Marketing and Communications Manager

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

The Michigan Language Assessment team is diverse, dynamic, and committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion, support, innovation, adaptability, quality, and trust. You’ll have the chance to collaborate with peers from more than a dozen countries as you help us grow domestically and globally. We believe in hard work and the importance of personal time. We believe good ideas can come from anyone in the organization. We believe that difficult projects and hard tasks can be accomplished in an atmosphere that’s collegial and supportive, because we’re all in this together.

To find out more about Michigan Language Assessment, visit us at https://michiganassessment.org/about-us/.

Job Summary

The Marketing and Communications Manager is responsible for providing oversight for marketing, brand, product positioning, reputation management, and all internal and external communications, ensuring brand awareness and consistency for the organization’s brand and products. They will serve as the lead for website content, digital marketing initiatives, public relations, and brand governance. This position is responsible for developing and implementing marketing and stakeholder communications that raise brand awareness, support product visibility, strengthen reputation, and position the organization as an industry authority. The manager oversees messaging, approvals, thought leadership, white papers, media relations, and original marketing content distributed through a diverse range of channels. The manager ensures high quality service to stakeholders through, data-informed decision-making, diligent management of marketing budgets, oversight of vendors and agencies, and strong leadership of the marketing team.

As a member of the management team, they contribute to the development and furtherance of our organizational strategic plans, is the organizations global marketing expert and facilitates cross functional initiatives and processes related to marketing initiatives and brand awareness for the organization.

Responsibilities*

• Serve as the strategic lead for marketing, brand, product positioning, reputation management, and thought leadership initiatives, including white papers. Develop and implement the annual marketing plan to advance the strategic business plan, mission, brand awareness, product visibility, and organizational objectives.
• Globally manage all website, SEO and marketing automation to ensure consistent brand messaging, optimized lead generation, and seamless user experiences across all digital touchpoints. Leading the regional digital marketing execution across B2B and B2C channels. Build, launch, and optimize campaigns that grow test taker volume, deepen partner engagement, and increase brand recognition in global target markets. Lead email marketing, paid digital advertising and marketing production elements, including web copy, campaign assets, and email sequences, briefing that work into the content and social media function against clear campaign objectives.
• Write and oversee original marketing content for websites, white papers, presentations, articles, campaigns, stakeholder communications, and other platforms. Create high-impact content that is compelling, accurate, brand-aligned, and appropriate for internal and external audiences. Represent the organization in presentations, recorded content, webinars, or other camera-ready opportunities as needed.
• Deliver internal and external communications, including media relations, press releases, public-facing statements, and key organizational announcements. Plan communications that highlight accomplishments and strengthen reputation with stakeholders. Represent the organization in presentations, webinars, and recorded content as agreed.
• Develop, implement, and enforce brand guidelines and governance processes to ensure consistency across all communications, platforms, and markets. Oversee messaging, positioning, signoffs, approvals, and alignment with parent organization standards and strategic priorities.
• Deliver the thought leadership agenda by proposing the topics, research questions, and positions that establish the organization as an industry authority, shaping them into a program of work. Commission and brief white papers, research summaries, and expert content produced by internal subject matter experts, external authors, or agencies. Review all deliverables for accuracy, brand alignment, and market relevance.
• Gather and interpret marketing analytics to track customer and market trends, campaign performance, digital impact, annual sales contributions, and opportunities for improvement. Prepare, monitor, and analyze reports, lead the annual marketing budget, advise on international marketing spend, and manage agencies, vendors, and service providers.
• Manage the marketing team, ensuring that they have the necessary tools and skills to operate effectively and are motivated to strive towards continuous improvement.
• Other contributions commensurate with level and experience as required.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related field
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Excellent time management skills and ability to work to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking
• Competent in standard IT software packages including, Microsoft Office and CRM
• Competent in marketing analytics and, marketing calendar tools
• Proficiency with digital marketing platforms, including CMS, email marketing, social media management, paid digital advertising, and SEO tools
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to work with stakeholders – internal and external
• Experience working in a marketing and communications management role
• Experience building and executing digital campaigns end to end, including strategy, build, launch, and performance analysis
• Experience working with internal creative teams and outside agencies/ consultants
• Experience delivering communications and public relations, including media relations and organizational announcements
• Experience in budget creation and fiscal management
• Experience in brand governance and managing stakeholder relations
• Experience managing a team and training staff

Desired Qualifications*

• Master’s degree in marketing and communications or related field
• Solution oriented
• Creative writing skills and storytelling
• Intercultural awareness
• Proficient in Spanish and/or other languages
• Ability to analyse customers’ needs, expectations, and behaviors
• Data visualization, infographics, dashboards development
• Experience in Marketing Automation Systems
• Experience commissioning or editing thought leadership, white papers, or research content
• Experience in project management
• Experience working with educational, academic, or assessment-related projects and audiences
• B2B and B2C digital campaign experience across international audiences

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Work Locations

Michigan Language Assessment is seeking candidates within commuting distance to Ann Arbor. This is a hybrid position with occasionally scheduled in person activities.

Upon request, qualified candidates outside of the Ann Arbor area may be considered.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.