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Welcome to Tomorrow

We believe that effective executives don't simply seek "jobs"; they seek organizations with a compelling story, exceptional colleagues, and room for continued growth. As you scroll through this page, you will gain a better understanding of Great Clips' narrative, where the company has been, and where it is going.

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Great Clips Inc.

With over 4,400 retail locations across 200 core North American markets, and home to over 620 primary franchisees, Great Clips Incorporated is one of the largest franchisors in the country, and is the category leader in the salon industry today generating nearly $1.8B in network sales and executing over 110 Million haircuts annually.  Homegrown here in Minnesota, the company opened the doors of its first location on the University of Minnesota campus in 1982 and immediately took off, built on the foundation of convenient, efficient, low-priced service, a relatively new concept in the salon space in during this time period.  Prior to 2020, Great Clips experienced an unprecedented 15 consecutive years of significant geographical and top line growth (51 consecutive quarters of same store sales growth), an extraordinary run for a organization already at scale, and considering the economic cycles that unfolded during that time period.  Despite the major challenges faced by retailers during the pandemic, Great Clips experienced insignificant contraction and, today, is reinvigorated by its recent investments into Data and Analytics, Tech and Digital Assets (mobile, web, etc.), and continued geographical expansion.  As its executive team begins strategic planning for its next 3-year growth plan, it realizes the immense importance of identifying a strong, strategic Marketing & Communications executive to lead a team of nearly 30 people managing a $90M national budget and build on top of its strong foundation, helping the organization truly understand its core customer, drive its first-party data capabilities, implement an effective Loyalty strategy, engage the younger generation of customers, and help Great Clips Inc. innovate around its core proposition, balancing tradition with modernization.

A Foundation you can build on

Getting a sense of the foundation that has been built prior to your arrival offers a lens through which you can see where your career may go.

Great Clips

Supported by several proprietary technologies and apps, Great Clips' value proposition is in offering its consumer base an inexpensive, no frills, convenient haircut experience.  Great Clips Inc. also remains one of few franchisors that is extremely focused on developing and maintaining incredibly strong, positive, and extremely supportive relationships with its franchise owners across North America.  The ownership opportunity inside Great Clips' franchise network has proven to be a strong one, as the company tends not to follow dramatic economic cycles.  While Great Clips' certainly emphasizes the importance of cleanliness, quality, consistency, and service across its retail network, its executives outwardly share that it is not meant to be "flashy or sexy", but instead, a very strong and valuable business model with lean operating costs allowing for the continuation of low prices for its customers and high returns for franchisees.

History

Founders Steve Lemmon and David Rubenzer opened Great Clips' first salon on the U of M campus in 1982 during a time when speed and convenience was uncommon in the grooming industry.  After gaining immediate traction, they brought Ray Barton into the fold to drive formal expansion and franchising growth opportunities.  Under Ray's leadership, Great Clips grew from just 150 stores in 1988 to 1,000 stores in just 9 years, and by 2011, Great Clips reached 3,000 stores when Barton stepped down from the CEO post after 28 years, handing the baton to his sister, Rhoda Olsen.  Rhoda went on to earn "MN Executive Of The Year" as CEO, leading through continued growth, and handing the baton to the current CEO's predecessor, and former Franchise Owner, Steve Hockett.  Hockett led Great Clips through the all-too tumultuous pandemic, stabilized the business effectively, and made key strategic investments to prepare for post-pandemic opportunities.  Steve recently announced his own retirement, and former President Rob Goggins - 18 year veteran of Great Clips Inc - will step into the CEO spot on Jan 1st, 2026.  Rob is energized by the opportunity in front of the company to leverage intelligent investments made during a flatter post-pandemic era to drive the company's next stage of smart growth and evolution.

