Associate Director of Performance Marketing

Art Institute of Chicago•Chicago, IL

3h•$65,000 - $78,069

About The Position

The Associate Director of Performance Marketing leads the development, execution, optimization, and reporting of integrated digital marketing strategies designed to drive student enrollment and engagement. This role oversees paid media, SEO/SEM, email marketing, digital content strategy, analytics, and conversion-focused marketing initiatives across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in digital marketing, performance marketing, or enrollment marketing.
Demonstrated experience managing and optimizing multi-channel digital advertising budgets.
Experience with marketing automation systems, CRM platforms (such as Slate), and content management systems (CMS).
Experience analyzing campaign performance data and presenting actionable insights to leadership.
Strong knowledge of paid search, SEO/SEM, paid social media, email marketing, and conversion-focused digital marketing strategies.
Proficiency with marketing analytics platforms, CRM systems, marketing automation tools, and content management systems (CMS).
Ability to analyze campaign performance data, interpret metrics, and make strategic, data-driven recommendations.
Knowledge of lead generation, acquisition funnels, audience segmentation, and marketing attribution methodologies.
Strong project management, organizational, and budget management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment while adapting to changing priorities and emerging digital marketing trends.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field preferred.
Higher education marketing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and executes integrated digital marketing strategies that support undergraduate and graduate enrollment goals.
Manages and optimizes paid advertising campaigns across Google Ads, Bing, Meta, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok platforms.
Oversees SEO/SEM initiatives to improve website visibility, search rankings, organic traffic, and conversion performance.
Designs and implements multi-channel campaigns that maintain consistent institutional branding and messaging.
Conducts A/B testing and campaign analysis to improve click-through rates, conversion rates, lead quality, and return on investment.
Utilizes analytics and reporting tools to monitor campaign performance and provide actionable insights to leadership and stakeholders.
Serves as the primary liaison with external media vendors and agency partners to ensure campaign alignment, budget efficiency, and performance optimization.
Collaborates with web, editorial, enrollment, and academic teams to enhance website content, landing pages, and user experience strategies.
Develops and manages email marketing campaigns, automated workflows, and lead nurturing strategies to support prospective student engagement.
Conducts market research and audience segmentation analysis to identify recruitment opportunities and improve marketing effectiveness.
Assists with digital marketing budget planning, forecasting, and allocation to maximize campaign performance and institutional goals.
Maintains knowledge of emerging digital marketing trends, technologies, and best practices while ensuring compliance with institutional policies and accessibility standards.