Marketing Manager, Online Presence and Brand Management

Since our founding, we've stayed grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity, and we've never wavered from the idea that education is the greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community built on continuous improvement and a genuine commitment to serving those we teach. Through education, we empower change and build stronger, healthier communities. Our hard-working team runs on collaboration and mutual respect, for one another and for every student we serve. What You Will Do: The Marketing Manager develops, implements, and evaluates integrated marketing and communications initiatives that support the mission, programs, and strategic priorities of the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood (MIEC). Serving as the Institute's primary marketing resource, the position is responsible for marketing planning, digital communications, website management, brand stewardship, audience engagement, and performance measurement. Working collaboratively with Institute leadership and university partners, the Marketing Manager designs and executes multi-channel marketing strategies that increase awareness, strengthen engagement, promote programs and services, and support organizational goals. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, ensuring that marketing activities are aligned with audience needs, institutional priorities, and brand standards. Essential Responsibilities: Marketing Planning & Campaign Management Develop and implement integrated marketing plans that align with MIEC's mission, goals, and strategic priorities. Plan, coordinate, and execute multi-channel marketing campaigns utilizing digital, email, social media, web, print, and other communication channels. Collaborate with Institute leadership to identify marketing opportunities, audience needs, and communication priorities. Develop annual marketing objectives, campaign plans, and performance measures to support program and organizational goals. Manage project timelines and coordinate marketing activities to ensure timely and effective execution. Evaluate campaign performance and recommend improvements to strengthen future marketing initiatives. Digital Presence & Website Management Manage and maintain MIEC's website and related digital platforms to ensure content accuracy, usability, accessibility, and alignment with organizational objectives. Coordinate website updates, content enhancements, and improvements to support audience engagement and user experience. Develop and publish website content that promotes MIEC programs, services, resources, events, and initiatives. Apply best practices related to digital communications, search visibility, and audience engagement. Monitor website performance and recommend enhancements based on user behavior and analytics. Brand Management & Communications Develop marketing and communication materials that support the Institute's mission and reflect university brand standards. Ensure consistency of messaging, visual identity, and communication practices across marketing channels. Create and coordinate content for newsletters, publications, promotional materials, and other communication vehicles. Support efforts to strengthen awareness and understanding of MIEC's programs, services, and impact among internal and external audiences. Serve as a resource to Institute staff regarding marketing, communications, and brand-related best practices. CRM, Audience Engagement & Marketing Analytics Partner with Institute and university stakeholders to support CRM-enabled marketing, audience outreach, and engagement initiatives. Develop audience segmentation strategies and communication plans that support recruitment, participation, and relationship-building goals. Monitor and analyze marketing performance data across campaigns and communication channels. Prepare reports, dashboards, and summaries that provide insights into marketing effectiveness and audience engagement. Use analytics and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities for improvement and inform future planning efforts. Student Staff Supervision & Collaboration Recruit, train, assign, and oversee student workers supporting marketing and communication activities. Provide coaching, direction, and feedback to ensure quality work and professional development. Coordinate projects with internal stakeholders, university partners, vendors, consultants, and external service providers. Foster collaborative relationships that support successful execution of marketing and communication initiatives Qualifications, Skills, and Competencies: Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Digital Media, Journalism, Business, or a related field 5+ plus years of progressively responsible professional experience in marketing, communications, digital marketing, brand management, or related areas. Experience developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns. Experience managing websites, digital communications, and social media platforms. Experience analyzing marketing data and utilizing performance metrics to inform decision-making. Experience creating print and digital marketing materials. Experience coordinating multiple projects with competing deadlines. Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations, preferred. Experience using CRM and marketing automation platforms, preferred. Experience managing external vendors, agencies, or freelance resources, preferred. Experience supervising student employees, interns, or project-based staff, preferred. Knowledge of accessibility, web content management systems, and digital engagement strategies, preferred. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred Work Environment/Physical Demands/Travel Requirements: This is hybrid position located at any one of the NLU campuses (Chicago, Lisle or Wheeling). Long periods of sitting, standing, and constant computer/data entry work and the ability to travel 2-3 times per year to represent MIEC as an exhibitor at local, state, or national conferences is a part of the role. Ability to lift 25-30 lbs. is a required element of this position, as well as the ability to stand for long periods while organizing, collating, and stocking/restocking marketing collateral. This position requires some availability during evenings and weekends and reliable access to the Internet and phone when out of the office/working remotely.