Think Tank Jobs in Park Ridge, IL (NOW HIRING)

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Paylocity is an award-winning provider of cloud-based HR and payroll software solutions, offering the most complete platform for the modern workforce. The company has become one of the fastest-growing HCM software providers worldwide by offering an intuitive, easy-to-use product suite that helps businesses automate and streamline HR and payroll processes, attract and retain talent, and build a strong workplace culture.
While traditional HR and payroll providers automate basic HR processes such as payroll and benefits administration, Paylocity goes further by developing tools that HR and businesses need to compete for talent and deliver against the expectations of the modern workforce.
We give our employees what they need to succeed, including great benefits and perks! We offer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and a 401(k) match, as well as perks that support you, your family, and your finances. And if it's career development you desire, we provide that, too! At Paylocity, people matter most and have always been at the heart of our business.
As part of the Sales & Marketing team, you'll help us solve challenges and succeed as you grow and understand the unique needs of our clients and tailor easy-to-use solutions to deliver the performance they need.
With a position in Sales & Marketing, you'll strengthen our relationships with clients, anticipate their needs, and think outside the box to unlock new possibilities.
This role follows a hybrid schedule, requiring two - three days in the office at our Schaumburg, IL location and the remaining days remote each week. The in-office days are subject to business needs. Candidates must be able to commute to the office as required. The work arrangement for this role is subject to change based on business needs and individual performance. This may include adjustments to on-site requirements or schedule expectations, as necessary.
Position Overview
Marketing is evolving rapidly, with new technologies, platforms, and audience expectations shaping how companies engage with the market. To stay ahead, Paylocity is investing in a dedicated team focused on innovation, experimentation, and new ways of working. The Marketing Innovation Associate is part of a newly established "Marketing Innovation Lab" team within Paylocity's Brand & Marketing organization. This team operates as an internal think tank and execution group, focused on driving innovation, experimenting with new ideas, and rethinking how marketing shows up in the market.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys both thinking and doing. The Marketing Innovation Associate will generate ideas, build and test concepts, and help bring new approaches to life across content, campaigns, social, and emerging channels while
leveraging AI.
A core focus of this role is leveraging AI to accelerate marketing, including using, building, and shaping AI-driven workflows and agents that improve how work gets done.
The goal of this role is to accelerate innovation within marketing by quickly moving from idea to prototype to real output and supporting the broader organization in scaling what works.
Key Responsibilities
Innovation & Idea Development

• Contribute to a team that functions as a marketing think tank, generating new ideas across content, campaigns, and brand experiences
• Identify emerging trends, platforms, and technologies and translate them into actionable marketing concepts
• Challenge traditional approaches and introduce new ways of thinking about how we engage our audience

Build & Experimentation

• Rapidly prototype ideas using AI tools, content platforms, and emerging technologies
• Turn concepts into tangible outputs such as social content, campaign ideas, videos, and marketing experiments
• Test new formats, channels, and approaches with a focus on learning and iteration

Execution & Activation

• Take ownership of bringing ideas to life, from initial concept through execution
• Partner with internal teams (Creative, Campaigns, Product Marketing, Events) to activate and scale successful ideas
• Contribute to quick-turn initiatives tied to market moments, launches, or trends

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Brand & Marketing leadership to align innovation efforts with business priorities
• Collaborate across teams to ensure ideas are integrated into broader marketing programs where appropriate
• Present ideas, concepts, and outputs clearly and confidently to stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field
• 0-2 years of experience (internships, academic work, or early career experience acceptable)
• Strong interest in marketing, content creation, AI, and emerging digital trends
• Demonstrated curiosity and willingness to learn across multiple disciplines
• Ability to take initiative and operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Key Skills & Attributes

• Builder mindset - enjoys creating, testing, and iterating, not just ideating
• Curiosity & creativity - constantly exploring new ideas, tools, and approaches
• Adaptability - comfortable working across a variety of tasks and projects
• Bias for action - moves quickly from idea to execution
• Collaborative - works effectively across teams and functions
• Confidence & presence - comfortable sharing ideas and perspectives with leadership

What Makes This Role Unique

• Operates within a dedicated innovation-focused team inside marketing
• Blends think tank strategy with hands-on execution
• Provides exposure to multiple areas of marketing, rather than a single specialization
• Offers direct visibility to marketing leadership and opportunities to influence broader strategy
• Focuses on building real outputs that can scale across campaigns and programs

Example Areas of Focus

• Social media experimentation and new content formats
• AI-driven content creation and marketing workflows
• Rapid prototyping of campaign ideas and brand storytelling approaches
• Innovation in event, sponsorship, and experiential marketing concepts
• New ways to activate customer stories and market messaging

Paylocity is an equal-opportunity employer. Paylocity is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. At Paylocity, we believe diversity makes us better.
We embrace and encourage our employees' differences in age, culture, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We actively cultivate these differences through our employee resource groups (ERGs), employee experiences, perspectives, talents, and approaches to drive innovation in the software and services we provide our customers.
We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the job application or interview process, please contact accessibility@paylocity.com. This email address is exclusively designated for such requests, aligning with federal and state disability laws. Please do not send resumes to this email address, as they will be removed.
The base pay range for this position is $49,100 - $61,900/yr; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This position offers a full range of benefits outlined here. This information is provided per the relevant state and local pay transparency laws for the location in which this position will be performed. Base pay information is based on market location. Applicants should apply via www.paylocity.com/careers.