Manager, Pre-Development Marketing

Core Spaces•Chicago, IL

9h•$105,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Pre-Development Marketing Manager will serve as the lead for Hub Club, responsible for building market awareness, shaping perception, and generating early demand for new development communities prior to launch. This role is focused on establishing Core Spaces’ new developments as the most visible, talked about, and desirable brand in each market before leasing begins. Through a mix of digital campaigns, guerilla marketing, partnerships, and high-impact activations, this individual will create momentum that positions new developments for immediate success upon opening. Operating at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and market intelligence, this role will also gather and translate real-time insights from the field. Informing messaging, refining audience targeting, and equipping New Development teams with a deeply informed and highly engaged audience. Travel required approximately 30–50%, with increased presence in key markets during launch and activation periods.

Requirements

3-5 years of experience in new development marketing, brand launches, or experiential campaigns
Proven ability to build momentum and awareness in new or emerging markets
Experience executing grassroots or guerilla marketing initiatives
Ability to gather, interpret, and apply market data to inform strategy
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple markets simultaneously
Highly proactive, creative, and ownership-driven mindset

Nice To Haves

Background in launching new brands, products, or markets
Familiarity with Gen Z marketing, campus environments, or youth culture trends
Experience with partnerships, sponsorships, or NIL-related initiatives
Experience in student housing, real estate, hospitality, or lifestyle brands

Responsibilities

Lead the overarching Hub Club strategy, defining how Core Spaces enters and establishes presence in new markets
Inform market-specific go-to-market plans inclusive of timelines, key moments (housing fairs, orientations, campus events), and activation strategies
Conduct ongoing market research to understand student behavior, competitive positioning, and demand drivers
Build and refine student personas using insights from field activity, campaign performance, and sales team feedback
Synthesize findings into clear, actionable insights to inform strategy and support New Development teams
Launch multi-channel campaigns across paid, organic, and on-the-ground channels to build awareness and anticipation
Help implement curiosity-driven campaigns designed to spark conversation and early engagement (teaser messaging, QR-driven campaigns, etc.)
Lead the development of initial landing pages and splash pages, including messaging, positioning, and audience targeting
Identify and secure high-impact advertising opportunities that maximize visibility in each market
Plan and execute in-market activations including pop-ups, street-level engagement, and campus-facing experiences
Develop and test guerilla marketing tactics that break through and create buzz within highly competitive environments
Lead micro event strategy and execution, continuously optimizing based on performance and engagement
Oversee the creation and distribution of initial branded materials and giveaways that reinforce campaign messaging and drive awareness
Identify and initiate relationships with key local partners, including university organizations, athletic departments, and student groups
Support early-stage coordination of partnerships, sponsorships, and NIL opportunities to expand brand reach and credibility
Ensure Core Spaces is embedded within the local market ecosystem prior to launch
Partner closely with New Development (Sales & Leasing) teams to align on market insights, audience behavior, and positioning
Provide ongoing reporting on campaign performance, audience engagement, and market sentiment
Deliver a highly informed, engaged, and primed audience to New Development teams at the time of transition
Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned by management
Must be able to complete all physical requirements of this role with or without a reasonable accommodation

Benefits

A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging
Competitive pay that values your contributions
Incentives designed to reward your achievements
Paid flexible PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones
Paid 14+ holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate
Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days
Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community
Monthly workshop weeks; fewer meetings & more collaboration
Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment
Monthly phone reimbursement
Wellness allowance and perks, including a yearly subscription to a meditation app
An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services
Company retirement options including 401(k) + matching & Roth account option