Senior Experiential Marketing Manager

Description

About ZBiotics

At ZBiotics, we make genetically engineered probiotics that improve daily life. As a group of motivated, yet down-to-earth people, we are fueled by two things: a love for science and a commitment to being people-first. GMO products like ours – built to create benefits for people in their daily lives – are the future. As the first to market, we believe it’s our duty to set a high bar for product quality, safety, and transparency for others to follow.

In 2019, ZBiotics launched Pre-Alcohol – the world's first genetically engineered probiotic drink – designed to break down acetaldehyde, an unwanted alcohol byproduct. In 2024, we launched Sugar-to-Fiber, – a genetically engineered probiotic drink mix – that creates fiber from the sugar you already eat, contributing to microbiome health.

With a full line of genetically engineered probiotics in development, our team is growing. We’re looking for people as excited as we are to build this new category of consumer products. ZBiotics is headquartered in San Francisco and Y Combinator and venture-backed.

About the Role

We're hiring a Senior Experiential Marketing Manager to build out and scale ZBiotics' experiential program. In this role, you’ll create the moments that turn curiosity into trial, and trial into lasting advocacy. You’ll create a scalable program from end to end: from owned events, sampling, partnership activations, and retail and hospitality support, you’ll be responsible for the strategy behind how we show up for our consumers. You'll pair creativity with rigor, giving every activation a clear goal and a way to measure it, so the best ideas earn the investment to grow. As the program grows, you'll build the resources to scale it.

Your Responsibilities

The following are essential functions of this role.

Experiential execution & strategy support

Partner with Brand Marketing leadership to shape the experiential strategy, then own its day-to-day execution in line with Brand Marketing priorities..

Plan and deliver memorable, shareworthy activations that generate word of mouth, PR, and high social engagement.

Build a scalable sampling strategy.

Maintain a forward-looking experiential calendar aligned with quarterly campaigns, cultural moments, retailer priorities, and brand-building opportunities.

Build attribution into every activation: affiliate codes, on-site capture, EMV reporting, and a retro for every event.

Stand up a disciplined test-and-learn program - launch experiments, define and measure impact, and scale the strongest ideas.

Be on the ground at key events to keep execution on track and solve problems in real time.

Partnership Activation

Partner with the Brand Marketing Manager to turn sponsorships into engaging consumer experiences, and to develop high-impact creator experiences that deepen relationships, drive authentic advocacy, and spark culturally relevant conversation.

Lead on-site execution for season-long partnerships and cultural moments.

Identify the right partners for our owned events and lead those collaborations from concept to execution.

Resourcing Management

Define the resourcing needed to build an experiential marketing program at ZBiotics.

Manage experiential budgets, timelines, and agency partners, delivering programs efficiently, on budget, and on brand.

Recruit, train, and lead a team of Brand Ambassadors who represent the brand well and help the program scale.

Hospitality & Retail Support

Partner with the Retail Marketing Manager to plan and execute in-store events that drive foot traffic and support new retail launches.

Partner with the Hospitality team to bring hospitality partnerships to life through activations that deliver the premium brand experience in high-touch environments.

Requirements

• A builder. You're a self-starter who doesn't need a playbook and wants to build from the ground up.
• An owner. You close the loop from idea to retro without being chased.
• Calm on site. You're a detail-obsessed operator when the event is live.
• A relationship builder. You form strong partnerships with internal teams, partners, creators, vendors, and local stakeholders.
• Ready to travel. You're comfortable with a heavy travel schedule.
• Values-aligned. You embody the ZBiotics values: People-first, Integrity, Citizenship, and Science.
• Desired Qualifications
• 6+ years in experiential marketing, event marketing, or brand partnerships, including 3+ years owning events end to end.
• A portfolio of intimate, high-touch events with results you can show.
• Strong agency and vendor management skills, and comfort owning budgets.
• A strong analytical orientation: you've set KPIs, measured event impact beyond attendance, and turned performance and consumer insights into actionable recommendations.
• Willingness to travel frequently (2x-4x per quarter) and work events.
• Additional Helpful Experience
• Startup or small-company experience building processes or policies from scratch.
• Experience on a brand team.
• Background in beverage, hospitality, wellness, or founder-led brands.
• This Role is Perfect For You If…
• You'd rather build a program from a blank page than inherit one.
• You believe the best events are both unforgettable and measurable.
• You love watching people experience a brand for the first time, and you're excited to introduce them to a new category and the science behind it.
• You want your work to shape how a fast-growing brand shows up in the world.
• You love working cross-functionally, rallying brand, creative, retail, and hospitality partners around a shared idea and bringing it to life together.
• You embody the ZBiotics values of People-first, Integrity, Citizenship, and Science

Benefits

• We believe in a life well-lived. ZBiotics offers competitive benefits for a life outside of work, including: health / dental, 401(k) matching, a flexible, unlimited paid time off policy, 16 weeks fully paid parental leave, a home office stipend, transit benefits for those in the San Francisco Bay Area, and access to co-working office space if located in or visiting San Francisco.
• The base salary range for this position is $155,000 - $170,000 a year, and will include additional equity. Employment at ZBiotics is at-will.
• Location: Remote, based in the US. Must be willing to travel for events - close proximity to major airports is a plus.
• We Encourage You to Apply…
• At ZBiotics, we value our differences, and we encourage all—especially those whose identities are traditionally underrepresented in tech organizations—to apply.
• ZBiotics is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.
• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
• ZBiotics will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in the application and employment process. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact ZBiotics HR.