Advertising Manager

Job TypeFull-timeDescriptionJob is remote but limited to candidates currently residing in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, or TexasLooking for an opportunity where you can lead multi-channel ad strategy with a focus on performance and growthWe're Sonoran Desert Institute and we are seeking an experienced Advertising Manager to join our amazing teamOur storySonoran Desert Institute (SDI) has been changing lives since 2000. As a DEAC accredited school, our mission is to provide students with current, industry-driven, quality education, delivered through online distance education and practical applications. SDI is an employee-owned company creating a culture with an ownership mentality at the foundation. We believe in rewarding our employees through the success of the institution. We're proud to be recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute as a Great Place to Work for three consecutive years 2023, 2024, and 2025. Come be a part of our dynamic organization where you will have the ability to impact the lives of others as they pursue their educational journey with us.What you'll be doingThe Advertising Manager will manage the strategy, investment, and performance outcomes of SDI's paid digital acquisition programs. They will drive qualified B2C leads across SDI's program pipeline by setting paid social, paid search, influencer, traditional, and digital ad strategy, overseeing significant budget investment, and leading agency execution with clear accountability to ROI and conversion goals. The Advertising Manager will directly build and maintain a subset of our Google and Meta platform ad campaigns to A/B test against vendor outputs and make key decisions based on outcomes. They will also manage budget, lead mix, vendors/vendor contracting, and more. The Advertising Manager will operate as the owner of paid media performance, translating enrollment goals into channel-level investment decisions, forecasting outcomes, and driving continuous optimization across platforms. This role requires advanced analytical rigor, financial discipline, and deep expertise across the digital acquisition landscape as you guide SDI's paid media growth engine.As a member of the Marketing department in the SDI Shared Services business unit, the Advertising Manager will oversee ad strategy for all verticals, including firearms, uncrewed, CDL, and any emerging subject matter. Collaboration and partnership with other members of the Marketing team, including creative and technical marketing team members, is crucial. A strong Advertising Manager will also develop a deep understanding of our CRM, student lifecycle statuses and nuances, and attribution and tracking models to help lead gen efforts evolve from consumer-driven data source information to referral-level and actual source data.ResponsibilitiesOwn and evolve paid media strategy across social, search, influencer, and emerging channels to drive lead generation, pipeline growth, and enrollment outcomesTranslate enrollment goals into channel-level investment strategies, budgets, and performance forecastsExecute and optimize campaigns directly within key platforms (Google, Meta), while guiding broader execution through agency partnersDefine and lead structured testing strategies across audiences, creative, bidding models, and funnel stages to continuously improve performanceAnalyze campaign performance and allocate spend dynamically based on ROI, seasonality, and shifting business prioritiesEstablish clear performance expectations for agency partners; monitor results and drive ongoing optimization and accountabilityTrack, analyze, and report on core KPIs (lead volume, CPL, CPA, conversion rates, and ROI), delivering actionable insights to stakeholdersEnsure accurate tracking, attribution, and tagging across platforms; partner with marketing and technology teams to improve data integrity and reportingCollaborate with creative, social, and technical teams to develop and iterate high-performing ad creative and messaging aligned to audience and channel strategyAlign paid media efforts with broader marketing initiatives, product launches, and enrollment cyclesIdentify underperforming campaigns or channels and proactively recommend and implement strategic pivotsDevelop and maintain forecasting models, pacing reports, and variance analyses to ensure alignment with enrollment targetsContribute to the evolution of internal processes, workflows, and best practices as paid media capabilities scaleStay current on platform changes, industry trends, and emerging opportunities to continuously enhance performanceBenefitsComprehensive benefits package with 100% company-paid medical option for employee401(k) with generous company match and no vesting periodEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Pet InsuranceCompany-paid Life insurancePaid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, and Volunteer time off)14 Paid holidaysReferral programCareer development opportunities with a growing companyAnd perhaps most importantly, a team who is dedicated to your success!RequirementsBachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or related fieldFive years or more of paid media and performance marketing experienceHands-on experience with Google Ads and Meta platformsProven success managing campaigns with measurable ROIExperience managing budgets and agency relationshipsFamiliarity with CRM systems and marketing analytics toolsExperience in higher education or regulated industries is a plusStrong analytical and performance marketing expertiseAbility to translate data into actionable insightsClear and confident communication with cross-functional teamsHigh ownership mindset with a focus on outcomesOrganized, proactive, and results-drivenAbility to collaborate across departments and levels throughout an organizationSonoran Desert Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It recruits and hires without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran or disability status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any factors prohibited by law and affirms in policy and practice to support equal opportunity in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.*Unless specifically agreed upon, SDI does not provide relocation assistance**Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.***All benefits not available immediately upon hire. Some eligibility requirements may need to be met to be eligible for some benefits based on company policy.J-18808-Ljbffr