Marketing Manager

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

13d • $113,666 - $156,367

About The Position

The Marketing Manager at the USC Marshall School of Business leads marketing strategy and operations to reach, engage, and inspire prospective students for graduate programs. The role develops integrated, audience-centered advertising, promotional, and experiential approaches to increase awareness, drive consideration, and strengthen the USC Marshall brand among prospective graduate students. Working with marketing, communications, admissions, academic program, and university colleagues, the Manager translates organizational priorities into marketing strategies and campaigns, oversees planning and execution, and uses data and audience insights to improve results. The role works day to day with agency partners on creative programs across paid, earned, and owned media channels, and leads and develops assigned staff.

The Manager leads day-to-day marketing operations and short- and long-range strategy; partners with leadership to set goals and identify target audiences; supervises staff; and uses emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, with appropriate attention to accuracy, privacy, quality, and human judgment. The role plans integrated marketing initiatives, manages the graduate programs marketing calendar, oversees promotional materials and USC brand alignment, evaluates performance and audience feedback, manages assigned budgets and external partners, and represents the marketing team at meetings and events as appropriate.

A bachelor's degree or equivalent combined experience and education, and five years of progressively responsible marketing or related experience are required. A master's degree and experience in higher education or other relationship-based environments 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, multi-channel campaigns across digital, email, web, social, and other audience engagement channels.
• Ability to use audience segmentation, performance data, and insights to optimize 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 supporting brand marketing and demand-generation objectives.
• Partner with leadership and stakeholders to establish marketing goals, identify target audiences, and translate organizational priorities into actionable plans.
• Supervise and develop assigned staff, setting priorities and workflows and supporting collaboration and professional growth.
• Use emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to improve marketing strategy, audience engagement, content development, and operations while maintaining appropriate standards for accuracy, privacy, quality, and human judgment.
• Manage agency partners and align production and creative development with strategic marketing plans.
• 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.
• Use audience insights and segmentation to strengthen targeting, engagement, and marketing effectiveness.
• Translate findings into recommendations and 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.
• Discounts to sporting and other campus events.
• Central Los Angeles location with access to commuter trains, buses, and free tram pickup services.

What This Job Offers

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