Scale

Although lean and versatile in its corporate office, Great Clips is the largest salon network in the US today.  It drives nearly $2B in annual network sales and executes over 110 Million haircuts annually across 4,400 retail locations in the US and Canada, and its network employees over 44,000 stylists.  There are over 2,000 franchise owners across the Great Clips' highly collaborative system, allowing for uncommon levels of information transfer through the sharing of ideas, innovations, and techniques.  The company serves nearly 30M customers annually across all 50 United States, and 4 Canadian Provinces.  Prior to 2020, Great Clips experienced an incredible 51 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth, a telling statistic to the company's resistance to economic recession.

Growth

Great Clips is currently positioned well to reset the table for growth, marketshare capture, and customer count gains as it begins strategic planning for the next 3 years.  Having paid down some of its relatively sizable debt position in recent years, and currently realizing the benefits of recent strategic investments made into Master Data Management and Analytics (Informatica), Loyalty Platform pilots, Digital Tech and Consumer Apps, and major sports partnerships with the NCAA, College Football, and the NHL, the executive team feels the company's core infrastructure is now optimized for driving growth.  But a critical component to executing on a growth plan is to really dive deeper into the company's core customer assessment, and begin to plan strategically for further capture of the core while innovating and modernizing its messaging position in ways to capture more of the younger generation of consumers.

Our Take On Great Clips

Kindness and Authenticity

Great Clips' culture is underscored by a deeply rooted principle, established by its Founder and former CEO Ray Barton, of caring for other people.  This principle remains core to the company's current team, which becomes evident quickly during onsite visits.

Commitment To Relationships

Great Clips Inc's central team, unlike the reputation of many others in the franchisor category, is unwavering in its dedication to caring for, supporting, guiding, and helping its franchise owners be successful via franchise advisory counsel meetings, training programs, co-ops discussions, and ownership succession seminars.

Nonhierarchical

The culture of Great Clips is one of very little bureaucracy, where team members have the autonomy to drive the business forward in an agile way without the hurdles of red tape.  CEO Rob Goggins maintains an open door, and executives are accessible, responsive, and collaborate exceedingly well.

What You Will Be A Part Of

As a senior leader at Great Clips Inc, you will position the organization for its future, which requires an understanding of those around you, what they collectively stand for, and how they positively impact the world.

GREAT CLIPS RANKED IN ENTREPRENEUR MAG TOP 500 FRANCHISES

Great Clips named the #1 hair salon franchise by Entrepreneur magazine in its annual Franchise 500 list, an honor it has received for eight consecutive years. The company was also recognized as a Top 200 Workplace in Minnesota by the Star Tribune. 

ROB GOGGINS KEYNOTE "FUEL WHAT DRIVES YOU"

Recently appointed CEO, Rob Goggins, gives keynote focused on "fueling what drives you" for non-profit Best Prep annual luncheon.

MEET GREAT CLIPS' FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN

Great Clips' founder, former CEO, and current Chairman of the Board, Ray Barton talks vision and aspiration.

STEVE HOCKETT DISCUSSES TECH AND GROWTH

Outgoing Chief Executive, Steve Hockett, discuss with Squawk Box crew the impact that technology has had on Great Clips' business.

NHL PARTNERSHIP PROMOTION - CALE MAKAR

NHL'er Cale Makar promotes the "check-in" function on Great Clips' renown app for a chance to win tickets to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

NCAA MARCH MADNESS ADD WITH MIKEY DAY & HUNTER DICKENSON

Comedial Mikey Day gives riveting interview of college basketball star, Hunter Dickenson.

RHODA OLSEN TALKS CULTURE

Former Chief Executive of Great Clips, and current Vice Chair of the Board, Rhoda Olsen, discusses her take on what makes Great Clips such a special firm.

GREAT CLIPS BRAND, GROWTH, AND FRANCHISE STORIES

Former VP of Real Estate (now President), Rob Goggins, speaks to the Great Clips brand and shares franchisee success stories, particularly HQ's support of real estate selections.

GREAT CLIPS MOHAWK WARRIOR DONATES

Great Clips Mohawk Warrior gives back and surprises school in Palmetto, FL, with $5,000 worth of free school supplies.

The Company You’ll Keep

Who you’ll work with is often more important than the work itself. Get to know the Great Clips senior leadership team you will be engaging with in this role.

