Title: Manager, Marketing and Communications
Location: Chicago, IL
Department: Strategic Communications and Advancement
Reports To: Director of Strategic Communications and Advancement
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt
Spertus Institute is seeking a Manager, Marketing and Communications who will be responsible for sharing the story of Spertus’ impact, engaging our stakeholders, and marketing our acclaimed graduate, professional, and public programs. This role is pivotal to celebrating the achievements of our institution and our people, generating interest in our programs, and promoting the transformative impact Spertus Institute has on our students and alumni, local and regional communities, and the Jewish professional field at large. We will look to this person to maintain successful initiatives from our current marketing approaches and bring creativity to expand to new channels to drive stakeholder engagement, brand recognition and growth.
We are looking for a strong project manager who successfully conveys stories of impact in inspiring, meaningful, and effective ways across electronic platforms. This person will coordinate and collaborate on messaging with others on our academic team to best project the voice of Spertus to multiple audiences. This person will have a proven track record of developing and executing successful digital marketing campaigns and strong project management skills.
This is a hybrid position with at least three days per week spent onsite at Spertus Institute’s award-winning downtown Chicago facility.
Key Responsibilities:
Email Marketing:
- Manage a busy, effective email marketing campaign schedule, closely tied to academic and program calendars
- Design and manage new email campaigns to segmented audiences with tailored language and stories
- Write copy, spec images, manage templates, and maintain schedule for emails that drive engagement, enrollment, and fundraising, working closely with colleagues
- Manage lists through our email platform and CRM system, set segmentation strategy, and tailor messaging to target audiences
Social Media:
- Develop, execute, and evaluate an integrated social media plan enhance brand awareness, student recruitment, fundraising, and alumni relations across social media platforms
- Produce and/or oversee social media postings to grow impact, tailored to each unique platform (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn), including creating video content for reels and stories
- Monitor conversations, analyze performance, and optimize social media presence
Advertising:
- Work with advertisers (primarily Jewish digital media) to manage schedule and placements
- Write copy and work with designer(s) on creative execution
- Manage fulfillment and payment
- Monitor key performance indicators to track the success of campaigns and optimize performance, using Google Analytics and other tools
Website Management:
- Manage editorial voice, design consistency, quality, and user experience
- Develop market-based goals for website usage, engagement, and growth
- Keep abreast of marketing trends, SEO best practices, and advancements in technology, introducing new initiatives as relevant to our audiences and communications needs
- Maintain brand creativity and consistency
Evaluation:
- Set objectives and monitor performance across communications channels
- Conduct marketing research through strategies such as A/B testing to guide decision making
- Manage tracking systems and analytics to evaluate marketing effectiveness
- Learn from usage patterns and foster data-driven growth
Key Qualifications:
- A track record of success in engaging audiences for recruitment, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement
- Exceptional project management skills with proven ability to plan and successfully manage simultaneous projects with numerous components and firm deadlines
- Proven experience executing successful email marketing campaigns, including understanding of segmentation and list management
- Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences
- Strategically minded and social media savvy
- Ability to problem-solve and grow with limited on-site technical assistance
Technical Requirements:
- WordPress proficiency
- Proficiency in analytics tools to track performance and optimize campaigns for better results
- Experience with Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite including Photoshop, and Canva
- Experience with CRMs (preferably Little Green Light) and MailChimp or similar email marketing software
- Basic photography and video expertise
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related area
- At least three years of communications and/or marketing experience
- Experience working in higher education or the nonprofit sector a plus
- Proficiency in analytics tools a plus
- Ability to work some weekend or evening hours if required for programs
- Jewish community knowledge, familiarity, or interest
Salary and Benefits:
- Salary Range: $50-60,000
- 2 weeks of vacation
- Competitive Benefits Package (health, vision, dental, 403(b))
- Jewish holidays and select federal holidays
- Plenty of grey and orange Spertus swag
Spertus Institute is committed to its employees’ growth and professional development, including encouraging personal learning plans, mentors, coaching, and access to graduate degree programs.
About Spertus Institute:
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership is a dynamic, forward-thinking institution located in Chicago with a growing national audience. Spertus graduate degree, certificate, and public programs serve a diverse array of students in Chicago and North America. Students gain knowledge, understanding, and skills to shape a stronger future, within and beyond their Jewish communities. Our mission is to advance Jewish learning, inspire leadership, and foster connections across generations, cultures, and traditions.
Please submit your resumé and cover letter through the application portal.