Marketing Team Lead

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. Our customers include the world's leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office based roles. Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder led, profitable and growing.

Marketers at Canonical are brand stewards and demand creators. They transform complex open-source technology into messages, stories, and strategies that shape the market understanding of our vision.  Some focus on differentiated product and portfolio positioning; others specialize in account-based engagement, partner and alliance messaging, or product-led growth. Whatever their specialization, each marketer works as part of a cross-functional unit, contributing campaigns and insights that help the company learn and grow faster.

We have a bias for action, focus efforts on the most impactful activities, and take ownership of our results. We work across long buying cycles, balance storytelling with data, design experiments, track outcomes, and iterate rapidly to find what works.

Marketers at Canonical don’t just promote open source; they amplify it, ensuring our innovations reach the right people, at the right time, with clarity and purpose from developers to decision makers.

As an experienced marketer at Canonical, you’ll lead cross-disciplinary teams of product, partner, or sales professionals in your specific area, from establishing priorities and strategies with senior stakeholders to delivering on integrated campaigns. We are looking for both generalists who want to take ownership of a product portfolio or channel, and for specialists who can help the whole team excel in their domain of expertise.

Location: This is a globally remote role; you can be based in EMEA, APAC, or the Americas, depending on the team’s location. 

The role entails

You will take ownership of one of our core marketing tracks and lead both strategy and execution. You’ll ensure campaigns land, launches succeed, and adoption grows, while contributing to the broader go-to-market engine.

You will:

• Lead GTM strategy and campaign execution in your functional area
• Align with product, sales, content, and partner teams to deliver integrated plans
• Shape messaging, positioning, and assets that resonate with customers
• Design and run experiments to test your hypothesis
• Drive major launches, marketing initiatives, and growth programs
• Run reviews and retrospectives to improve performance and impact
• Mentor colleagues, strengthen the function, and set high standards for delivery

What we are looking for in you

• Strong written and verbal communication in English
• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university
• Proven experience in B2B marketing, ideally in software, SaaS, or open source
• Strong track record shaping go-to-market strategy, messaging, and campaigns that move the pipeline
• Fast adaptation to change and new technology adoption in marketing
• A leader, growing and elevating others across the organization 
• A solid eye for ROI and effective budget management
• Ability to influence and align stakeholders across the organization
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills for technical solutions
• Skilled at managing complex projects and leading cross-functional teams
• Comfortable using data to evaluate campaigns and refine strategy
• Proactive, outcome-driven, and confident, operating independently at a global scale

Nice-to-have skills

• Background in sales-led or ecosystem growth
• Familiarity with ABM (Account-Based Marketing) approaches
• Experience leading go-to-market efforts across a large product portfolio
• Experience managing budgets, agencies, or external vendors
• Understanding of open source communities and business models
• Experience mentoring or leading junior marketers

What we offer you

Your base pay will depend on various factors including your geographical location, level of experience, knowledge and skills. In addition to the benefits above, certain roles are also eligible for additional benefits and rewards including annual bonuses and sales incentives based on revenue or utilization. Our compensation philosophy is to ensure equity right across our global workforce.  
In addition to a competitive base pay, we provide all team members with additional benefits, which reflect our values and ideals. Please note that additional benefits may apply depending on the work location and, for more information on these, please ask your Talent Partner.

🏠Fully remote working environment - we’ve been working remotely since 2004!

📚Personal learning and development budget of 2,000 USD per annum

💰Annual compensation review

🏆Recognition rewards

🏝 Annual holiday leave

👶Parental Leave

🧑‍💼Employee Assistance Programme

🧳Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues at ‘sprints’

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open-source projects and the platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, we are changing the world of software. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence; in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Most colleagues at Canonical have worked from home since our inception in 2004.​ Working here is a step into the future and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.

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