Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Director of Growth Marketing

Worcester Polytechnic Institute$95K — $124K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • 8+ years in growth/enrollment marketing, including 3+ years in supervisory roles.
  • Proven track record in driving awareness and enrollment pipeline growth.
  • Expertise in data-informed marketing across multiple channels and CRM systems.
  • Strong analytical skills and ability to leverage AI tools for marketing effectiveness.
  • Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives in higher education.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and lead the university's growth marketing strategy for student acquisition and retention.
  • Manage integrated omnichannel marketing campaigns to enhance student engagement.
  • Oversee enrollment marketing platforms and partnerships to maximize ROI.
  • Lead recruitment-focused experiential marketing initiatives and external collaborations.
  • Cultivate and lead a team focused on performance and data-driven growth strategies.
  • Use analytics to optimize marketing investments and campaign performance.

Benefits

  • Collaborative and creative work environment.
  • Opportunity to influence student enrollment strategies.
  • Engagement in cutting-edge marketing technologies and strategies.
  • Professional development opportunities in a higher education setting.
  • Participation in impactful community and recruitment events.
Full Job Description
JOB TITLE
Director of Growth Marketing

LOCATION
Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME
Marketing Communications

DIVISION NAME
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The Director of Growth Marketing is a member of WPI's in-house team of experts in marketing strategy, messaging, creative, social media, multimedia, and production management. Under the direction of the AVP of Marketing Communications and in collaboration with campus partners, this team leads WPI's integrated brand strategy and the campaigns that support it. With a heavy focus on student enrollment, the Director of Growth Marketing leads strategy and execution of demand generation initiatives that drive awareness, inquiries, and student pipeline growth across undergraduate and graduate studies and pre-collegiate programs.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Growth Strategy
  • Lead the university's enrollment growth marketing strategy across the full student acquisition funnel, driving awareness, audience acquisition, inquiries, engagement, and pipeline growth through integrated multichannel campaigns, digital nurture programs, and performance optimization across paid, owned, experiential, and CRM-enabled channels.
  • Develop and lead pre-college engagement and retention strategies that cultivate long-term enrollment pipelines, progressing students from WPI middle school and high school programs toward undergraduate inquiry, application, and enrollment.
  • Develop audience segmentation and targeting approaches for prospective students, families, counselors, educators, and other key enrollment influencers, including guidance counselors, superintendents, STEM coordinators, and STEM-focused student organizations.
  • Drive innovation through experimentation, testing, and evaluation of emerging channels, technologies, and audience engagement strategies to improve enrollment marketing performance.


Campaigns, Channels & Execution
  • Lead integrated omnichannel enrollment marketing campaigns.
  • Lead planning, execution, optimization, and performance management of enrollment marketing campaigns in partnership with Creative and Digital Operations teams.
  • Lead strategy for enrollment marketing platforms and third-party lead generation ecosystems (e.g., Niche, CollegeVine, U.S. News & World Report), maximizing visibility, engagement, and ROI.
  • Drive continuous improvement of enrollment marketing assets and campaign experiences in partnership with Creative and Digital Operations teams.
  • Work with partners in Admissions to design and optimize CRM-enabled nurture programs and omnichannel student journeys that improve engagement, conversion, and enrollment outcomes.


Experiential & Partnership Marketing
  • Lead recruitment-focused experiential marketing initiatives, including conferences, competitions, trade shows, robotics events, and other strategic activations.
  • Manage external marketing partnerships and sponsorships that support prospective student engagement and enrollment growth.


Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Lead a team of two marketing professionals, cultivating talent, collaboration, high performance, and a data-driven culture focused on growth and measurable outcomes.
  • Lead cross-functional planning and execution across Admissions, Marketing Communications, Creative, Digital Operations, university stakeholders, agencies, and vendors to deliver integrated enrollment marketing initiatives and measurable business outcomes.
  • Partner with Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions leadership to align enrollment marketing strategies, recruitment priorities, and institutional enrollment goals.
  • Represent the Marketing team in leadership settings and in interactions with stakeholders within the campus community.
  • Provide direction, prioritization, and performance oversight across enrollment marketing campaigns, initiatives, and investments.
  • In partnership with the Creative Director and aligned with the university brand, ensure consistent application of positioning and messaging across recruitment marketing initiatives.


Data, Analytics & Performance
  • Use analytics, attribution, and performance insights to optimize marketing investment and campaign effectiveness.
  • Monitor and report regularly on funnel performance, inquiry growth, campaign ROI, and pipeline contribution.
  • Establish testing frameworks and performance benchmarks across creative, audience targeting, messaging, and conversion strategies.
  • Use AI-enabled tools and predictive insights to improve targeting, personalization, operational efficiency, and enrollment marketing outcomes.
  • Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.


Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • A minimum of eight years of progressive experience in growth marketing, enrollment marketing, demand generation, or related marketing disciplines, including at least three years of supervisory experience.
  • Demonstrated success leading enrollment and growth marketing initiatives that drive measurable awareness, inquiry generation, lead acquisition, engagement, and enrollment pipeline growth.
  • Proven ability to develop and execute data-informed marketing strategies across paid, owned, experiential, CRM-enabled, and marketing automation channels.
  • Experience with CRM and enrollment marketing platforms, including Salesforce, Slate, lead generation ecosystems, marketing automation technologies, audience segmentation, nurture campaigns, and prospective student journey development.
  • Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, with experience using analytics, attribution, AI-enabled tools, and performance insights to optimize marketing effectiveness and operational efficiency.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams and initiatives within complex organizations.
  • Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, budgets, agencies, sponsorships, external partners, and marketing investments.
  • Proven experience in higher education.
  • Agency, consumer, or direct-to-consumer marketing experience preferred.


Salary Grade 10: $95,000 - $124,000 per year (depending on experience)

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Compensation at WPI

FLSA STATUS
United States of America (Exempt)

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, focusing on the instruction and research of technical arts and applied sciences. Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities and now has 14 academic departments with over 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, management, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. WPI's faculty works with students in research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields such as health and biotechnology, energy, information security, and materials science. WPI's campus is located one mile west of downtown Worcester, in the residential neighborhood of Salisbury Street, amidst a variety of restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions.
Learn more about Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Size
1,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1865

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