Assistant Director, Advertising

Temple University • Philadelphia, PA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Temple University's Strategic Marketing and Communications Division is seeking an Assistant Director, Advertising, within the Enrollment Marketing team. Reporting to the Director of Advertising, this role supports the development and refinement of paid media strategies and recommendations across channels, aligned with division-wide marketing priorities and institutional brand standards. The Assistant Director independently manages complex, integrated paid media programs from planning through completion and translates marketing goals into actionable guidance for the university’s media buying agency and internal stakeholders.

The position requires sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to incorporate feedback, navigate cross-functional relationships, and use reporting knowledge and data-informed insights to improve campaign outcomes. The Assistant Director works with Strategic Marketing and Communications colleagues, campus partners, and the external media buying agency to support effective planning, continuous optimization, and consistent execution quality. Other job-related duties may be assigned.

The position has a hybrid work arrangement, combining on-campus and remote work; Temple University and the departments determine the duration of this arrangement. An offer of employment is conditional upon successfully completing a pre-employment physical.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Three years of directly related experience in advertising, paid media activation, marketing operations, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Knowledge of advertising best practices and the operational function of paid media tactics.
• Working knowledge of advertising campaign performance metrics and reporting dashboards, and the ability to translate insights into execution improvements.
• Working expertise in digital marketing and paid media, including SEM/search and paid social, and related measurement fundamentals such as tracking, UTMs, and conversion events.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
• Proactive project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy, prioritizing effectively, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to different environments and new processes and technologies.
• Self-directed, solutions-oriented approach and ability to contribute to a positive work environment.
• Ability to work in a continuous-improvement environment, receive feedback positively, and demonstrate personal accountability.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate with colleagues and campus partners.
• Diplomacy, collegiality, and willingness to address challenges and resolve issues collaboratively.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to use data and insights to inform decisions.
• Ability to work well under pressure, independently and efficiently, and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Previous work in higher education marketing or advertising.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple complex, integrated paid media programs from planning through completion, coordinating cross-functional delivery with internal project managers, setting expectations, monitoring milestones, maintaining schedules and channel specifications, and escalating risks early.
• Resolve day-to-day stakeholder and agency issues, manage expectations, address conflicts, and remove roadblocks independently; escalate matters requiring Director-level strategy, budget tradeoffs, or institutional alignment decisions.
• Interpret reporting and dashboards to identify trends and performance drivers, develop optimization and testing recommendations, and guide agency follow-through.
• Apply paid media operational expertise and best practices, including platform constraints, creative requirements, optimization levers, and measurement limitations, to prevent execution issues and improve campaign effectiveness.
• Establish and improve paid media planning and execution standards and processes, including templates, standard operating procedures, quality assurance practices, and documentation norms, and drive their adoption across internal partners and the agency.
• Monitor budget pacing for assigned programs, reconcile planned and actual spending, identify variances, and recommend reallocations or timing shifts for Director review.
• Partner with the Advertising Specialist to cover day-to-day operational needs, including campaign documentation, reporting compilation, asset handoffs, tracking, and administrative and financial workflows.
• Ensure creative and messaging are routed through appropriate review channels and comply with brand standards and guidelines.
• Attend staff events as needed, including occasional nights and weekends.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule.
• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Three personal days.
• Tuition remission: eligible employees and their dependents can obtain a degree tuition-free.
• Generous retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level