📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Marketing Director - Brand & Product
🔹 Company: Adtalem Global Education
🔹 Location: Chicago, IL, USA (Hybrid: 4 office days per week)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Education, Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: June 30, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading strategic development and execution of marketing initiatives for academic programs
- Driving enrollment growth and enhancing brand awareness
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams and acting as a Brand Champion
- Managing and mentoring a team of product marketers
- Fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of higher education marketing to drive successful marketing campaigns and achieve University growth goals.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Directs creation of comprehensive, integrated marketing plans to achieve University growth goals
✅ Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and effectiveness of marketing initiatives
✅ Defines and communicates the unique value propositions of Walden University's programs
✅ Acts as a Brand Champion to ensure the Brand identity is consistent and compelling throughout the entire consumer journey
✅ Oversees and manages product positioning and messaging that resonates with target audiences
✅ Acts as GTM SME to develop and lead successful product launches
✅ Manages and mentors a team of (2) product marketers, providing guidance and support to achieve individual and University goals
✅ Generates innovative marketing ideas to create increased brand or product awareness, deepen engagement with consumers, and increase brand equity
✅ Fosters a collaborative and innovative team environment
✅ Builds and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders, including faculty, program directors, and external partners
✅ Presents marketing strategies and results to senior leadership and other stakeholders
✅ Serves as a liaison between the marketing department and other university departments to ensure seamless communication and coordination
✅ Works with and provides direction to outside vendors (PR and Ad agencies) as needed
✅ Completes other duties as assigned
✅ Complies with all policies and standards
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of collaboration, strategic thinking, and data-driven decision making to create effective marketing campaigns and drive enrollment growth.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree preferably in marketing or related field, required. Master's degree preferred.
Experience: At least 10 years of marketing experience in a corporate marketing or advertising agency environment.
Required Skills:
- Sharp, strategic marketer with a blend of brand marketing and product marketing experience
- Proven digital marketing experience
- Experience in a highly matrixed environment
- Proven track record of leading and managing a team of marketers
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Strong ability to analyze data and use insights to inform marketing strategies
- Strong ability to create compelling narratives
- Must be willing to travel overnight (up to about 15%)
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the higher education sector
- Fluency in additional languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in higher education marketing and additional language skills may have an advantage in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $100,171 - $181,034 per year. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility.
Benefits:
- Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match
- Participation in Adtalem’s Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Annual incentive program based on individual and organizational performance
Working Hours: Full-time, with a hybrid work arrangement (4 in-office days per week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for marketing directors in higher education. Actual pay may vary based on the factors listed.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Education Administration Programs. Adtalem Global Education is a leading medical and healthcare education provider that partners with organizations in the healthcare industry to solve critical workforce talent needs by expanding access to education, certifications, and upskilling programs at scale.
Company Size: 10,001+ employees. As a large organization, Adtalem offers numerous opportunities for career growth and collaboration.
Founded: Adtalem was founded in 1972 and has since grown to become a global leader in post-secondary education and a leading provider of professional talent to the healthcare industry.
Company Description:
- Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE) provides global access to knowledge that transforms lives and enables careers.
- The company empowers a global population of learners to achieve their goals and make inspiring contributions to their communities.
- Adtalem is the parent organization of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and Walden University.
Company Specialties:
- Higher Education
- Medical and Healthcare Education
- Workforce Talent Solutions
- Education Technology
Company Website: Adtalem.com
ASSUMPTION: Adtalem's extensive experience in higher education and healthcare education makes it an attractive employer for marketing professionals seeking to make a significant impact in these sectors.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the director level, reporting directly to the Vice President of Marketing. It is responsible for leading a team of product marketers and collaborating with various departments to achieve University growth goals.
Reporting Structure: The Director of Brand & Product Marketing reports to the Vice President of Marketing and has a team of (2) product marketers reporting to them.
Work Arrangement: This role operates on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week (Monday-Thursday), enhancing creativity, innovation, communication, and relationship-building.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a vice president or chief marketing officer role within the organization
- Opportunities to lead marketing efforts for new academic programs or initiatives
- Chance to develop and mentor junior marketing team members
ASSUMPTION: This role offers numerous growth opportunities for marketing professionals looking to advance their careers in higher education marketing.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Adtalem's headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in Downers Grove, Illinois, and other global locations.
