Retention Marketing Manager

Location: Ideally 2-3 days/ week in Chicago, open to remote This role blends analytics, strategy, and execution. You will be responsible for understanding the business needs at every growth stage, applying industry best practices, and transforming retention from a set of campaigns into a disciplined growth driver. What You Will Own Retention & Subscription Performance Improve retention curves at 30 / 60 / 90 / 180+ days Reduce churn and increase customer lifetime value (LTV)Grow subscription revenue towards 2026 targets Increase retention revenue contribution as a percent of total revenue Improve subscription attach rates, save/skip/upgrade rates Subscription Architecture & Customer Experience Own subscription experience end-to-end, including: Save, pause, skip, downgrade, and win-back flows Replenishment timing and cadence strategy Subscription portal education and UX alignment Drive habit formation during the first 90 days post-purchase Implement best-practice lifecycle frameworks from high-growth wellness brands Analytics, Insights & Business Decisioning Build deep analytics around: Churn drivers and early warnings Behavior patterns across subscription vs non-subscription customers Incremental LTV impact of retention initiatives Conduct cohort analysis by offer, cadence, channel, and SKUDefine and track key performance indicators: Retention curves Churn rateLTV and contribution margin by cohort Subscription attach, save, skip, and reactivation rates Translate data into high-impact strategic decisions Lifecycle Strategy & Best Practices Architect full-funnel lifecycle flows: onboarding, education, cross-sell, retention, win-back Develop testing frameworks tied to revenue impact Ensure lifecycle messaging drives behavioral outcomes (not just opens/clicks)Apply industry best practices from top wellness/CPG subscription brands Cross-Functional & Operational Leadership Partner with Growth, Product, CX, Creative, Ops, and Analytics Manage external partners and transition capabilities in-house Own lifecycle tech stack optimization (Klaviyo, SMS, subscription platform)Influence acquisition strategy to improve long-term LTV

Qualifications: 4–6 years of experience in lifecycle, CRM, email, or retention marketing, ideally within a fast-growing DTC ecommerce or subscription business. Hands-on experience with email and SMS platforms such as Klaviyo, Postscript, or similar. Experience developing and optimizing lifecycle journeys, including onboarding, post-purchase, replenishment, retention, and win-back. Strong analytical skills with experience using data to improve retention, repeat purchase, churn, and LTV.Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple campaigns, timelines, and stakeholders. Experience writing creative briefs and partnering closely with copywriters, designers, and cross-functional teams. Experience managing external agencies and contractors. Familiarity with Shopify and the DTC ecommerce ecosystem. Comfortable operating in a lean, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with a high degree of ownership and hands-on execution. Experience within DTC, CPG, beauty, wellness, supplements, or other consumer brands strongly preferred. Experience in an agency-style, high-volume marketing environment is a plus.