Marketing Automation Strategist

NC State University; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Retirement Programs

Paid Time Off and Holidays

Tuition and Academic Assistance

Job summary

NC State University is seeking a Marketing Automation Strategist to lead the planning and growth of the university’s audience journeys across email, text, and digital advertising. This role reports to the Assistant Director of Marketing Strategy and works with campus partners to deliver personalized, data‑driven campaigns.

The ideal candidate has hands‑on experience with major marketing automation platforms and strong skills in segmentation, testing, and optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience related to the area of assignment.
• Two+ years hands‑on experience with a marketing automation platform (Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Marketo, HubSpot, Pardot or Acoustic).
• Experience developing multi‑step audience journeys with segmentation, personalization and dynamic content.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and growth of marketing automation across NC State.
• Manage audience journeys across email, text messaging, and digital advertising.
• Train campus partners and maintain program standards and adoption of segmentation and personalization.
• Develop and test journeys, templates, blocks, and landing pages that meet brand and accessibility standards.
• Monitor deliverability, engagement, conversions, and cross‑channel performance.

Skills

Marketing automation

Audience segmentation

Email marketing

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Marketing degree

Tools

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Marketo

HubSpot

Pardot

Acoustic

Job description

Posting Number

PG194989EP

Internal Recruitment

No

Working Title

Marketing Automation Strategist

Anticipated Hiring Range

$70,000 - $78,000

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; this is an onsite role with flexibility and some hybrid options depending on business needs.

Job Location

Raleigh, NC

Department

University Communications and Marketing (UComm)

About the Department

University Communications and Marketing (UComm) is NC State’s dedicated communications agency. Our team provides leadership, strategy, services and support to advance the NC State brand and help the university achieve its core mission. We build campaigns that bridge the digital and the physical, and show the world what "Think and Do" means.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

In this role you will lead the implementation and growth of marketing automation across NC State. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Marketing Strategy, you will manage University Communications and Marketing’s (UComm) audience journey program across email, text messaging, and digital advertising while helping campus partners develop effective, data-driven campaigns.

This role translates marketing and communication goals into targeted, personalized audience journeys, overseeing strategy, development, testing, launch, and performance measurement. This role also trains campus partners, maintains program standards, and promotes the adoption of segmentation, personalization, and dynamic content to deliver more relevant communications.

Duties include:

Journey and Email Marketing Strategy

• Consult with UComm teams and campus partners to understand goals, audiences, and timelines, recommending appropriate channels and campaign approaches.
• Design audience journeys across email, text messaging, and digital advertising for recruitment, engagement, stewardship, events, and internal communications.
• Develop university-level automation programs, including welcome, nurture, and re-engagement journeys.
• Define audience segments and recommend personalization and dynamic content strategies to improve relevance.
• Develop A/B testing plans for subject lines, content, calls to action, and send times.
• Coordinate with content creators, designers, advertising, social media, web, and other UComm teams to ensure timely campaign delivery.

Campaign Development, Testing, and Launch

• Build and manage automated journeys, scheduled campaigns, and segmented communications across email, text messaging, and digital advertising.
• Configure text messaging campaigns with appropriate consent, timing, and opt-out requirements.
• Partner with the advertising team to activate audience segments on platforms such as Meta and Google.
• Develop and maintain email templates, content blocks, and landing pages that meet NC State brand and accessibility standards.
• Implement basic personalization and conditional content in coordination with technical leads.
• Execute A/B tests and apply findings to improve future campaigns.
• Thoroughly test campaigns before launch, including rendering, links, personalization, suppression rules, and journey entry and exit behavior.

Partner Training, Onboarding, and Support

• Train campus communicators to use the platform, from basic campaign execution to advanced segmentation and dynamic content.
• Create and maintain user guides, templates, quick-start resources, and recorded training materials.
• Coordinate onboarding for campus units based on program capacity and implementation priorities.
• Provide day-to-day platform support and elevate technical issues to the appropriate technical leads.
• Explain marketing automation concepts clearly and help campus partners adopt more targeted, personalized communication practices.

Measurement, Reporting, and Optimization

• Establish success measures for each journey and campaign before launch.
• Monitor and report on deliverability, engagement, conversions, and cross-channel performance using platform analytics.
• Apply consistent UTM tracking to measure email-driven traffic to NC State websites.
• Present actionable findings and recommendations to campus partners and UComm leadership, using results to optimize campaigns.
• Track overall program performance, including platform adoption, campaign volume, and results across campus units.

Program Management, Standards, and Compliance

• Manage request intake, campaign scheduling, and priorities while communicating timelines and expectations to partners.
• Maintain standards for list management, consent, opt-in and opt-out processes, preference centers, suppression, CAN-SPAM compliance, and TCPA text messaging requirements.
• Develop and document governance practices for campus use of the shared platform.
• Collaborate with technical leads to assess requests, evaluate feasibility, and balance implementation effort with expected impact.
• Support vendor relationships, platform release planning, and budget tracking as needed.

This position offers you the opportunity to strengthen NC State’s university-wide marketing capabilities by combining strategic planning, technical execution, partner support, and data-driven optimization. You will help campus teams deliver more relevant, measurable, and effective communications while building a scalable marketing automation program that supports the university’s goals.

Other Responsibilities

• In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there may be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department’s operations.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications

• At least two years of hands‑on experience with a marketing automation platform, such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Marketo, HubSpot, Pardot or Acoustic.
• Experience developing multi‑step audience journeys, including nurture and drip campaigns, using segmentation, personalization and dynamic content.
• Knowledge of email marketing best practices, including testing, list management, consent and preference centers, and CAN‑SPAM compliance; basic HTML and CSS skills for email development.
• Ability to analyze campaign performance using tools such as GA4, Excel or Tableau and translate results into actionable recommendations.
• Communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and train colleagues with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Project management skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple campaigns, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, digital marketing, information systems or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud, including Journey Builder, Content Builder and data extensions, along with familiarity with Slate, Salesforce or other CRM platforms.
• Salesforce Marketing Cloud Email Specialist or Consultant certification, or certification in another marketing automation platform.
• Proficiency using AMPscript or similar scripting tools to personalize marketing content and develop multichannel campaigns.
• Knowledge of email accessibility standards, including WCAG guidelines, and text messaging consent and compliance requirements, including the TCPA.
• Experience supporting higher education marketing, enrollment, advancement or internal communications.
• Skills in transitioning organizations between email platforms, onboarding users to shared marketing systems, and developing training materials.
• Expertise implementing UTM strategies and tracking campaign performance across digital channels.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

• N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Job Open Date

10/22/2026

Anticipated Close Date

Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include as attachments a resume/CV, cover letter, and contact information for at least 3 professional references.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

Position Number

00041695

Position Type

EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)

1.00

Appointment

12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID

281001 - Payroll

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability‑related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.