, looking at it from a cultural, economic, and political lens. Coursework includes Leading Sustainable Change, Ethical Practice and Policy, and Strategic Management of Innovation. An environmental studies master’s degree can also prepare you for work as an environmental business analyst

B.S. in Sustainable Business Management

Looking for an undergraduate degree to set you on the path to becoming a marketing director? This online bachelor’s degree will prepare you for a career in marketing, business management, or entrepreneurship. It’s an ideal place to start if you want to find your own sustainable business.

unity environmental university logo

Explore More Career Paths Related to Environmental Marketing Director

Sustainability Manager

Like green marketing managers, sustainability managers work with companies to minimize negative impacts on the planet and promote sustainable practices. While marketing managers interact primarily with clients and consumers, sustainability managers often work with a larger range of stakeholders. The job requires collaborating with diverse groups to solve complex problems. 

Environmental Resource Manager

If you are interested in conservation, consider a career as an environmental resource manager. It only requires a bachelor’s degree to begin working. The job involves a mix of fieldwork, research, and office work to protect the earth’s water, forests, and other natural spaces. 

Environmental Health & Safety Manager

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Managers help protect people, plants, animals, and other environmental resources. EHS managers work with companies and governments to ensure workers are safe and laws are being followed. If you have a passion for helping people and the planet, this may be a good career for you.