Marketing Manager

The Office of Marketing and Communications at Carthage College seeks an enthusiastic, creative, and organized Marketing Manager to join our award-winning team. Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, the Marketing Manager will oversee a wide range of projects that strengthen and enhance the College’s recruiting, retention, and fundraising efforts.

The Marketing Manager develops, coordinates, and ensures the successful execution of marketing plans and initiatives to support the College’s recruitment and fundraising goals. This includes gathering and analyzing information to identify new markets and customers; collaborating with admissions and academic colleagues to ensure marketing plans meet recruitment needs; setting and maintaining production schedules; managing the College’s advertising plan; generating ideas for new marketing collateral; and identifying/collecting supporting assets for digital and print materials.

This position works with the design team on design concepts, as well as the College’s digital, social, and editorial teams on content development. The Marketing Manager also manages all print marketing projects for the College from development through implementation. This includes conducting pricing research and analysis, and using the department’s project management system to create and maintain projects, schedule tasks, and ensure that projects stay on deadline and budget.

Responsibilities

1) Create, coordinate, and ensure the successful execution of marketing plans to support the College’s recruitment and fundraising goals.

• Create plans in collaboration with the Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Senior Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, admissions representatives, academic faculty and staff, and other key staff.
• Gather and analyze information to identify new markets and customers, and measure the efficacy of existing marketing campaigns and strategies.
• Envision, design and update strategic recruitment pieces and other marketing collateral according to institutional, campaign, and admission cycle needs.
• Maintains knowledge of trends and developments in the market; identifies needs for new products and services and makes recommendations to leadership.

2) Manage the College’s paid media and advertising plan.

• Coordinate plan’s development to ensure alignment with annual marketing plans.
• Manage all ad submissions to ensure creative is submitted on time and according to ad specifications.
• Arrange and place ads in social media utilizing the latest targeting techniques.

3) Serve as lead project manager for College recruitment and admissions projects and marketing collateral

including but not limited to: brochures, incoming student communications, email campaigns, event and travel collateral, guidebook placements, web and digital assets, and recruitment-related advertising.

• Use the Carthage College project management system (WorkZone) to set up production schedules for all print and merchandise projects and schedules for design comps and proofing stages between client(s) and designer(s).
• Inform editorial/web, design, and production staffs of expectations with regard to content and design of publications/websites, as well as other specifications such as quantities and deadlines.
• Ensure proper communication and review of content, design, and layout with all necessary staff. Relay any questions and concerns to client(s). Collect, compile, and effectively communicate client feedback to creative services and the editorial team throughout production process. Ensure that all corrections, updates, and changes are incorporated into the final copy.
• Conduct pricing research and analysis to ensure competitive product and service pricing.
• Communicate regularly with external vendors for quotes, execution, and delivery of materials.
• Process and assign invoices to correct departments for projects that come through the Office of Marketing and Communications.

4) Innovate to meet changing market demands.

• Keep current with emerging marketing trends and technologies.
• Identify and pitch new opportunities.
• Be ready to dream up fun projects, brainstorm wild ideas, and imagine absurd possibilities with the full Marketing & Communications team as we tackle the wide variety of projects that come our way.

Required Education, Experience and Skills

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field required.

Experience:

• At least four years of experience in marketing or production, preferably in higher education.
• Experience with print and digital marketing for recruitment purposes.
• Must demonstrate an understanding of the principles and methods used to market programs, promote events, and recruit students.
• Experience proofreading and editing, with an impeccable attention to detail.

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills, particularly in reviewing data and developing strategies to bolster recruitment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills are required, particularly planning, managing deadlines, and evaluating progress.
• Must be able to create, implement, and monitor budgets.
• Advanced computer literacy, particularly in word processing, using internet resources, budgeting, and using databases.
• The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage constructively with diverse cultures or backgrounds.
• Able to use a personal computer and Web browser, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be dependable, respectful, adaptable, efficient, and personable.
• Must be self-motivated — able to multitask, work independently, and contribute to a team. Must be able to keep both small and large projects on track.
• Must be able to juggle multiple projects, respond to immediate requests, and work in a high-energy, deadline-driven atmosphere.
• Must employ a deep respect and appreciation for our various audiences, their interests, and media habits.

How to Apply

Applications must include (1) a letter of interest/a cover letter, (2) resume, and (3) three current professional references. Upload as a single PDF through the “Resume Upload” section of the link below.

APPLY NOW

Apply by Feb. 9 for best consideration.

About Carthage
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the thriving Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, Carthage College blends the best liberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, and personal attention from dedicated faculty and staff. Our beautiful campus, an 80-acre arboretum with stunning lake views, is home to 2,600 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students. Founded in 1847, Carthage is consistently named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review and a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report. All Carthage employees play a vital part in the success of our students, as we work together to create an environment where all can achieve their true potential. Grow with Carthage.

Carthage College is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse community. We welcome applications from a broad spectrum of people, including members of ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.