Depending on the company, the titles of promotions director and manager are used interchangeably, which is why the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies both under "advertising, promotions and marketing managers." Promotions directors introduce promotional strategies to increase sales and profits, which include coupons, free samples, contests, rebates, product endorsements, in-store displays and point-of-purchase merchandise. Most promotions directors work for corporations or advertising agencies. Their salaries vary, depending on their industry or geographical location.

Developing Promotional Campaigns

The primary responsibility of a promotions director is to create the promotional concept -- one that best reaches the intended target audience. Promotional development includes meeting with brand managers or clients, deciding which promotional vehicles -- in-store displays and trade show booths, for example -- to use and overseeing the coordination and production of the printed or multimedia promotional. Promotions directors also create budgets for all annual promotions, ensure their departments don't exceed budgets, and hire and train employees.

Bachelor's Degree Required

The minimum educational requirement for a promotions director is typically a bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, advertising or journalism. Most promotions directors also have one or more years of experience in promotions or advertising. Other essential qualifications are creativity and analytical, interpersonal, organizational, communication and decision-making skills.

Work in Offices

Promotions directors usually work weekdays, though the BLS reported that 40 percent of them work more than 40 hours per week. These directors can expect some pressure on the job, as most of their projects have deadlines. As with many business management jobs, promotions directors also may travel periodically to meet with clients or see promotions implemented in stores, restaurants or other distribution outlets.

Salary Between $100,000 and $115,000

The average annual salary of a promotions director was $112,870 as of May 2013, according to the BLS. The top 10 percent earned more than $145,250 annually. Promotions directors made the most working for wired telecommunications carriers -- $163,470, while those in advertising and public relations firms averaged $139,020. New York and Delaware employers paid their promotions directors the highest salaries of $160,660 and $150,350, respectively.

Slow Job Growth

The BLS estimates a 7 percent increase in employment for advertising, promotions and marketing managers, including promotion directors, from 2012 to 2022, which is slower than the 11 percent national rate for all jobs. The necessity among corporations to introduce new products in the marketplace to increase sales and build market share should increase jobs for promotions managers or directors.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Employment and Labor Information 2023

Advertising and Promotions Managers Employment Brief:

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Advertising and Promotions Managers.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Responsibilities and Duties:

• Track program budgets, expenses, and campaign response rates to evaluate each campaign, based on program objectives and industry norms.
• Monitor and analyze sales promotion results to determine cost effectiveness of promotion campaigns.
• Train and direct workers engaged in developing and producing advertisements.
• Inspect layouts and advertising copy, and edit scripts, audio, video, and other promotional material for adherence to specifications.
• Coordinate activities of departments, such as sales, graphic arts, media, finance, and research.
• Direct and coordinate product research and development.
• Confer with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection of advertising media, or product to be advertised.
• Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
• Manage sales team, including setting goals, providing incentives, and evaluating employee performance.
• Identify and develop contacts for promotional campaigns and industry programs that meet identified buyer targets, such as dealers, distributors, or consumers.

Typical Daily Tasks of Advertising and Promotions Managers:

• Working with Computers.
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization.
• Getting Information: Conduct market research.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities. Coordinate operational activities with external stakeholders. Represent the organization in external relations.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work.
• Thinking Creatively: Develop marketing plans or strategies for environmental initiatives. Develop marketing plans or strategies. Develop promotional materials.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Establish interpersonal business relationships to facilitate work activities.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Implement organizational process or policy changes.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge. Maintain knowledge of current developments in area of expertise.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Promote products, services, or programs.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Skills and Requirements:

• Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Negotiation Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Management of Material Resources Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
• Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Word ProcessingUsing a computer application to type text, insert pictures, format, edit, print, save, and retrieve word processing documents.

Advertising and Promotions Managers Salary and Wages:

Average Salary: 58,450. Education: typical education requirements include High school diploma or equivalent.

Data from May 2023 courtesy of U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.