Director, Marketing Operations and Performance

Ellucian • Reston, VA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ellucian is seeking a Director, Marketing Operations and Performance to transform how its Marketing organization operates. This collaborative leadership role shapes the Marketing operating model and improves efficiency, collaboration, accountability, and measurable business impact through AI, automation, data-driven insights, and modern ways of working. The Director challenges existing processes, simplifies work, reduces low-value activities, improves resource use, and strengthens marketing ROI and alignment across the revenue organization.

The role leads strategic planning and operational effectiveness by connecting priorities, investments, execution, and outcomes. Working closely with Finance, Sales Operations, Marketing leadership, and other business functions, the Director improves workflows through automation, process redesign, and cross-functional collaboration. The position also leads and develops a small team and drives organizational change and continuous improvement across Marketing.

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant experience in B2B marketing operations, marketing strategy, business operations, management consulting, or related leadership roles.
• Strong experience leading strategic planning, operational transformation, process improvement, and cross-functional initiatives within complex organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI, automation, and emerging technologies to improve business processes, operational efficiency, and organizational performance.
• Experience developing and managing operating models, governance frameworks, strategic priorities, and performance management processes.
• Strong understanding of B2B marketing operations, including demand generation, account-based marketing (ABM), pipeline management, customer lifecycle, and sales alignment.
• Experience with budget planning, financial analysis, investment prioritization, resource optimization, and business performance evaluation.
• Ability to interpret marketing analytics and performance data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable business recommendations; the role does not directly own reporting production or MarTech administration.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders, navigate competing priorities, and drive alignment across teams without direct authority.
• Experience leading organizational change, improving workflows, and driving adoption of new processes and technologies.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing, coaching, and developing team members while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• A proactive, strategic mindset, with the ability to challenge existing practices, identify opportunities, and deliver measurable business results.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in enterprise software, SaaS, or technology organizations.
• Background in management consulting, business transformation, or operational excellence.
• Experience implementing AI-powered workflows, intelligent automation, or technology-enabled business transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with marketing technology ecosystems, CRM platforms, and marketing performance measurement tools.
• Experience supporting revenue operations, go-to-market transformation, or marketing and sales process alignment.
• Experience leading marketing operational improvements in a global or matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual and quarterly marketing planning, aligning priorities, investments, and resources with business and growth objectives.
• Oversee the integrated marketing portfolio, including project intake, prioritization, resource allocation, dependencies, and strategic trade-offs.
• Improve Marketing's operating model through streamlined processes, AI-enabled workflows, automation, and modern ways of working.
• Partner with Marketing leaders to identify and prioritize high-impact AI and automation opportunities based on business value, feasibility, and measurable outcomes.
• Establish and improve Marketing's operating cadence, governance, decision-making processes, and accountability frameworks.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve collaboration, eliminate redundant activities, reduce bottlenecks, and strengthen execution across Marketing and the broader revenue organization.
• Own Marketing's KPI framework, performance targets, and business review processes; partner with Analytics and Finance to evaluate results, marketing ROI, and improvement opportunities.
• Translate marketing performance data into actionable insights, executive-level recommendations, and strategic decisions.
• Partner with Demand Generation, Sales Operations, and Marketing leadership to improve funnel performance, lead qualification, marketing-to-sales handoffs, and pipeline conversion.
• Support weekly, monthly, and quarterly performance reviews, turning insights into action plans, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Finance on marketing budget planning, forecasting, spend management, investment prioritization, and resource optimization.
• Evaluate marketing investments, program effectiveness, and operational capacity to identify efficiency and return-on-investment opportunities.
• Drive change management and adoption of new processes, tools, and technologies, including identifying training and enablement needs.
• Advise senior Marketing leadership on priorities, organizational effectiveness, resource trade-offs, and operational improvements.
• Build partnerships across Sales, Sales Operations, Finance, Product Marketing, IT, and other business functions to advance shared objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of 1–2 direct reports, setting expectations, supporting professional growth, and driving accountability.
• Champion innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible time off
• Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account for health, financial, or learning interests
• 401(k) with company match and BrightPlan
• Parental leave
• Five charitable days to support the community
• Telemedicine
• Wellness resources
• Headspace Care mental health support
• Wellbeats virtual fitness classes
• RethinkCare and Wellthy caregiver support
• Diversity and inclusion programs, including access to internal employee resource groups
• Employee referral bonuses
• Education Assistance Program
• Professional development opportunities
• LinkedIn Learning

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed