Marketing Manager - Graduate Enrollment

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives each member of our community brings. As the Marketing Manager, Graduate Enrollment, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the mission of one of the nation's top public policy schools.

Working within the Sanford School of Public Policy, you'll join a collaborative team dedicated to attracting talented, diverse, and mission-driven students from around the world. You will partner with admissions professionals, academic leaders, faculty, and communications experts to tell compelling stories, connect with prospective students, and help shape the next generation of public policy leaders.

If you're passionate about data-driven marketing, creative problem-solving, and creating meaningful connections through strategic communications, you'll find an environment where your expertise and ideas can thrive.

Be Bold.

The work you do will have a direct impact on the future of Sanford's graduate programs and the students who choose Duke to advance their education and careers.

As the leader of graduate enrollment marketing, you'll design and execute innovative campaigns that elevate Sanford's brand, generate prospective student interest, and support enrollment growth across four graduate degree programs. You'll leverage analytics, technology, creativity, and strategic thinking to connect prospective students with the opportunities that await them at Duke.

What You'll Do

Develop Enrollment Marketing Strategy

• Create and implement comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with enrollment goals for Sanford's graduate degree programs.
• Develop annual marketing plans and budgets in collaboration with admissions teams, academic leadership, and school administrators.
• Evaluate and recommend marketing investments across traditional, digital, and emerging channels.
• Conduct market research, demographic analysis, and audience segmentation to identify opportunities for growth and engagement.
• Monitor recruitment funnel performance and recommend strategic adjustments to improve prospect conversion and application outcomes.
• Prepare reports and presentations summarizing campaign performance, enrollment trends, and strategic recommendations for leadership.

Lead Integrated Marketing Campaigns

• Plan, manage, and execute multichannel marketing campaigns from concept through completion.
• Coordinate marketing efforts across websites, email communications, digital advertising, social media, and recruitment initiatives.
• Ensure consistent messaging, visual identity, and brand standards across all marketing materials.
• Oversee development of recruitment-focused content and communications that engage prospective students throughout the enrollment journey.
• Manage email marketing campaigns, including strategy, audience targeting, content development, deployment, optimization, and reporting.

Drive Digital Advertising Performance

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for external marketing agencies, consultants, and advertising partners.
• Develop and manage search, display, retargeting, and paid social media campaigns across platforms including Google, LinkedIn, Meta, and other emerging channels.
• Monitor advertising budgets and optimize campaign investments to maximize return on investment and enrollment outcomes.
• Ensure proper implementation of tracking mechanisms, analytics platforms, and campaign attribution systems.
• Analyze advertising performance and make data-driven recommendations to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Leverage Technology and Marketing Analytics

• Utilize Slate CRM, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, SEMrush, Drupal, Canva, and related tools to support enrollment marketing initiatives.
• Manage campaign tracking, inquiry attribution, and reporting infrastructure.
• Analyze lead generation, engagement, inquiry, application, and enrollment performance data.
• Provide insights and recommendations that support admissions decision-making and strategic planning.
• Identify emerging technologies, including AI-enabled recruitment tools, that enhance marketing and enrollment outcomes.

Build Partnerships and Lead Collaboration

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to admissions teams, academic program leadership, and school administrators.
• Lead regular planning meetings to align priorities, review performance metrics, and coordinate future marketing activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Duke to support recruitment events, communications initiatives, and institutional marketing efforts.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance school-wide goals.
• Share marketing best practices, industry trends, and innovative approaches with colleagues and leadership.

Lead and Develop Talent

• Supervise the Graphic Communications Specialist and assigned student employees.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.
• Provide coaching, direction, and professional development opportunities for direct reports.
• Support a culture of creativity, continuous learning, and innovation.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience

• Four years of progressive marketing, communications, enrollment management, or related professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing enrollment marketing strategies in higher education.
• Minimum three years of professional digital marketing experience.
• Minimum three years managing pay-per-click advertising campaigns.
• Experience utilizing Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, and LinkedIn advertising platforms.
• Experience working with Slate CRM or comparable enrollment management systems.
• Familiarity with AI-driven marketing and recruitment strategies.
• Experience managing marketing budgets and agency relationships.
• Knowledge of website content management systems, particularly Drupal.
• Certifications in Google Ads, Google Analytics, digital marketing, or related disciplines are desirable.
• Experience with photography, video production, or multimedia storytelling is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of digital marketing strategy, enrollment marketing, and audience development.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action.
• Exceptional written, editing, and storytelling abilities.
• Expertise in campaign measurement, attribution modeling, and marketing analytics.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and commitment to collaboration.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Why Join Sanford and Duke?

Make an Impact

Your work will help recruit talented future leaders who are committed to solving society's most pressing challenges through public policy, research, and public service.

Grow Your Career

You'll have opportunities to collaborate with nationally recognized academic leaders, enrollment professionals, and communications experts while expanding your expertise in higher education marketing, analytics, and strategic communications.

Flexible Work Environment

• Hybrid work environment.
• Occasional evening hours required to support recruitment initiatives and events.
• Opportunity to collaborate across academic programs and university departments.

Comprehensive Benefits

Duke offers a competitive compensation package, comprehensive health benefits, retirement programs, professional development opportunities, and resources that support employee well-being and career growth.

Choose Duke.

At Duke, you'll find more than a marketing role. You'll join a community committed to excellence, innovation, collaboration, and service.

Your ideas will influence how prospective students discover Sanford, engage with our programs, and choose Duke as the next step in their educational journey. You'll have the opportunity to shape the future of graduate enrollment while contributing to a school dedicated to creating impactful public policy leaders.

Whether you're a strategic marketer, data-driven analyst, creative storyteller, or collaborative leader, Duke offers the opportunity to do meaningful work in an environment where your contributions are valued and your growth is supported.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply now and help connect future policy leaders with the educational experiences that will prepare them to address the world's most important challenges.