Marketing - Manager, Paid Media and Activation

DeVry University strives to close our society’s opportunity gap and address emerging talent needs by preparing learners to thrive in careers shaped by continuous technological change. Through innovative programs, relevant partnerships, and exceptional care, we empower students to meaningfully improve their lives, communities, and workplaces.
Our colleague experience is an area of obsessive focus. At DeVry University, we care about you. Because, only through you can we deliver our unique Care Formula to our learners and partners.

Opportunity:

• As the Manager, Paid Media and Activation, you will be responsible for overseeing the operational execution and activation of paid media campaigns across social, programmatic, video, display, and other digital channels.

• You will serve as the primary day-to-day lead with DeVry’s media agency of record and work closely with internal teams across brand, creative, analytics, enrollment, and web to ensure campaigns are launched efficiently, optimized effectively, and aligned to broader business and enrollment goals.

• This role requires strong organizational leadership, collaboration skills, and the ability to manage multiple moving pieces across campaigns while maintaining focus on performance, optimization, testing, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities:

Paid Media Activation & Campaign Management

• Lead activation and operational management of paid media campaigns across digital channels (social, programmatic, video, display, etc.)

• Partner with Senior Manager to execute media plans aligned to university goals and enrollment priorities

• Coordinate campaign launches, timelines, deliverables, and optimization workflows across internal teams and agency partners

• Ensure campaigns are launched accurately, efficiently, and aligned to strategic direction

• Manage ongoing optimization discussions and ensure campaign changes are implemented effectively

• Support testing initiatives including audience testing, creative testing, and in-market optimization efforts

Agency Partnership & Operational Leadership

• Serve as the primary day-to-day lead with AoR, ensuring strong collaboration, accountability, and executional excellence

• Manage campaign timelines, deliverables, reporting cadences, and optimization workflows with agency partners

• Lead weekly performance and optimization discussions with agency teams

• Ensure agency recommendations and execution align with broader media strategy and business goals

• Coordinate issue resolution, campaign adjustments, and operational efficiencies across campaigns

• Foster a collaborative and solutions-oriented partnership with agency teams

Performance Insights & Optimization

• Partner closely with analytics resources to review campaign performance and identify optimization opportunities

• Translate performance insights into actionable recommendations and activation changes

• Monitor campaign pacing, performance trends, and in-market optimizations across channels

• Support a test-and-learn culture focused on continuous improvement and campaign effectiveness

• Ensure performance reporting and campaign learnings are communicated clearly across stakeholders

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Campaign Orchestration

• Partner closely with brand, creative, web, enrollment, and analytics teams to ensure seamless campaign execution and alignment

• Coordinate campaign launch readiness across stakeholders, ensuring timelines, assets, tracking, and approvals are completed effectively

• Align messaging, creative, and activation plans to campaign objectives and audience needs

• Facilitate communication and collaboration across teams to improve operational efficiency and campaign effectiveness

• Serve as a key connector across internal and external teams throughout campaign lifecycles

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Business, or a related field.

• 5–8+ years of experience in paid media, digital marketing, or related field

• Strong experience working with media agencies, ideally including Omnicom or similar large agency networks

• Experience leading paid media activation and optimization across digital channels

• Strong operational and project management skills with high attention to detail

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex campaign workflows across multiple stakeholders and timelines

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into insights and action

• Familiarity with digital marketing platforms (Meta, DV360, LinkedIn, programmatic/display platforms, video platforms, etc.) and analytics tools (PowerBI, Looker Studio, GA4)

• Experience in higher education or a complex, multi-touch sales cycle environment is a plus

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Ability to manage multiple campaigns and priorities in a fast-paced environment

This position is eligible for an annual incentive bonus. 

*This job will be posted for 60 days from the posting date.

DeVry University offers benefit options for full-time colleagues, including:

• 401k with up to 6% company match
• Tuition assistance and career development opportunities
• Remote & hybrid opportunities
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, and mental health)
• FSA/HSA options, disability & life insurance

Benefits vary based on employment status. 
We believe that a vibrant and collaborative workplace is essential to our educational mission and the success of our community. We are committed to a workplace environment where all colleagues feel valued, respected, and supported.