Marketing Director

About Obvious Ventures

At Obvious Ventures, we invest in breakthrough technologies that move humanity forward. As an early-stage venture capital firm, we focus on world positive investments across three critical areas: planetary health, human health, and economic health.

Our portfolio includes category-defining companies like Beyond Meat, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Diamond Foundry, Virta Health, and Devoted Health. We don't just provide capital; we partner with founders to build iconic, purpose-driven brands.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a Marketing Director to join our San Francisco headquarters and lead our event strategy while helping amplify the stories of breakthrough innovations that are reshaping our world. This is an events-heavy role (approximately 60% of your time) where you'll orchestrate meaningful experiences that connect our ecosystem while also building thought leadership and brand presence.

This role sits at the intersection of venture capital, technology, and storytelling. You'll be responsible for elevating Obvious Ventures' community and brand while supporting our mission to accelerate world positive innovation. We're looking for a strategic doer who is excited to roll up their sleeves and build something lasting.

What You'll Do

Event Strategy & Execution (Primary Focus - ~60% of role)

• Plan and execute signature events ranging from intimate founder dinners (10 attendees) to large-scale conferences (200+ attendees)
• Own the complete event lifecycle: strategy, planning, vendor management, logistics, execution, and post-event follow-up
• Manage multiple concurrent events while maintaining exceptional attendee experiences
• Create curated experiences that foster meaningful connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders
• Build and manage relationships with premier venues, caterers, AV providers, and other event partners across the Bay Area and beyond
• Manage event budgets and negotiate contracts with vendors to optimize spend

Content & Thought Leadership

• Partner with our investment team, and work directly with Obvious co-founder James Joaquin, to create compelling content that showcases our investment thesis and portfolio company innovations
• Develop and execute content strategies that support and amplify our event programming
• Help our partners articulate complex technological breakthroughs in accessible, engaging ways
• Build and maintain relationships with key media contacts and industry influencers

Brand & Marketing Operations

• Manage marketing campaigns that support portfolio company milestones and firm announcements
• Collaborate with portfolio companies on co-marketing initiatives, especially around events and speaking opportunities
• Select and coordinate with external agencies and vendors as needed

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the investment team to identify event opportunities and storytelling moments
• Support portfolio companies with event strategy, speaking opportunities, and connections
• Partner with our operations team on investor relations events and LP communications
• Serve as the primary liaison for all event-related activities across internal stakeholders

What You Bring

Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of marketing experience with significant focus on event management, either in-house at a venture firm, technology company, or at a top-tier agency
• Extensive experience managing complex event portfolios, with proven ability to execute 10-20+ events annually
• Expert-level event management skills including vendor negotiations, budget management, logistics coordination, and attendee experience design
• Demonstrated success managing simultaneous events across different formats, scales, and audiences
• Exceptional project management abilities with experience juggling multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Impeccable attention to detail combined with strategic thinking and creative problem-solving
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences

Technical Proficiencies

• AI literacy is essential: Must be proficient in leveraging the latest AI tools for content creation, event planning, design, research, and workflow optimization
• Do you strive to create pixel-perfect results? Obsess over just the right font for your latest presentation? Those are the visual design skills we're looking for, with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and/or Figma preferred
• Experience with marketing automation platforms, CRM systems, and analytics tools
• Social media management across professional platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.)

Personal Qualities

• Deep curiosity about emerging technologies, especially AI, and their potential societal impact
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where AI tools enhance productivity and creativity
• Ability to think like an owner and take initiative on new opportunities
• Passion for purpose-driven work and sustainable innovation
• Excellent interpersonal skills and comfort working with C-level executives and founders
• Do you love to solve puzzles, both literally and figuratively? We're looking for creative problem-solvers who thrive on untangling complex challenges.

Most importantly, you are deeply motivated by our mission. You're genuinely excited to support entrepreneurs who are working to solve the world's biggest challenges.

Why Obvious Ventures

• World Positive Work: Help accelerate technologies that solve humanity's biggest challenges
• Access & Learning: Work directly with breakthrough companies and visionary founders
• Growth Opportunity: Build the marketing function at a growing, successful VC firm
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of operators and investors committed to positive impact
• Competitive Package: Base salary $175,000-$225,000 plus annual bonus, comprehensive benefits, and 401k

Ready to Make the Obvious Happen?

If you're excited about using marketing to amplify world-positive innovation, we'd love to hear from you. Please include a cover letter explaining why this role and our mission resonate with you, along with examples of events or campaigns you're particularly proud of.

Obvious Ventures is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.