Marketing Planning & Operations Manager

Ascend Learning; Michigan; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Company paid life Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and parental leave

Employee assistance program

Headspace and Airvet

Charitable matching program

Job summary

Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, seeks a Marketing Planning & Operations Manager to serve as the operational backbone of the marketing organization. You will lead strategic planning, governance, resource alignment, and execution across teams to translate business priorities into coordinated action.

The role is hybrid from the US with potential remote options for the right candidate, and requires cross-functional collaboration, data-driven insights, and

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience with proven track record in project management, managing multiple timelines and delivering results in a complex organization
• 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
• Knowledge of marketing principles and strategies
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Time management

Attention to detail

Marketing knowledge

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing or business

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture

Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company,is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning.From testing to certification, Ascend Learning products are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.

Headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s 2025 Greatest Workplaces as well as America’s Best Places to work for Mental Well-Being for 2025.

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.

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.