Marketing Planning & Operations Manager

Ascend Learning; Leawood (KS); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and parental leave

Employee assistance program

Charitable matching program

Job summary

Ascend Learning, LLC in Leawood, KS or Burlington, MA is seeking a Marketing Planning & Operations Manager who will act as the operational backbone of the marketing organization, leading strategic planning, governance, and execution across teams to translate priorities into coordinated delivery.

This hybrid role offers remote options for the right candidate, up to 10% travel, and a data-driven environment to optimize workflows and scale operating models.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience with proven track record in project management, managing multiple timelines and delivering results in a complex organization
• 3+ years’ experience managing large budgets
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across cross-functional teams
• Detail-oriented mindset with focus on quality and accuracy in deliverables
• Knowledge of marketing principles and strategies

Responsibilities

• Design, document, and optimize GTM workflows and operating processes for efficiency and scalability
• Own and evolve project management tools and calendars to support execution and transparency
• Champion continuous improvement through performance analysis and retrospectives
• Analyze program and campaign performance processes to inform planning
• Lead the development of integrated operating frameworks across planning cycles
• Partner with team leaders to develop dashboards and calendars to manage projects
• Facilitate cross-functional planning sessions and operating ceremonies
• Determine dependencies, ceremonies, and resources for workflows
• Support onboarding, training, and change management for new processes
• Serve as operational partner to marketing, creative, media, and product teams
• Provide structure and guidance to senior leaders and prioritize resources
• Review workload quarterly and balance for continuous optimization
• Conduct regular status meetings to provide updates and address challenges

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing

Bachelor's degree in business administration

Tools

Microsoft 365

Project management tools

Job description

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Marketing Planning & Operations Manager serves as the operational backbone of the marketing organization - leading strategic planning, governance, resource alignment, and execution management across multiple teams and initiatives. The role is responsible for establishing scalable operating models, driving cross-functional planning processes, optimizing workflows and systems, and ensuring business priorities translate into coordinated execution.

As a key partner to senior leadership, this individual provides structure, visibility, and operational guidance that enables effective decision-making, organizational accountability, and continuous improvement. Through data-driven insights, process optimization, and stakeholder influence, this role helps maximize organizational effectiveness and drive successful delivery of marketing and business objectives.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

This position will work hybrid from our Leawood, KS or Burlington, MA office. Will consider remote work for the right candidate. Up to 10% travel required.

HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME

• Design, document, and optimize GTM workflows, operating processes, and best practices to improve efficiency, clarity, and scalability. Monitor workflow implementation to identify potential risks and productivity opportunities.


• Own and evolve/optimize project management and planning tools, systems, and documentation to support execution and transparency.


• Champion continuous improvement through performance analysis, retrospectives, and experimentation.


• Analyze program and campaign performance processes to inform future planning and operational enhancements.


• Lead the development and management of integrated operating frameworks, calendars, and timelines across quarterly, annual, and long-range planning cycles.


• Partner with team leaders to develop tool dashboards and calendars that help them manage projects and workload.


• Facilitate cross-functional planning sessions, alignment forums, and operating ceremonies to drive accountability and decision-making.


• Determine the dependencies, ceremonies, and resources needed to complete each workflow.


• Support onboarding, training, and change management related to new processes, tools, and operating models.


• Serve as a primary operational partner to internal teams (e.g., marketing, creative, media, & product marketing teams) to ensure seamless collaboration.


• Act as a trusted thought partner to senior leaders, providing structure, recommendations, and operational guidance.


• Partner with marketing functional leaders quarterly to ensure adequate resourcing for projects and facilitate prioritization.


• Provide a quarterly review of workload along with balancing recommendations for continuous team optimization to meet business objectives.


• Conduct regular status meetings to provide project updates, address challenges, and ensure alignment across teams.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, or a related field


• 5+ years’ experience with proven track record in project management, managing multiple timelines and delivering results in a complex organization


• 3+ years’ experience managing large budgets


• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams


• Detail-oriented mindset, with a focus on quality and accuracy in project deliverables


• Proficient in project management tools and software and Microsoft 365


• Knowledge of marketing principles and strategies


• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

HIRING RANGE

The current full-time, annualized base pay hiring range for this role is $90,300.00-$129,140.00. In accordance with applicable state laws, we are providing the expected pay range for this position. Individual compensation will be determined by various factors, including relevant experience, qualifications, current business needs and local market factors. Most regular, full-time employees are eligible to participate in an Ascend incentive bonus or sales plan.

BENEFITS

• Health, dental, and vision insurance


• Company paid life Insurance


• 401(k) with company match


• Paid time off and parental leave


• Employee assistance program


• Other wellness programs such as Headspace and Airvet


• Charitable matching program

Fostering A Sense of Belonging

Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers. We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and be authentic. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S.-based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.