📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Associate Director, Marketing Strategy
🔹 Company: Bucknell University
🔹 Location: 207 Judd House, Lewisburg, PA
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Staff Exempt
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-28
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading multi-faceted marketing initiatives
- Developing and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies
- Directing social media marketing strategies and tactics
- Managing and coaching a team of marketing professionals
- Overseeing video marketing strategy and advertising plans
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, project management, and team leadership skills to successfully execute integrated marketing campaigns.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Leads multi-faceted marketing initiatives, including creating a strategic plan, facilitating cross-functional team planning sessions, selecting creative and content, ensuring brand consistency, and outlining key performance indicators (KPIs) that will deliver a strong return on investment (ROI).
✅ Develops and implements comprehensive marketing strategies and plans to support the University brand, enrollment, advancement, reputational, and rankings initiative goals. Gathers insights for making data-driven decisions in collaboration with campus partners. Conducts surveys, analyzes data received, and researches industry best practices. Refines marketing approaches as appropriate.
✅ Directs University social media marketing strategies and tactics, including determining appropriate responses to crisis and emergency incidents on digital channels.
✅ Provides daily guidance and direction to supporting digital marketing and social media professionals. Hires, trains, and assigns tasks. Coaches, mentors, and guides team members. Sets clear goals and objectives, identifies opportunities for professional development, and evaluates performance.
✅ Oversees the University's video marketing strategy, including the review and approval of creative concepts, providing clear direction, and constructive feedback, while ensuring the content adheres to brand standards and project timelines.
✅ Creates strategic advertising plans and manages paid media vendors, agencies, and optimization strategies. Reviews advertising analytics and reports. Recommends and implements appropriate adjustments.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of marketing, social media management, and integrated marketing, as well as excellent communication and project-management skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field
Experience: 4 years of marketing analysis and strategy design, minimum 3 years of supervisory experience
Required Skills:
- Strong understanding of marketing, social media management, and strategy
- Strong understanding of paid media and digital advertising
- Working knowledge of KPIs, digital analysis, and reporting
- Understanding of integrated marketing; how various offline/online and brand/direct response channels work together
- Excellent communication and project-management skills
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusiveness, and the sharing of perspectives across differences
Preferred Skills:
- Master’s degree
- Strong understanding of user-generated content management, content marketing, and reputation management
- Experience in higher education
- Proficiency in Google Docs, Airtable, Slack, Sprout Social, Google Analytics, and Google Data Studio
ASSUMPTION: A strong understanding of marketing, social media management, and integrated marketing is essential for success in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $72,640 - $90,800 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible scheduling options
- Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance options
- An outstanding 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan
- Generous paid time off, including vacation and sick time, a community service day, and 19 paid holidays
- Tuition remission for employees, their spouse/spousal equivalent, and children
- Employee wellness program
- Parental leave
- Employee assistance program
- Fitness center membership
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the information given in the job description. The exact salary may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Higher Education
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Founded: 1846 (as Bucknell Academy)
Company Description:
- Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
- It is known for its strong engineering programs and commitment to undergraduate education
- The College of Engineering provides students with innovative, one-of-a-kind opportunities to prepare for a meaningful career
Company Specialties:
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts
- Undergraduate Education
Company Website: bucknell.edu
ASSUMPTION: Bucknell University is a well-established institution with a strong reputation in higher education, particularly in engineering.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level management
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Assistant Vice President, Marketing Strategy and supervises 3-6 members of the marketing staff
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (a mix of on-site and remote work)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a more senior marketing role within the university
- Opportunities to expand skills and knowledge in marketing strategy, digital marketing, and team leadership
- Possibility to work on high-impact projects that align with institutional priorities
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the marketing department and the university as a whole.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site with hybrid work arrangement
Office Location(s): 207 Judd House, Lewisburg, PA
Geographic Context:
- Lewisburg, PA is a small city located in central Pennsylvania
- The area offers a mix of urban and rural environments, with easy access to outdoor recreation and cultural attractions
- The cost of living in Lewisburg is relatively low compared to larger cities in the region
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, with flexible scheduling options
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and flexible scheduling options allow for a good work-life balance in this role.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- On-site or virtual interview with hiring manager
- Final round interview with senior leadership
- Background check and reference check
Key Assessment Areas:
- Marketing strategy and planning skills
- Digital marketing and social media management expertise
- Project management and team leadership abilities
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Alignment with the university's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant marketing experience and skills
- Be prepared to discuss your approach to marketing strategy, digital marketing, and team leadership
- Research the university and its marketing department to demonstrate your understanding of the role and the institution
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, the team, and the university
ATS Keywords: Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Social Media Management, Project Management, Team Leadership, Marketing Best Practices, Brand Development, Crisis Management, Executive Communications, Paid Media, KPIs, Data Analysis, Reporting, Content Marketing, Video Marketing
ASSUMPTION: Tailoring your application to the specific requirements and keywords of the role will increase your chances of success.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Docs, Airtable, Slack
- Sprout Social or similar social media management tool
- Google Analytics, Google Data Studio
- Adobe Creative Suite (for video marketing)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in these tools and technologies is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Excellence in all endeavors
- Integrity and honesty
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Stewardship and sustainability
Work Style:
- Data-driven and metrics-focused
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Committed to continuous learning and professional development
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a data-driven, metrics-focused environment?
- Are you comfortable working collaboratively with a team to achieve common goals?
- Can you adapt your approach based on changing circumstances and new information?
- Are you committed to continuous learning and professional development?
- Do you align with the university's values and mission?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with the company's values and work style will be more successful in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team with varying levels of experience and expertise
- Balancing multiple projects and deadlines
- Adapting to changes in marketing strategies and priorities
- Working with limited resources and budget constraints
- Navigating a complex university environment with multiple stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong project management, communication, and leadership skills to overcome.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Marketing Manager or Senior Marketing Manager position in a higher education setting
- However, it requires more strategic planning and team leadership skills than a typical marketing manager role
- Compared to marketing roles in the private sector, this role may have less autonomy and more stakeholder management responsibilities
ASSUMPTION: Understanding the unique aspects of this role compared to similar positions will help candidates determine if it is the right fit for them.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy for a new academic program
- Managing a team to create and distribute engaging content for social media channels
- Overseeing the production and distribution of promotional videos for the university
- Analyzing and optimizing paid advertising campaigns to maximize ROI
ASSUMPTION: These projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and the level of strategic thinking required for this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the marketing department?
- How does the marketing department collaborate with other university departments and stakeholders?
- What are the most pressing marketing challenges facing the university, and how does this role address them?
- How does the university support the professional development and growth of its marketing staff?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of marketing initiatives, and how are they tracked and reported?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions during the interview demonstrates your interest in the role and the university.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills
- Prepare for your interview by researching the university and its marketing department
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the role, the team, and the university
- Follow up with the hiring manager within 24 hours after your interview to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
