Assistant Director of Marketing Strategy

The Assistant Director of Marketing Strategy serves as the strategic partner to the Director of Marketing, helping shape and execute marketing initiatives that advance the mission of Students for Life across both its 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities, and serves as acting department lead in the Director's absence. 

This role serves as the bridge between organizational leadership, departments, consultants, and the Marketing team, translating organizational priorities into strategic, mission-driven marketing campaigns. The Assistant Director helps identify opportunities within the political, legislative, and cultural landscape, ensuring campaigns remain timely, relevant, and impactful while balancing the distinct communication needs of both educational and advocacy work. 

The ideal candidate combines strategic marketing expertise with a strong understanding of politics, public policy, and the pro-life movement. They possess exceptional judgment, think several steps ahead, and are able to anticipate how current events, legislation, elections, and cultural conversations should influence organizational messaging and campaign strategy. 

While the Director of Marketing remains the primary leader of the department and direct supervisor of the Marketing team, the Assistant Director works closely with the Marketing Managers day to day — reviewing their work, coaching their strategic judgment, and directing their priorities when the Director is unavailable — while also providing campaign development and cross-department coordination to ensure the department consistently delivers exceptional work. 

Strategic Marketing & Campaign Leadership 

• Partner with the Director of Marketing to develop comprehensive marketing strategies that support both the educational and advocacy priorities of Students for Life.  

• Advise departments on the most effective messaging, positioning, and marketing approach for initiatives spanning both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) work.  

• Ensure campaigns are strategically aligned with organizational priorities while maintaining compliance with the unique communication requirements of each entity.  

• Collaborate with external consultants to elevate campaign strategy, messaging, and creative direction.  

• Evaluate campaign performance and recommend adjustments based on organizational goals, audience engagement, and changing political or cultural environments.  

Cross-Department Strategy & Collaboration 

• Serve as the primary strategic liaison between Marketing and organizational departments. 

• Help department leaders clarify objectives and transform ideas into comprehensive marketing strategies. 

• Facilitate marketing planning sessions that define goals, target audiences, messaging, timelines, and desired outcomes.  

• Ensure organizational priorities are translated into coordinated, high-impact marketing initiatives. 

• Anticipate potential challenges, competing priorities, or messaging conflicts and recommend strategic solutions. 

Team Development & Department Leadership 

• Support the Director of Marketing in leading, mentoring, and developing the Marketing team. 

• Provide strategic guidance and coaching on marketing planning, messaging, and creative problem-solving. 

• Help prioritize departmental workload and allocate resources effectively.  

• Foster collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the department. 

Political & Public Affairs Awareness 

• Maintain a deep understanding of the political, legislative, and cultural landscape impacting the pro-life movement. 

• Monitor national conversations, policy developments, elections, media coverage, and public sentiment to proactively identify marketing opportunities. 

• Recognize how external events should influence campaign strategy, messaging, and organizational communications. 

• Ensure marketing initiatives appropriately support both educational and advocacy objectives while remaining aligned with organizational priorities.

Position Type 

• This is a full-time exempt salaried position working at least 40 hours per week.  

Physical Demands 

• Must have the ability to operate technical equipment such as a computer and sit for extended periods of time.   

• Must be able to withstand long periods of driving.   

• Other physical demands may include: setting up displays, walking around campuses, standing during display times, walking outside for long periods of time (door to door canvassing) and participating in local and national pro-life marches. Must be able to lift 30 pounds. 

Travel 

• Travel to bi-annual team trainings in January and July is required 

Work Authorization 

• Must be able to successfully complete an I-9.  The I-9 is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. 

• Health care benefits  

• 401K match  

• FSA/HSA  

• Paid Time Off  

• Paid Holidays  

• Summer Half-Day Fridays  

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Political Science, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.  

• Five or more years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, advocacy, public affairs, political campaigns, or related fields.  

• Demonstrated success developing strategic marketing campaigns.  

• Strong understanding of the legislative process, political communications, advocacy organizations, or public policy.  

• Experience coordinating cross-functional initiatives and managing multiple competing priorities.  

• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.  

• Ability to think strategically while executing in a fast-paced environment. 

Preferred 

• Experience working within a mission-driven nonprofit, advocacy organization, campaign, or public affairs environment.  

• Familiarity with the distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) communications.  

• Experience advising senior leadership on communications or marketing strategy.  

• Supervisory or team leadership experience. 

The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the political and cultural landscape surrounding the pro-life movement and instinctively recognizes how current events, legislation, elections, media narratives, and public conversations should influence marketing strategy. They understand the unique responsibilities of communicating within both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) environment and can strategically navigate the distinctions between educational, advocacy, and political communications. 

This individual is not simply responding to marketing requests—they are helping shape them. They ask thoughtful questions, identify opportunities others may overlook, and help departments develop campaigns that are strategic, mission-driven, and positioned for maximum impact. 

They are equally comfortable collaborating with senior leadership, consultants, and internal teams, translating organizational priorities into thoughtful marketing strategies while ensuring projects remain organized, coordinated, and moving forward. They thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities shift quickly, bringing clarity, structure, and innovative thinking to every initiative. 

The successful candidate is: 

• A strategic thinker who anticipates opportunities rather than simply responding to requests.  

• Passionate about politics, public policy, and the pro-life movement, with a strong understanding of the legislative and cultural landscape.  

• Knowledgeable about the distinctions between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations and experienced in developing strategies appropriate for both.  

• Able to connect political developments, cultural trends, and organizational priorities into compelling marketing strategies.  

• An exceptional communicator who builds strong partnerships across departments and serves as a trusted strategic advisor.  

• Innovative and creative, bringing fresh ideas while balancing organizational goals, timelines, and resources.  

• Highly organized and able to bring structure, accountability, and follow-through to complex initiatives.  

• Comfortable coaching others, coordinating cross-functional teams, and helping elevate the performance of the Marketing Department.  

• Passionate about advancing the mission of Students for Life through strategic, impactful communications.