Rob Goggins

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (EFFECTIVE JAN 1 2026)

Rob has been a key strategic leader within Great Clips Inc. for nearly two decades. Since stepping into the Presidency in 2018, he has led functions spanning real estate, expansion, talent acquisition, learning and development, business intelligence and technology, operations, legal, marketing, and communications, preparing him exceedingly well for his recent appointment to the CEO spot as Steve Hockett retires (effective Jan 1st). Under Rob's stewardship, Great Clips has rolled out impactful innovations such as the ReadyNext® text-alert system, enhancements to their mobile app (which has surpassed 25 million downloads), and salon remodel initiatives across the U.S. and Canada.  Rob is an extremely authentic person, grounded by over 20 years in the franchising space, who truly values people and understands the power of commercial prowess.  He is known for his incredible work ethic, his willingness to lead by example and get in the trenches when necessary, and his charismatic and genuine personality.  A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, he also serves the Twin Cities community as board chair for Junior Achievement of the North

Sarah Yatchak

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & FRANCHISE RECRUITING (EFFECTIVE JAN 1 2026)

Sarah is a seasoned franchise executive with deep expertise in the space and nearly 9 years of experience with Great Clips Inc.  Earlier career, Sarah initially supported franchisees in private law practice before joining Buffalo Wild Wings in 2011 where her career expanded beyond corporate counsel and into franchise operations and development leadership.  Sarah joined Great Clips in 2016 as head of Legal and Franchise Administration, advancing to Associate General Counsel in 2018 and VP of Legal & General Counsel in 2020, and was recently promoted into a newly created role as SVP over the marketing, communications, and franchise recruiting functions.  Sarah’s combined legal and business acumen enables her to align operational strategies with risk management while nurturing franchise relationships.  Beyond her corporate roles, she contributes thought leadership through authored articles and speaking engagements at national and regional franchise events, and actively advocates for the franchise model through her work with the International Franchise Association’s government relations and legislative committees. Sarah earned her J.D. with honors from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and remains committed to community service, particularly supporting children and families through the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery.

Yvonne Mercer

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Jared Nypen

VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT

Rhoda Olsen

VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Ray Barton

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Steve Hockett

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (OUTGOING)

A Day in the Life

The VP of Marketing & Communications at Great Clips will have an enormous impact on its next stage of growth and evolution, sitting at the intersection of heritage and reinvention.  This executive will be charged with stewarding a brand that hundreds of millions of people and families trust, while nudging it toward modern relevance.  It’s a role defined less by strictly pushing campaigns out the door and more by shaping how 4,400 salons across North America stay essential in a marketplace relatively crowded with barbershops, apps, and shifting generational tastes.  Success hinges on marrying data sophistication with franchise credibility, translating customer insights, analytics, and national partnerships into growth that franchisees can feel at the register.  At its core, this is a crucial leadership seat where influence matters as much as execution: establishing trust from long-tenured franchise owners, guiding a passionate and highly skilled marketing team, and navigating the subtle tension between tradition and innovation. The VP is not simply a marketer, but a cultural ambassador, charged with ensuring that Great Clips' brand pillars - “Comfort, Freedom, and Connection” - resonate just as strongly with the next generation as they have for the last four decades.

Responsibilities

  • Accountable for the overall strategic performance of the National Advertising Fund (~$90M in 2025) ensuring that our systemwide and local investments are ROI-driven across all channels and our plans are consistently executed to deliver on our brand promise, drive customer count growth, and elevate salon profitability.
  • Collaborate with internal groups and external vendors to leverage research, data, business intelligence and customer analytics that drive marketing effectiveness and ultimately delivers customer count growth.
  • Advance customer acquisition, retention, and engagement strategies.
  • Drive innovation in MarTech and AI-powered marketing strategies and tactics.
  • Initiate and develop ongoing strategic marketing partner and vendor relationships that leverage Great Clips assets and resources to provide maximum value and results for all Great Clips stakeholders.
  • Strengthen key national partnerships with organizations such as College Football Playoff, March Madness, and the National Hockey League. Ensure that these partnerships drive brand relevance and drive customer traffic to salons.
  • Launch and scale our first-ever loyalty program to drive frequency and brand preference.

