Responsibilities

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of ACE’s brand and marketing strategy, with a creative vision grounded in the Council’s mission and long-term priorities.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated marketing plan that incorporates market research, competitive analysis, audience segmentation, and measurable digital outcomes.
• Serve as a strategic counsel to senior leaders across the Council, advising on content strategy, product and program launches, membership marketing, and audience engagement.
• Champion brand integrity across all Council touchpoints — ensuring consistency in voice, visual identity, and tone across digital properties, publications, and communications.
• Translate complex data and research into compelling visual stories that increase accessibility and deepen audience engagement.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and measurement of marketing campaigns across multiple channels — including email, social media, web, and events — with a focus on audience growth and retention.
• Lead social media strategy, including platform-specific approaches, content calendars, and performance analysis; understand how different audiences engage across platforms and apply that knowledge to campaign planning.
• Drive marketing efforts in support of ACE’s membership growth goals, HEBA (Higher Education Builds America) initiative, and event and product launches.
• Oversee the editing, layout, and design of all external-facing materials — including ACE’s flagship reports and digital properties — ensuring all work upholds brand standards in clarity, consistency, voice, and visual impact.
• Manage relationships and budgets with external vendors, agencies, and partners.
• Champion the thoughtful adoption of AI and emerging marketing technologies to improve team workflows, content quality, and campaign performance — modeling a growth mindset and genuine curiosity about new tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience; minimum of 8 years in communications, marketing, or a related field. A graduate-level degree may be considered in lieu of some experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing a team, with responsibility for goal setting, career development, and building a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Broad expertise in marketing strategy, brand development, campaign planning and execution, and market research.
• Experience developing and managing marketing campaigns across multiple channels, including email, social media, web, and events.
• Proficiency with HubSpot or a comparable marketing platform; comfort with KPI development, reporting, and data-driven decision making.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a clear and compelling communicator across formats and audiences.
• A discerning eye for visual design and user experience, with working proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (including Acrobat Pro) for design review, document workflows, and project and client management — serving as a capable backup to the design function when needed.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to work effectively across a range of personalities, working styles, and organizational contexts.

Preferred

• Experience working in higher education, associations, nonprofits, think tanks, or government — or demonstrated familiarity with the higher education policy landscape. Knowledge of ACE’s membership community or flagship publications is a plus.
• Background in membership marketing, audience retention, or marketing in support of revenue-generating or mission-driven programs.
• Experience leading or supporting event and product launch campaigns.
• Comfort with AI-enabled marketing tools, content workflows, or technology adoption — and genuine curiosity about how emerging tools can help a team do more with what it has.
• Experience with data visualization tools and translating research into accessible, engaging content for non-specialist audiences.
• Editorial or copyediting background; familiarity with long-form content production.
• Track record of building credibility and managing relationships with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403B with matching incentive + employer contribution
• Short term disability/Long term disability/Life insurance
• Generous PTO package
• Paid Parental Leave
• 13 paid holidays + week between Christmas Eve & New Years Off
• Professional Development Opportunities
• ....and more!