Director, Customer Marketing

Description VAST Data is the AI Operating System company, redefining how organizations build and operate intelligent systems at scale. As enterprises, AI-native companies, and cloud providers move from isolated models to fully operational AI systems, the need for a unified data and compute platform has become mission-critical. We are looking for a Director of Customer Marketing to expand VAST’s global customer advocacy engine that reflects this shift. This is not a traditional customer marketing role. We are looking for a strategic leader who can identify, develop, and elevate the voices of our customers as a core pillar of VAST’s growth, credibility, and market leadership. The Role As Director of Customer Marketing, you will define and execute the global strategy for how VAST engages customers as advocates, storytellers, and strategic partners. You will build a scalable program that brings forward the most important customer voices in AI today, from global enterprises to next-generation AI clouds and model builders, and position them at the center of our narrative across media, events, sales, and digital channels. You will partner closely with executive leadership, product, sales, and communications to ensure customer stories are not just captured but deployed with precision to drive business impact. Implement and scale a customer advocacy platform (e.g., Influitive or equivalent) to drive measurable impact across pipeline, deal acceleration, and customer-led growth initiatives. What You’ll Do:  Scale the Customer Marketing Function Define the next phase of vision, strategy, and roadmap for customer marketing at VAST, evolving an established function into a strategic driver of growth Expand existing programs across advocacy, references, storytelling, and community into an integrated, scalable system Introduce platform-driven capabilities (e.g., Influitive) to activate customers at scale and drive measurable engagement Partner with sales and marketing to turn customer advocacy into a pipeline- building engine, influencing demand creation, deal acceleration, and win rates Turn Customers into Market Voices Identify and cultivate strategic customer advocates across industries and geographies Develop deep relationships with key customers, including executive stakeholders Translate real-world deployments into compelling narratives that resonate with technical and business audiences Own Customer Storytelling Across Channels Drive creation of high-impact customer content: case studies, videos, keynote appearances, blogs, and social Partner with Comms and PR to integrate customer voices into press, analyst relations, and thought leadership Ensure customer validation is embedded in major announcements and campaigns Power Events and Experiences Lead customer participation across flagship events like VAST Forward, industry conferences, and partner activations Curate and prepare customers for keynote and breakout speaking roles Build repeatable programs that scale customer engagement across field and global events Enable Sales and GTM Build and operationalize a global reference program aligned to sales priorities Equip sales teams with the right customer proof points to accelerate deals Partner with field marketing to activate customer advocacy in-region Measure What Matters Define success metrics tied to pipeline influence, deal acceleration, and brand impact Build reporting frameworks that connect customer marketing to revenue outcomes Requirements 12+ years of experience in customer marketing, advocacy, or related roles in enterprise technology Proven track record building and scaling customer marketing programs in high-growth environments Strong executive presence and ability to engage credibly with CIOs, CTOs, and AI/engineering leaders Exceptional storytelling instincts with the ability to translate complex technology into clear, compelling narratives Experience working closely with PR, analyst relations, and executive teams Deep understanding of enterprise infrastructure, data platforms, or AI ecosystems is strongly preferred Builder mindset with the ability to operate both strategically and hands-on Why This Role Matters The next wave of AI will not be defined by models alone, but by how intelligence is operationalized across real-world environments. At VAST, our customers are building some of the most advanced AI systems in the world. Their stories are not just proof points, they are the market. This role will define how those stories are told. What You Can Expect Opportunity to build a category-defining customer marketing function from the ground up Direct exposure to executive leadership and strategic initiatives A front-row seat to the companies and institutions shaping the future of AI A platform to elevate some of the most important customer voices in technology today