📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Regional Marketing Manager
🔹 Company: Western Governors University
🔹 Location: Long Beach, CA
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Higher Education
🔹 Date Posted: July 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 7+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Some travel required)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading data-driven decision-making to optimize regional marketing strategies
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve measurable results
- Managing regional marketing budget and ensuring operational efficiency
- Building and inspiring emerging marketing leaders through coaching and mentorship
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence others without direct authority.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead data-driven decision-making by analyzing, synthesizing, and reporting on regional marketing outcomes to measure impact and optimize strategy
✅ Drive operational efficiency and service excellence by developing and leading initiatives that optimize processes, improve performance, and elevate regional marketing effectiveness
✅ Hold full accountability for assigned projects, ensuring strategic execution, alignment with institutional goals, and measurable results
✅ Lead the development and execution of a hyper-local, regional marketing strategy that aligns with the goals of the schools, Academy, and Craft Education
✅ Manage regional marketing budget and lead brand building and lead generation efforts in partnership with central marketing teams
✅ Establish and continually refine geography- and audience-specific messaging that powerfully communicates WGU’s positioning, attributes, and proof points in tailored, culturally appropriate ways
✅ Build and inspire emerging marketing leaders through coaching and mentorship, fostering professional growth and strengthening overall team impact
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of collaboration and cross-functional teamwork, requiring strong communication and leadership skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field required
Experience: 7+ years of marketing domain experience, including a broad range of tactics (i.e., television, OOH, print, radio, digital audio, conferences/events, partner marketing, video, display, social media, email, SEM, and website)
Required Skills:
- Significant client or key stakeholder management experience
- Executive-level communication ability
- Drive and ability to influence others to act without direct reporting authority
- Methodical, systematic, and highly organized
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Deep expertise across a wide range of marketing disciplines
- Strong critical thinker capable of making smart judgments under pressure
- Ability to manage time and resources for multiple projects at one time
- Exceptional research, analytical, and critical thinking skills
- Advanced research and analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex data
- Experience operating in a disaggregated marketing model
- Success working across marketing disciplines
- Comfort working as part of a hybrid in-person/remote team
- Proven collaborator with a successful track record of leading and executing complex, cross-functional initiatives
Preferred Skills:
- Media buying experience
- Marketing budget management of $5M+
- Multicultural marketing experience
- Industry experience in higher education and/or areas relevant to WGU colleges
- Master’s degree
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a broad range of marketing skills and experience, with a strong emphasis on data analysis and strategic thinking.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $97,100.00 - $145,600.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bonuses
- Medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare
- Health savings account and flexible spending account
- Basic and voluntary life insurance
- Disability coverage
- Accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages
- Legal and identity theft coverage
- Retirement savings plan
- Wellbeing program
- Discounted WGU tuition
- Flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual
- Flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual
- 11 paid holidays
- Other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on the job description and industry standards for similar roles. The actual salary may vary based on factors such as experience, skills, and market conditions.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Higher Education
Company Size: 51-200 employees
Founded: 1987
Company Description:
- Western Governors University (WGU) is a pioneering online university committed to providing accessible, affordable, and career-focused education for students worldwide
- Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, WGU is designed to meet the needs of modern learners, offering competency-based programs that empower students to advance their careers at their own pace
- With over 300,000 graduates, WGU is recognized as a leader in online education, offering accredited bachelor's and master's degree programs in business, IT, teaching, and healthcare
Company Specialties:
- Competency-Based Education
- Online Learning
- Workforce-Ready Skills Development
- Business Management & Leadership
- Information Technology & Cybersecurity
- Teacher Education & Licensure
- Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
- Affordable Higher Education
Company Website: https://www.wgu.college
ASSUMPTION: WGU is a mission-driven organization focused on expanding access to higher education and helping students graduate, creating a better future for themselves and their families.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level role with significant responsibility and influence
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Regional Vice President and collaborates with various cross-functional teams
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Some travel required)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a regional vice president role or take on additional responsibilities within the marketing department
- Opportunities to mentor and coach emerging marketing leaders
- Chance to make a significant impact on the university's regional marketing strategy and overall institutional success
