Head of Marketing

$127B industry with potential to grow to $300B. At Tern, we're building the platform to reshape the travel agency industry by empowering entrepreneurs who built it. We're a new category, and your role as Head of Marketing is to close the gap between market perception and reality, making the transformation obvious and driving growth.

About Tern

Tern is a venture-backed software company dedicated to modernizing the 98% small business travel agency industry. Our platform helps travel advisors run more efficient, professional, and profitable operations, providing the modern infrastructure they need to lead the next chapter of travel.

Beyond business, Tern supports intentional travel, helping clients avoid overtouristed spots and spend dollars in meaningful ways.

We believe in small businesses, the power of travel, and building the future of both.

Key Responsibilities

• Own Tern’s brand and demand generation globally, ensuring clarity and growth across advisors, agencies, and suppliers.
• Develop messaging that succinctly explains Tern’s value to advisors, suppliers, and investors, backed by proof like higher advisor earnings and less admin time.
• Find and amplify advisor success stories to prove Tern’s impact.
• Build a weekly demand engine across content, PR, digital, and events.
• Establish Tern’s brand presence in the hotel and supplier world.
• Ship marketing initiatives in one-week cycles, testing and iterating rapidly.
• Leverage AI as the default for marketing operations, ensuring efficiency and innovation.
• Build and lead a small, high-performing team empowered by AI.

Required Qualifications

• Full-stack marketing leadership: Experience leading PR, digital, content, and events, with a focus on both brand and demand.
• First-marketing-hire instincts: Ability to build a marketing function from scratch in a fast-growing startup.
• AI-native execution: Proficiency in using AI to streamline marketing processes and campaigns.
• Narrative and category expertise: Proven ability to explain complex products and position them in new or contested markets.
• Small-team leadership: Experience leading teams with a focus on impact per head rather than headcount.

Bonus Points

• Experience in travel, hospitality, or supplier-side marketing.
• Marketing to two-sided or producer-led ecosystems (e.g., advisors, agents, franchisees).
• Track record of building brand equity through events, awards, and speaking engagements.

Company Culture and Values

🌱 We're always leveling up.

🧭 We act with optimistic agency.

💪 We expect operational excellence.

OPERATING PRINCIPLES:

• 👂 Deep understanding of users: Obsess over those we serve and the industry we operate in.
• ➕ Embrace the power of 'and': Challenge trade-offs and tackle problems with intention.
• 📣 Speak up and move forward: Encourage healthy tension and share dissenting views early.
• 🏃 Move fast and sweat the details: Prioritize velocity and relentless progress over perfection.
• 🤣 Take the work seriously, but not ourselves: Hire kind, driven people who elevate the team.

Why Join Tern?

• Join a mission-driven team transforming travel planning.
• Work with a supportive, curious, and creative team.
• Influence and shape user success strategies.
• Competitive salary, equity, and benefits package.