The University of Virginia Darden School Foundation is seeking a data-driven Senior Associate/ Associate Director, Digital Marketing to join its growing digital marketing team. The role is responsible for coordinating, optimizing, and reporting on paid and social media ad campaigns intended to raise awareness of Darden Executive Education & Lifelong Learning (EELL) and build measurable results and enrollment pipelines for its portfolio of open enrollment and custom solutions for EELL.

The associate director works with the Communication & Marketing and EELL teams and external vendors to create and coordinate advertising campaigns and other digital assets related to the digital customer journey to generate conversions. The role spearheads the strategy and design of campaigns based on goals and needs and serves as day-to-day contact for the media agency who will be placing targeted consumer ads on search engines, social media, and other digital platforms. Through continuous monitoring and analysis of performance, the role optimizes campaigns to reach target metrics. The role has opportunities for location flexibility.

Primary duties and responsibilities include:

• Working in collaboration with the EELL and C&M marketing leaders and external media placement and creative agencies, build best-in-market online advertising campaigns delivered to carefully defined audiences in target geographies.
• Oversee the technical execution of the campaigns in partnership with the media agency, including search engine marketing, display, social and video advertising. Channels include Google, Facebook, Instagram, Google Display Network and LinkedIn.
• With agility and a results and data-driven orientation, monitor campaigns daily and continuously optimize performance (for example, by increasing CTR and decreasing cost per acquisition). Proactively seek new ways to test (A/B testing, etc.)
• Create conversion funnels, including effective landing pages and/or lead forms and inbound and content marketing.
• In coordination with media agency, report on ad campaign performance to EELL marketing team and marketing leaders at the School.
• Lead audience targeting research with key stakeholders and find keywords in a crowded space.
• Coordinate creation and delivery of digital assets with Darden creative teams and external vendors.
• Participate in strategy/planning meetings with Darden marketing leaders.
• Partner with web team and EELL team to maintain website and implement ecommerce strategy to improve website performance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Successful candidates will have a proven track record that includes:

• BA degree, master’s degree in data or business analytics appreciated.
• 3+ years of experience creating and implementing digital advertising strategies in-house or at an agency.
• Experience includes paid search and paid social management. and a background in B2C digital acquisition strategy
• 3+ year(s) of demonstrated experience managing paid search efforts (Google Ads, Bing Ads), paid social management (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) and programmatic display advertising.
• Ability to review ad campaign set up and ensure proper tracking is in place to accurately report on lead generation.
• Strong working knowledge of Google Analytics or other web analytics platform
• Direct experience working with keyword research, Google AdWord.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects at once in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional problem solving, quantitative and analytical skills, with practical experience.
• Experience managing a budget.
• Organic social media experience a plus
• Knowledge of SEO and tactics
• Experience with Salesforce, Advanced Pardot or Marketing Cloud
• Experience with Marketing Cloud Personalization a plus
• Basic graphic design experience and/or photoshop knowledge a plus

This role may require travel and occasional work on weekends

Please attach a cover letter and résumé when applying for this position. 

The Darden School Foundation is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity or expression), national or ethnic origin, race, religion, pregnancy, veteran status, or genetic information. We participate in E-verify.

The Darden School of Business is one of the world’s leading business schools, offering MBA, Ph.D., M.S., and Executive Education programs. The unique Darden experience combines the case study method, the highest-ranked faculty whose research advances global managerial practice and a tight-knit learning environment where students, faculty and staff work together in a collaborative environment. Charlottesville, Virginia is a charming college town with extraordinary cultural resources and is regarded as one of the top places to live in the United States.