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand their leadership and strategic skills.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (Some travel required)
Office Location(s): Long Beach, CA
Geographic Context:
- Long Beach is the 38th most populous city in the United States and the 7th most populous in California
- It is known for its beaches, ports, and cultural attractions, including the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Long Beach Grand Prix, and the Queen Mary
- The city has a diverse population and a growing economy, with strengths in industries such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing
Work Schedule: Full-time, with some flexibility for remote work
ASSUMPTION: Long Beach offers a diverse and dynamic work environment, with a mix of urban and coastal living.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application review
- Phone or video screening
- In-person or virtual interview with hiring manager and/or team members
- Final interview with senior leadership
- Background check and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Data analysis and interpretation abilities
- Communication and presentation skills
- Leadership and teamwork skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with WGU'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 data-driven decision-making and strategic marketing
- Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively and influence others without direct authority
- Showcase your understanding of WGU's mission and how your skills and experience align with the role's requirements
ATS Keywords: Regional Marketing, Data-Driven Decision Making, Strategic Planning, Marketing Strategy, Budget Management, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Leadership Development, Higher Education
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, so it's essential to tailor your application materials and be prepared to demonstrate your qualifications and fit for the position.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Excel, Tableau, Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics
- Marketing automation and CRM platforms
- Social media management tools
- Project management software
- Data visualization tools
ASSUMPTION: This role requires proficiency in data analysis and marketing technology tools to drive strategic decision-making and optimize regional marketing initiatives.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Student-focused
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Data-driven
- Accessible
Work Style:
- Hybrid in-person/remote work environment
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on continuous improvement
- Collaborative and cross-functional, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and communication
- Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on informed decision-making
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment?
- Are you comfortable working collaboratively and influencing others without direct authority?
- Do you have a strong analytical mindset and a passion for data-driven decision-making?
- Are you committed to WGU's mission of expanding access to higher education and helping students graduate?
ASSUMPTION: WGU values candidates who are student-focused, innovative, collaborative, data-driven, and accessible, with a strong commitment to the university's mission and values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a regional marketing budget and ensuring operational efficiency may require difficult decisions and trade-offs
- Working in a highly complex, multi-faceted organization may present unique challenges and require strong adaptability
- Some travel may be required, which could impact work-life balance
- Long Beach may have a competitive job market, potentially making it more challenging to find suitable housing
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges and opportunities, requiring a strong, adaptable leader who can thrive in a dynamic, complex environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on regional marketing strategy and data-driven decision-making within the higher education sector
- Compared to similar roles in other industries, this position requires a strong understanding of higher education trends, student demographics, and regional market dynamics
- Career path comparison: This role offers significant growth potential, with opportunities to advance to regional vice president or take on additional responsibilities within the marketing department
ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct in its focus on regional marketing strategy and data-driven decision-making within the higher education sector, presenting unique opportunities and challenges.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a regional marketing campaign to increase student enrollment in a specific program or geographic area
- Analyzing regional marketing data to identify trends, optimize strategies, and improve overall performance
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create integrated marketing plans that support key institutional priorities
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, data-driven, and collaborative nature of the Senior Regional Marketing Manager role at WGU.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the regional marketing landscape and how this role fits into the university's overall strategy?
- How does the university support the professional development and growth of its marketing leaders?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how will success be measured?
- How does the university approach collaboration and communication across its various departments and teams?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the regional marketing team, and how can this role help address them?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the university, allowing you to make an informed decision about your fit for the position.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through WGU's careers page
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills
- Prepare for your interview by researching WGU's mission, values, and regional marketing strategies
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications
- If you are selected for the final round, be prepared to present a strategic marketing plan or project that demonstrates your skills and approach to regional marketing
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
