Position Overview
The Director of Marketing serves in a vital leadership capacity, overseeing the development and assessment of strategic marketing and communication initiatives designed to cultivate brand awareness, foster community engagement, and drive lead and enrollment growth. A key member of the Marketing and Enrollment team, this individual bridges the gap between high-level strategy and tactical execution to achieve institutional enrollment goals. The successful candidate will demonstrate a blend of strategic vision and practical expertise in managing multi-channel campaigns and mission-aligned content creation within an educational setting.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Brand Leadership
- Lead the design and implementation of an annual strategic marketing roadmap that supports institutional priorities and enrollment targets.
- Collaborate across departments and within the Marketing and Enrollment team to drive initiatives from conceptualization to fruition.
- Cultivate the brand voice and maintain rigorous adherence to visual identity and messaging standards across all communication channels.
- Perform market research and competitive landscape analyses to refine brand positioning and capitalize on emerging growth opportunities.
- Provide expert counsel to executive leadership regarding brand strategy, audience segmentation, and the effectiveness of marketing investments.
- Ensure marketing objectives are deeply integrated with educational outcomes and student developmental milestones.
Digital Marketing & Campaign Management
- Manage online visibility through SEO, Google Ads, remarketing campaigns, and data analytics tools.
- Oversee social media strategy to engage parents, educators, and community stakeholders with creative, mission-aligned content.
- Monitor paid digital campaigns and performance dashboards to assess reach, engagement, and conversion rates.
- Develop and manage CRM workflows to nurture prospective families from initial inquiry through enrollment.
Content Creation, Media & Communications
- Plan and oversee production of original, high-quality content including blogs, newsletters, videos, and brochures that reflect early learning excellence.
- Liaise with teachers and program staff to capture authentic stories from the classroom.
- Write and edit press releases and manage relationships with media outlets to promote events, milestones, and achievements.
- Ensure accessibility, inclusivity, and ethical representation in all marketing communications.
Enrollment Marketing & Family Engagement
- Partner with admissions and early learning staff to design lead-nurturing funnels and retention strategies.
- Create marketing assets for open houses, school tours, and community events.
- Track and analyze lead generation metrics from inquiries to enrollments using the CRM system.
- Coordinate parental feedback loops and measure satisfaction against marketing outcomes.
Community Relations & Partnership Development
- Build relationships with community organizations, local businesses, and family networks to promote the center as a trusted educational partner.
- Represent the organization at family expos, local fairs, and child development events.
- Support the advancement office in donor relations campaigns or grant-funded outreach initiatives.
Team Oversight
- Maintain compliance with all advertising standards, privacy laws (COPPA, FERPA), and brand guidelines.
- Serve as project manager across the marketing and enrollment team to ensure deadlines are met and project stay within the marketing purview are completed.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Education Administration, or related field (Master's preferred).
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in marketing, with at least 2 years in education, family services, or early childhood settings.
- Proven record of successful campaign management and lead generation in mission-driven or educational organizations.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong understanding of early childhood developmental stages and the parent decision-making process.
- Exceptional storytelling, editing, and creative communication abilities.
- Proficiency in digital tools (Google Analytics, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Canva, CRM systems).
- Data interpretation and reporting skills for executive leadership.
- Ability to balance multiple priorities and manage projects to deadlines.
- Mission-driven with a deep respect for early childhood education and family partnerships.
- Collaborative and empathetic communicator with community-minded values.
- Creative, adaptable, and strategic thinker with attention to detail.
- Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles in all marketing efforts
