Strategic Marketing Manager Jobs in Ridgefield, CT

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Product Marketing Manager, Graduate Programs plays a strategic role within the Department of Strategic Initiatives at Fairfield University, serving as the steward of market-facing positioning, and program knowledge for the University's graduate academic portfolio. Working in close collaboration with the Director of Online Programs and Fairfield University's Director of Graduate Marketing, this role ensures graduate programs are clearly differentiated, accurately represented, and discoverable throughout the prospective student journey. The Product Marketing Manager translates academic offerings into compelling, audience-centered narratives that support enrollment growth while aligning with the University's mission and brand.

Key Responsibilities

Program Positioning & Messaging

• Develops and maintains clear positioning, value propositions, and key messaging that articulate graduate program strengths, outcomes, and differentiation.

• Supports product-aligned content strategy in partnership with the Associate Director of Graduate Marketing to support program launches, growth, and refreshes.

Market & Audience Insight

• Works closely with the Academic Program Strategist to translate market and competitive insights into actional program positioning and messaging strategies.

• Leverages search behavior, SEO insights, and emerging AI-driven discovery trends (AIO) to inform program discoverability and prospective student intent.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partners with graduate program directors, Deans, enrollment leadership, and admissions teams to ensure alignment between academic priorities and enrollment goals.

• Leads monitoring, project planning, and online management of graduate program initiatives ensuring clear ownership, accountability, and progress toward enrollment goals.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Leverages data and reporting tools to evaluate how program positioning impacts engagement, inquiry, and enrollment outcomes.

• Applies performance insights to refine messaging, inform recommendations, and support long-term graduate portfolio strategy.

Education

• Bachelor's degree is required in Marketing, Communications, Business, Education or a related field.

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated ability to translate market research, competitive insights, and academic offerings into clear positioning and value propositions.

• Experience leveraging market data, search behavior, and performance indicators to inform strategic recommendations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across academic, enrollment, and marketing stakeholders.

• Strong project planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives across a graduate portfolio.

• Strong understanding of the higher education landscape, particularly graduate program models.

Experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in product marketing, program strategy, market research, enrollment strategy, or academic program administration.

• Experience supporting academic programs in higher education strongly preferred.

• Proven success working cross-functionally with academic leaders, enrollment teams, and marketing partners to support program growth and differentiation.

• Familiarity with digital discovery environments (e.g., SEO, AI-driven search) and how prospective students evaluate programs.

REPORTS TO: Director, Online Programs

LOCATION: Fairfield, CT

Category:

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.