Head of Marketing

Founding Growth & Partnerships Lead – PawzDen

Location: Raleigh–Durham, NC preferred | Hybrid/Remote

Employment Type: Early-stage, equity-based role

Industry: Pet Care | Pet Tech | Marketplace Startup

About PawzDen

PawzDen is building a community-focused platform that helps pet parents discover and connect with trusted local pet-care providers, including pet sitters, walkers, boarders, groomers, trainers, and other service professionals.

Our goal is to simplify pet care by bringing discovery, booking, communication, payments, reminders, pet records, and community support into one connected experience.

We are currently preparing for our launch in the Raleigh–Durham area and are looking for an entrepreneurial marketing and growth leader who wants to help build the company from an early stage.

About the Role

We are looking for a Founding Growth & Partnerships Lead to help define and execute PawzDen’s market-entry and expansion strategy.

This is not a traditional corporate marketing role. You will work closely with the founding team to shape the brand, recruit local partners, build community awareness, support fundraising, and develop a repeatable growth model.

The right person will be comfortable working in an early-stage environment, taking ownership, testing ideas, building relationships, and turning strategy into action.

What You Will Do

• Develop PawzDen’s launch and expansion strategy for Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, and surrounding communities.
• Build a go-to-market plan for attracting pet parents and pet-care providers.
• Identify and onboard pet sitters, walkers, boarders, groomers, trainers, veterinary partners, shelters, and local pet businesses.
• Create partnerships with apartment communities, universities, dog parks, pet stores, rescues, community organizations, and local events.
• Plan PawzDen’s participation in pet shows, community events, adoption events, exhibitions, and startup programs.
• Develop digital and local marketing campaigns across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, community groups, email, and offline channels.
• Create referral, ambassador, influencer, and provider-acquisition programs.
• Help prepare investor materials, market research, growth projections, and angel-investor outreach.
• Identify angel investors, startup accelerators, incubators, grants, and strategic funding opportunities.
• Track marketing performance, provider acquisition, customer growth, partnerships, and campaign results.
• Help shape PawzDen’s long-term brand, positioning, pricing, and expansion strategy.

Who We Are Looking For

• Experience in marketing, growth, partnerships, business development, startup operations, or community building.
• Strong ability to build relationships and confidently represent PawzDen with partners, investors, and community organizations.
• Comfortable developing strategy while also executing day-to-day activities.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and networking skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to work independently.
• Interest in pet care, technology, marketplaces, consumer platforms, or local-service businesses.
• Experience with startup fundraising, investor outreach, digital marketing, events, or partnership development is highly valued.
• Existing relationships within the Raleigh–Durham startup, pet-care, university, or small-business community would be an advantage.

Compensation and Opportunity

PawzDen is currently in the early-stage and pre-funding phase.

This role is not fully salaried at the beginning. The selected candidate will receive an equity-based compensation opportunity, subject to an agreed role, vesting schedule, performance expectations, and formal documentation.

Cash compensation is expected to be introduced after PawzDen secures angel investment or reaches agreed business and revenue milestones. The timing and amount of future compensation will depend on funding, company performance, and a written agreement.

This opportunity is best suited for someone who:

• Wants to join a startup at an early stage.
• Is comfortable with the risks and rewards of an equity-based role.
• Wants meaningful ownership and influence over company strategy.
• Is interested in growing into a senior marketing, growth, or business leadership position as PawzDen expands.

Why Join PawzDen?

• Help build a pet-tech company from the ground up.
• Influence the product, brand, market strategy, and business model.
• Work directly with the founding team.
• Build relationships across the pet-care, technology, startup, and investor ecosystem.
• Earn equity and participate in the long-term value created.
• Make pet care easier for families while helping local providers grow.

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