Office Location(s): 500 W Monroe St, Chicago, Illinois 60661, US; 3005 Highland Parkway, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515, US
Geographic Context:
- Chicago, Illinois, is a major metropolitan area with a diverse population and a thriving job market
- The city offers numerous cultural attractions, including museums, theaters, and sports teams
- Chicago has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters
Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid work arrangement (4 in-office days per week) and the possibility of overnight travel up to 15% of the time
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and central location of Adtalem's headquarters make it an attractive option for marketing professionals seeking a balance between work-life integration and career advancement opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the Talent Acquisition Team
- In-depth interview with the hiring manager and/or other team members
- Final interview with the Vice President of Marketing
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Marketing strategy and planning
- Brand management and positioning
- Product marketing and launch experience
- Leadership and team management skills
- Data-driven decision-making and analytics
- Communication and presentation skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand marketing, product marketing, and higher education experience
- Prepare examples of successful marketing campaigns you've led and the results they achieved
- Be ready to discuss your approach to data analysis and how you use insights to inform marketing strategies
- Demonstrate your ability to create compelling narratives and communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely
ATS Keywords: Brand Marketing, Product Marketing, Higher Education Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Planning, Data Analysis, Team Management, Leadership, Marketing Campaigns
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should emphasize their strategic marketing experience, particularly in higher education, and be prepared to discuss their approach to data-driven decision-making and team management.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot CRM)
- Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
- Search engine optimization (SEO) and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, SEMrush)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these marketing tools and technologies is beneficial for this role, but not necessarily required.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Student-centered
- Inclusive and diverse
- Collaborative
- Innovative
- Accountable
Work Style:
- Data-driven and strategic
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Results-focused and accountable
- Innovative and creative
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Adtalem's student-centered value, and can you provide an example of a time when you put students' needs first?
- How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, and can you share an experience that demonstrates your ability to do so?
- How do you approach innovation and creativity in your marketing strategies, and can you provide an example of a successful campaign you've led?
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong fit with Adtalem's values and work style, with a focus on student-centeredness, collaboration, and innovation.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a team in a highly matrixed environment, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills
- Balancing the need for data-driven decision-making with the need for innovative and creative marketing strategies
- Working with external vendors and partners to ensure consistent brand identity and effective marketing campaigns
- Adapting to changes in the higher education landscape and responding to shifts in student needs and preferences
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong leadership, adaptability, and a strategic mindset to overcome successfully.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other marketing director roles in higher education, this position offers a broader range of responsibilities, including both brand and product marketing
- Adtalem's focus on student-centeredness and innovation sets it apart from other higher education institutions
- This role offers significant growth opportunities for marketing professionals looking to advance their careers in higher education marketing
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should consider the unique aspects of this role and how it aligns with their career goals and values.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive marketing plan for a new academic program, including audience identification, messaging development, positioning, and channel plans
- Conducting market research to identify trends and opportunities in higher education and developing data-driven marketing strategies to capitalize on them
- Leading a team to create and execute a successful rebranding campaign for an academic program, enhancing its brand identity and increasing enrollment
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic and collaborative nature of the Director of Brand & Product Marketing role at Adtalem.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of the marketing department and how this role fits into the organization's long-term growth plans?
- How does Adtalem support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- Can you provide an example of a successful marketing campaign led by the previous Director of Brand & Product Marketing, and what made it so effective?
- How does Adtalem measure the success of its marketing initiatives, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) are most important for this role?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role fit into that philosophy?
ASSUMPTION: These questions help applicants better understand the role, the company culture, and the expectations for success in this position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the provided link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your brand marketing, product marketing, and higher education experience
- Prepare examples of successful marketing campaigns you've led and the results they achieved
- Be ready to discuss your approach to data analysis and how you use insights to inform marketing strategies
- Follow up with the Talent Acquisition Team one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
