Marketing Manager, Merchandise Marketing

Auto Zone, the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the U.S., is seeking a strategic, analytically driven Marketing Manager – Merchandising Marketing to lead category marketing strategy with a strong emphasis on retail media, vendor-funded marketing, and monetization through the Auto Zone Media Network.

This role serves as a key connector between Merchandising, Marketing, Ecommerce, and vendor partners, translating category priorities into integrated marketing and retail media strategies that drive measurable customer engagement, sales performance, and media revenue.

This role emphasizes strategic planning, performance-based marketing, media investment optimization, and category growth through data-driven insights. The position plays a critical role in expanding the impact and scale of the Auto Zone Media Network by partnering with Merchandising and vendor teams to identify, sell, and execute effective retail media programs aligned to business objectives.

This is a high-visibility role that regularly interfaces with Director-, VP-, and SVP-level leaders across Marketing, Merchandising, and Ecommerce, and is ideal for a Marketing Manager experienced in retail media, category leadership, and cross-functional influence in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

• Lead category-level marketing strategy in close partnership with Merchandising leadership, translating business priorities into integrated marketing and retail media plans that drive traffic, conversion, and category growth.
• Serve as a primary Marketing owner for Auto Zone Media Network activation within assigned categories, partnering with Merchandising and vendor teams to identify, develop, and execute vendor-funded retail media programs aligned to performance goals.
• Shape and oversee annual category marketing plans, balancing promotional moments with always-on media, product discovery, and customer experience initiatives across owned, paid, and in-store channels.
• Partner cross-functionally with Brand, Media, CRM, Loyalty, and Ecommerce to ensure cohesive execution of category strategies across the full customer journey.
• Lead development of insight-driven marketing plans, leveraging customer analytics, competitive insights, and business performance data to inform category strategy, media investment, and optimization decisions.
• Drive retail media performance tracking and reporting for assigned categories, using results to inform optimization, future planning, and recommendations to Merchandising and vendor partners.
• Act as a strategic thought partner to Merchandising and senior Marketing leadership, clearly communicating category priorities, results, and opportunities to Director-, VP-, and SVP-level stakeholders.
• Mentor and guide Merchandise Marketing team members as applicable, helping prioritize work, elevate strategic thinking, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration.
• Minimum 7-10 years’ experience in marketing with a multi-channel retailer preferred.
• Project Management experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; persuasive in presenting complex concepts to groups.
• Proven analytical, business planning, strategic planning, and leadership skills.
• Proven ability to translate analytic data into strategic ideas.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and change within a fast-paced environment.
• Automotive aftermarket experience is a plus.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage agency partners and engage in a manner that delivers positive results.
• Talented in problem-solving, analyzing trends, and understanding business priorities.
• Proficient in anticipating and adopting innovations in business-building digital and technology applications.