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  • Develop and execute marketing department plans to ensure maximum support for franchisees at system, market, and salon level within Great Clips Inc. and National Advertising Fund budget guidelines.
  • Direct short and long term internal / external brand and communications strategies to position Great Clips as the largest haircare brand in North America.
  • Continually assemble and improve the data, resources and vendors that allow Great Clips to have an industry leading ability to execute social and digital marketing strategies.
  • Partner with agencies and internal teams to improve omnichannel campaigns that drive customers to salons.
  • Encourage strategic use of discounts and promotions that grow the brand and increase salon profitability.
  • Collaborate with the Marketing and Advisory Review Council (elected franchisee advisory group) and individual franchisees to understand business challenges, gather feedback, and align national strategy with local needs.
  • Ability to listen, earn trust, and accept direct feedback from franchisees while building strong, positive relationships to align brand strategies with local execution.
  • Manage and mentor a high-performing team of four Director-level reports: Marketing Planning, Digital Marketing, Branding/Creative, and Communications. Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-driven culture that champions innovation and agility.

Requirements

  • 10+ years of progressive marketing leadership experience, preferably in franchise, distribution, multi-unit retail, or service-based businesses.
  • Significant expertise in customer lifecycle marketing, social and digital acquisition, and performance measurement.
  • Deep knowledge and experience in content marketing, nurture marketing, one-to-one marketing and executing on digital marketing campaigns to drive customer and until level profit growth.
  • Strong familiarity with AI-driven marketing, customer segmentation, and personalization strategies.
  • High level skills using data and analytics to increase customer traffic.
  • Knowledge of the strategic market planning process, media strategy and media planning; ability to develop plans that meet company goals.

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  • Strong financial acumen, including the ability to assess marketing performance through data and analytics.
  • Knowledge of the variables that influence the budget, ability to use financial statements to compare actual performance with projections and take corrective actions when results differ significantly from the plan.
  • Utilize high level strategic listening, thinking and problem-solving skills that allow you to envision, plan and execute various marketing programs that resonate with our target audience.
  • Executive-level communication and presentation skills; confident in building credibility with internal stakeholders, franchisees, and partners.
  • Collaborative leadership style with a demonstrated ability to develop high-performing teams and cultivate strong cross-functional relationships.
  • Experience in launching or growing loyalty programs with measurable business results is preferred.
  • Skill in preparing written materials such as correspondence, reports, materials or presentations that meet the intended purpose and are easily understood by the audience.
  • Negotiation skills, such as the ability to collaborate with others to arrive at a conclusion utilizing compromise, persuasion, debate and rationale.
  • Comfortable implementing and using online collaboration platforms as a communication tool.
  • Ability to effectively delegate to others to better distribute work, develop the potential of direct reports, and build a strong team.
  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or related field required; MBA preferred.
Download Full Job Description

What You Bring to the Table

Data-Driven Strategic Leadership

This senior leader will elevate analytics into a true “single source of truth,” integrating loyalty, digital, and customer data into actionable insights. This isn’t just technical savvy—it’s the ability to translate complex data into simple, trusted narratives that drive measurable customer growth.

Franchise Credibility & Collaborative Influence

With 600+ franchisees depending on marketing strategy, Great Clips' next senior marketing executive will be adept at establishing trust across a diverse ownership base. That means balancing national strategy with local realities, hearing operator concerns, and navigating opportunities between discount-driven traffic and brand values.

Innovating Around The Core

Great Clips faces a major opportunity to attract younger customers and stay competitive. Their next marketing executive brings creativity and strong judgment to refresh the brand’s presence—through partnerships, digital channels, and loyalty—without alienating long-standing stakeholders or customers around the company's brand pillars, "Comfort, Freedom, and Connection."

We believe this opportunity has the potential to be your next best thing. What do you think?