📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director Search Marketing
🔹 Company: Core Education and Consulting Solutions
🔹 Location: Remote (United States)
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: July 3, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years of experience)
🔹 Remote Status: Yes
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Owning and scaling paid media engine across a portfolio of partner institutions
- Collaborating cross-functionally with digital, design, enrollment, and technology teams
- Working with institutional stakeholders to optimize campaign performance
- Transforming how institutions compete and grow in today’s market
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high-strategy, high-ownership mindset with a focus on results and continuous improvement.
📋 Key Responsibilities
Performance Strategy and Execution (Paid Search + Paid Social)
- Lead campaign planning, execution, and continuous optimization across various platforms
- Design and manage full-funnel strategies, including keyword strategy, bidding optimization, and audience segmentation
- Collaborate with designers and content creators to build, test, and refine creative assets
- Oversee campaign structures, conversion tracking, and attribution models
- Collaborate with IT and CRM teams to ensure seamless flow of lead data and accurate integration into marketing systems
- Leverage advanced targeting capabilities such as custom audiences, lookalike audiences, interest targeting, and retargeting
Optimization and Analytics
- Build campaign structures, test bidding strategies, manage UTM tracking, and monitor attribution
- Use GA4, Google Tag Manager, and CRM integrations to ensure accurate tracking and flow of lead data
- A/B test everything: audiences, creatives, CTAs, channels—and optimize based on performance
Campaign Ownership
- Own campaign setup and platform permissions in partnership with partner institutions
- Monitor performance daily and provide insight-rich reports weekly and monthly
- Translate marketing performance into clear recommendations for internal and external stakeholders
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and excellent project management abilities.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in marketing, business, communications, or a related field
Experience: 4–6+ years of experience in digital/performance marketing; agency and multi-client experience preferred
Required Skills:
- Proven expertise managing six-figure budgets and optimizing performance across various paid media platforms
- Strong command of Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and UTM strategy
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills to interpret data and translate into actionable insights
- Excellent project management abilities
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience (or strong interest) in higher education or purpose-driven marketing
- Experience with AI tools for campaign optimization, creative testing, or media planning
- Familiarity with platforms like HubSpot, Segment, Salesforce, or similar
- Understanding of lead scoring, funnel velocity, and performance diagnostics
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with Microsoft Advertising (Bing)
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in digital marketing, with a focus on paid media and performance optimization.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a mid-senior level marketing role with 5-10 years of experience)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Flexible work arrangements
- Professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible work arrangements
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on industry standards for a mid-senior level marketing role with 5-10 years of experience. Benefits may vary based on the company's standard package.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Education technology and services
Company Size: Mid-size (100-249 employees)
Founded: 2010 (15 years ago)
Company Description:
- Core Education and Consulting Solutions is a leading provider of education technology and services
- The company partners with institutions to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions that enhance student outcomes and institutional performance
- Core offers a range of services, including marketing and enrollment management, data analytics, and student success solutions
Company Specialties:
- Marketing and enrollment management
- Data analytics and business intelligence
- Student success and retention
- Curriculum development and assessment
Company Website: https://www.core-ed.com/
ASSUMPTION: Core Education and Consulting Solutions is a well-established company with a strong focus on data-driven solutions and partnerships with institutions.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years of experience)
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Vice President Marketing
Work Arrangement: Remote (with occasional on-site collaboration)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a leadership role within the marketing department
- Opportunities to work on high-impact campaigns and drive institutional growth
- Chance to collaborate with cross-functional teams and gain exposure to various aspects of the business
ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a significant impact on the company's marketing efforts.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Remote-first with occasional on-site collaboration
Office Location(s): United States (with flexibility for remote work)
Geographic Context:
- The United States offers a large talent pool and diverse market for education technology and services
- Remote work allows for greater flexibility and access to a wider range of candidates
- The United States has a well-established higher education system, providing ample opportunities for growth and innovation
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible work arrangements
ASSUMPTION: The remote work arrangement offers flexibility and the ability to attract top talent from across the United States.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
- In-depth behavioral and technical interviews with cross-functional team members
- Final interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and analytical skills
- Campaign management and optimization expertise
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Understanding of higher education marketing and enrollment management
- Familiarity with AI tools and data-driven decision-making
Application Tips:
- Highlight your relevant experience and achievements in digital marketing and paid media optimization
- Demonstrate your ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable strategies
- Showcase your strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your fit for the role and the company's mission
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership, and adaptability
ATS Keywords: Paid media, search marketing, performance optimization, campaign management, analytics, higher education, enrollment management, AI tools, strategic thinking
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing your strategic thinking, campaign management skills, and cultural fit within the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Ads (Search, Display, YouTube, Performance Max)
- Meta Ads (Facebook, Instagram: Lead Ads, Reels, Stories)
- LinkedIn Ads (Sponsored Content, Messaging, Carousel, Video)
- Microsoft Advertising (Bing)
- Google Analytics
- Google Tag Manager
- HubSpot, Segment, Salesforce, or similar CRM platforms
- AI tools for campaign optimization, creative testing, or media planning
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools and platforms is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Data-driven decision-making
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Collaboration and cross-functional teamwork
- Innovation and adaptability
Work Style:
- Results-oriented and data-driven
- Strong project management skills and ability to prioritize work
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Adaptable and comfortable with change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach data-driven decision-making in your marketing strategies?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in a marketing campaign?
- How do you prioritize your work and manage multiple campaigns simultaneously?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong alignment with the company's values and work style preferences.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple campaigns and platforms simultaneously
- Keeping up with the latest trends and best practices in paid media optimization
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and institutional stakeholders
- Balancing data-driven decision-making with creative intuition
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong project management skills, adaptability, and a data-driven mindset.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is more strategic and focused on optimization than a typical marketing manager role
- It requires a deeper understanding of paid media platforms and data analysis
- Compared to other marketing roles, this position offers more autonomy and ownership over campaign performance
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to take on a high level of responsibility and ownership for campaign performance.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive paid media strategy for a new partner institution
- Optimizing campaign performance for an existing partner institution with a limited budget
- Collaborating with the design team to create and test new ad creatives for a high-impact campaign
ASSUMPTION: These projects demonstrate the strategic, data-driven, and collaborative nature of the role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does the company support the professional development of its marketing team members?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the marketing department?
- How does the company approach collaboration with institutional stakeholders and partners?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the marketing department in the next 12-24 months, and how can this role help address them?
- How does the company measure and track the success of its marketing campaigns?
ASSUMPTION: These questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the company's marketing strategies.
📌 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 experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for interviews by researching the company, its industry, and the specific requirements of the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager within a week after your initial application, if you haven't heard back
- If selected for an interview, be prepared to discuss your strategic approach to paid media optimization and your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
