Marketing Manager, Brand Partnerships

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.•Florham Park, NJ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education. To support this mission, we are seeking a Marketing Manager, Brand Partnerships to join our dynamic team! Within this role you will support the Brand Partnership Sales team across the full pre-sale lifecycle and drive execution of marketing initiatives that accelerate revenue growth through new business acquisition, client retention, and account expansion. This role is responsible for managing media budgets, developing store lists, vetting leads, and creating compelling client-facing materials. You will lead proposal development and presentations end-to-end, partnering closely with Sales to deliver effective tools and resources that help win and retain business. You will also support the execution of integrated go-to-market (GTM) strategies targeting marketing leaders at key consumer brands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required
5–8 years of experience in a marketing environment (e.g., sales enablement, brand partnerships, integrated or media marketing), with a proven track record of driving business results
Advanced Excel and data management skills (e.g., formulas, VLOOKUP, filtering, and data manipulation), along with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Experience developing visually compelling, storytelling-driven materials using creative design tools (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign, Canva)
Strong communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment
Strategic, solutions-oriented thinker with strong problem-solving abilities and a high level of creativity
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Willingness to travel (~5%)

Nice To Haves

Experience with Salesforce/Pardot and familiarity with WordPress are a plus
Interest in Gen Z, higher education, retail, and/or media preferred

Responsibilities

Partner with Sales to develop high-impact, client-centric proposals—including strategy, copy, design, and mockups—that leverage media, promotions, activations, and sponsorships to drive revenue and close deals.
Lead all phases of the pre-sales process and RFP responses, including concept development, store selection, and media budget planning in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Track and analyze program revenue by channel to inform strategy, optimize performance, and drive Brand Partnership sales growth.
Own and maintain the Brand Partnerships store marketing database, ensuring accuracy across permissions, eligibility, and targeting criteria.
Manage communications with store and regional managers, including surveys, messaging, and insights gathering via internal platforms.
Develop and manage sales enablement materials (e.g., case studies, pitch decks, media kits) and support lead generation and inbound inquiries.
Build strong cross-functional partnerships and support Account teams with client- and university-facing materials, including program summaries and presentations.
Additional responsibilities as required.