Marketing Manager

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

13d • $113,666 - $156,367

About The Position

The Marketing Manager for the USC Marshall School of Business leads marketing strategy and operations to reach, engage, and inspire prospective students for the school’s graduate programs. The role develops integrated, audience-centered advertising, promotional, and experiential approaches to increase awareness, drive consideration, and position the USC Marshall brand as a prospective graduate student’s first choice. Working with marketing, communications, and admissions colleagues, the Manager translates organizational priorities into marketing strategies and campaigns, oversees planning and execution, and uses data and insights to strengthen results. The role also works with agency partners to develop and launch creative programs across paid, earned, and owned media channels, and leads and develops assigned staff.

The position’s responsibilities are divided among marketing strategy, leadership, and operations (55%); integrated marketing, planning, and execution (20%); measurement, research, and optimization (10%); partnerships, resources, and brand stewardship (10%); and other related duties (5%). The Manager oversees marketing calendars, materials, budgets, vendors, and brand use; collaborates across the university; and applies data, audience insights, and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, with attention to accuracy, privacy, quality, and human judgment.

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combined experience and education, along with five years of progressively responsible marketing or related experience, is required. A master’s degree and experience in several areas—including staff supervision, integrated campaigns, marketing analytics, budget and vendor management, AI tools, and relationship-based organizations—are preferred. The anticipated annual base salary range is $113,665.71–$156,367.35. USC offers benefits including health coverage, retirement plans with employer contributions, tuition benefits, professional development classes, and campus and event discounts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or combined experience and education as a substitute for the minimum education requirement.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in marketing or a related field.
• Thorough knowledge of marketing principles, practices, methodologies, and techniques.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing marketing strategies, plans, and campaigns.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and creative judgment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to build productive relationships and collaborate effectively across teams and organizational levels.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working within a creative advertising agency or managing creative advertising agency workflows.
• Master’s degree.
• Experience leading marketing strategy and operations within a complex, mission-driven organization.
• Experience supervising and developing staff and leading teams through strategic planning and hands-on execution.
• Experience developing integrated, multichannel marketing campaigns across digital, email, web, social, and other audience engagement channels.
• Ability to use audience segmentation, performance data, and insights to optimize marketing strategies and strengthen engagement.
• Ability to build alignment, influence stakeholders, and navigate a complex, highly collaborative organization.
• Experience managing marketing budgets, vendors, and creative or production partners.
• Experience using AI and other emerging technologies to enhance marketing strategy, content development, audience insights, or operational effectiveness, with sound judgment regarding accuracy, privacy, and appropriate use.
• Experience in higher education, alumni engagement, membership, nonprofit, or another relationship-based environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day marketing operations and develop short- and long-range strategies for brand marketing and demand generation.
• Partner with leadership and stakeholders to establish marketing goals, identify target audiences, and turn organizational priorities into actionable plans.
• Supervise and develop assigned staff, set priorities and workflows, and foster collaboration and professional growth.
• Use emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to improve marketing strategy, audience engagement, content development, and operational effectiveness while maintaining standards for accuracy, privacy, quality, and human judgment.
• Manage agency partners and align creative development and production with marketing strategy.
• Plan and execute integrated marketing initiatives promoting USC Marshall graduate programs, events, services, and engagement opportunities.
• Develop and manage the graduate programs marketing calendar, coordinating priorities, schedules, and deadlines.
• Oversee development and distribution of marketing and promotional materials and ensure alignment with USC brand standards.
• Collaborate across teams to deliver coordinated, audience-centered marketing and communications.
• Use marketing data, reporting, research, and audience feedback to evaluate performance, identify trends, and inform strategy.
• Apply audience insights and segmentation to strengthen targeting, engagement, and marketing effectiveness.
• Turn findings into recommendations and continuously optimize marketing approaches based on results.
• Stay current on marketing practices, technologies, and audience engagement strategies.
• Build collaborative relationships across marketing and communications teams, Marshall Graduate Admissions, academic program teams, and the broader university.
• Manage assigned marketing budgets and oversee vendors and external partners.
• Ensure consistent and appropriate use of USC brand elements.
• Represent the USC Marshall Marketing team and university at meetings, events, and professional activities as appropriate.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested and fulfill applicable university responsibilities.

Benefits

• Health benefits for staff and their family, with access to the university medical network.
• Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions.
• Tuition benefits for staff and their family.
• Free professional development classes.
• Access to commuter trains, buses, and free tram pickup services near the central Los Angeles location.
• Discounts to sporting and other campus events.

What This Job Offers

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