(Late) Co-Founder Opportunity – Chief Marketing and Communication Officer
Switzerland / Italy (Lombardia) / Dubai – hybrid / remote
20-100%
About Us
At Cheetah Stories we make comfortable and wildly elegant vegan luxury high heels.
Our heels are more than just a fashion statement—they're a revolution in comfort and sustainability. We invested 14 months in research to design a footbed that promotes well-balanced weight distribution, allowing women to stand tall without the usual discomfort and pain. Inspired by the soft cushions of the cheetah paw, we fondly call our high heels Cheelettos.
Our Cheelettos, designed in the heart of Ticino, Switzerland, are handcrafted from premium vegan leather in Italy. Yes, we are on a mission to transform the fashion industry, one bold step at a time.
Cheetah Stories was founded in February 2023. We launched our first collection in the summer of 2024 and are now ready to take the world by storm. That’s why we are looking for a co-founder and Chief Marketing and Communication Officer (CMO) who is prepared to define and drive our sales strategy, manage retail operations, and foster growth alongside the founding team: Fiorella Erni (CEO) and Martin Markovic (CFO).
The Role
Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the electrifying world of a fashion startup? As our Chief Marketing and Communication Officer, you will be the heart and soul of the brand, responsible for ensuring that everyone who crosses our path instantly falls in love with what we do. And, of course, you'll be the one to make sure they cross our path in the first place.
Your mission: Create a strong, distinctive brand and voice for Cheetah Stories. Capture attention with compelling storytelling that’s elegant, bold, and fun. Design visuals that resonate and drive the sales of our iconic Cheelettos. With a primary focus on key markets, including Switzerland, Milan, Paris, London, and the Gulf countries, you’ll play a pivotal role in elevating our brand and expanding our reach.
You’ll have the unique opportunity to shape the future of the company and become one of the heroes in the Cheetah Story.
Who you are
Experienced: You have at least 5 years of proven experience in marketing and communication within the luxury fashion industry, with a strong track record in building brands and driving conversion. Your expertise includes not only brand development but also digital marketing, media relations, and content strategy.
Strategic Thinker: You possess a strong strategic mindset, with the ability to develop and execute branding, marketing, and communication strategies that align with our mission and vision. You see the bigger picture and can turn insights into actionable, impactful campaigns.
Creative Visionary: You thrive on developing innovative, out-of-the-box strategies that set new industry standards. With a passion for sustainable luxury, you will bring a fresh approach to how we market our vegan high heels while maintaining the exclusivity and elegance of the brand.
Relationship Builder: You excel at building and maintaining meaningful relationships with key partners, collaborators, brand ambassadors, and influencers. Your ability to network and nurture long-term connections will elevate the brand's visibility and reputation.
Highly Organised: You are methodical and highly organised, with a strong ability to juggle multiple projects, timelines, and stakeholders. From overseeing long-term strategic goals to managing day-to-day social media posts, you keep everything running smoothly without missing a beat.
Passionate Advocate for Sustainability: You are deeply committed to ethical and sustainable fashion. Excited by our unique offering of vegan luxury high heels, you demonstrate a genuine care for animals, people, and the planet – and you bring that passion into everything you do.
Driven & Flexible: You are results-oriented, adaptable, and thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing startup environment. You bring a high level of drive and enthusiasm to the table while also knowing when to adapt and approach challenges with a sense of fun and humour.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: You embrace the entrepreneurial mindset, willing to take risks, learn from mistakes, and build something amazing from the ground up. You're not afraid of the startup grind – in fact, you’re motivated by it.
Team-Oriented Leader: While you’re comfortable taking initiative and working independently, you also excel in a collaborative, team-oriented environment. You know when to take charge and when to empower others, ensuring collective success over individual accolades.
Clear Communicator: You communicate openly, honestly, and with transparency. You’re comfortable having difficult conversations when necessary, and you always approach communication with respect and clarity.
Multilingual Proficiency: You speak English and either German, French, Italian or Arabic fluently, and ideally all of them. ;-)
Key responsibilities and tasks
Strategic Vision:
Craft and execute a dynamic marketing and communication strategy for Cheetah Stories, propelling us into new markets and driving explosive growth across all channels in the fashion sector.
Develop innovative campaigns that push the boundaries of luxury and sustainable fashion, ensuring the brand resonates with diverse customer segments.
Digital Marketing & Content Creation:
Oversee the creation and management of advertising campaigns across multiple platforms (social media, digital ads, influencer collaborations, etc.) to ensure strong brand visibility and high conversion rates.
You’ll be hands-on – the photographer, the copywriter, the editor, and even the model. You’ll wear many hats to bring the brand to life, while keeping that strategic focus front and center.
Social Media & Online Engagement:
Drive online engagement by managing social media platforms, creating captivating posts, and building a community of loyal followers.
Consistently monitor and adapt strategies based on analytics, trends, and customer feedback to maintain a high level of engagement and brand presence.
Press & Public Relations:
Network with the press, influencers, brand ambassadors, and fashion tastemakers. Your extensive network should be unbeatable – yes, we want Serena Williams to wear our heels.
Secure strategic media placements and press coverage to boost brand visibility and credibility within the fashion industry.
Client Engagement:
Build lasting relationships with key clients, stakeholders, and brand partners, ensuring that every interaction reflects the luxury, sustainability, and elegance of our vegan products.
Work closely with the sales and business development teams to ensure seamless communication and alignment on client needs and expectations.
Implement and manage the CRM system (yes, not fun, we know).
Event Planning & Execution:
Plan, organise, and execute high-impact brand events that create excitement, awareness, and engagement within the fashion world. This includes everything from strategy development to on-the-ground execution.
Coordinate fashion shows, pop-up shops, influencer events, and partnerships with other brands to amplify the brand’s presence in key markets.
Customer Segment Strategy:
Develop and implement distribution strategies for different customer segments, such as bridal, Gen Z, and dancing shoes, in collaboration with the CEO and Chief Sales and Business Development Officer.
Ensure that the marketing efforts for each segment align with our core values of luxury, sustainability, and vegan fashion, catering to the unique needs of each target market.
Brand Partnerships & Collaborations:
Identify and foster strategic collaborations with other brands, influencers, and designers that align with our values and extend the reach of Cheetah Stories.
Negotiate and execute co-marketing agreements, ensuring that partnerships are mutually beneficial and aligned with our brand vision.
What we offer
Equity Stake: As a co-founder, you’ll receive a significant equity stake in the company and share in our collective success.
Flexible & Fun: Join a flexible, collaborative environment with a team that loves what they do and knows how to have a great time while doing it.
Growth Opportunity: Be part of a groundbreaking brand with the chance to drive its growth and success in the fashion industry.
Creative Freedom: Bring your bold ideas to life and help shape the future of our sales and retail strategies, making your mark on our journey.
Growth & Impact: Play a vital role in a brand poised to make waves and leave a lasting impression on the fashion world.
Compensation Structure: Initially, there will be no salary; however, we offer a significant equity stake and a vibrant, collaborative team environment. We are focused on securing our first funding round to support future growth and compensation.
How to Apply
If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, we can’t wait to hear from you!
Feel free to give us a call if you’d like to chat more about the role (+41 78 832 27 27). To apply, just send us your resume, a cover letter sharing your vision for the position, and any relevant portfolio or case studies to standtall@cheetah-stories.com.
Application Deadline: 7 January.
Let’s make magic happen together!