Marketing Program Manager Job Description

Marekting program managers promote their companies' brand.

A marketing program manager is someone who handles promotions of a company and its brand. Marketing program managers incorporate strategies to help sell products and services, using everything from graphics to catchy phrases to special deals to get the general public interested. Nearly every company, particularly successful ones, has someone in charge of marketing.

Basics

Marketing program managers promote their companies on a multitude of platforms. They oversee the design of websites, email newsletters, brochures, signs and anything else that gets the word out about the company. They work in unison with advertising and sales managers, as well as upper management and the public relations department. Sometimes, marketing program managers perform the duties of each, writing press releases and arranging for the interviews of key company personnel with journalists. Most of the time, they oversee the graphic department to help create a positive image (and accompanying artwork) for the company.

Skills

Marketing program managers should be highly energetic and innovative. They need to work tirelessly to not only promote a company, but to present it in a positive light. They must be confident, organized, adaptable and possess strong leadership skills. Marketing program managers also need to be excellent communicators and very aware of what is "trendy," often building their strategies around it. And in today's workforce, marketing program coordinators must possess at least basic computer skills, and likely even need to be accomplished in that area.

Background

A marketing program manager must have a bachelor's degree. Some are required to carry master's degrees as well. They have important jobs that require years of training, as many are among the highest earners in the country. Courses for aspiring marketing program managers typically include communications, public relations, advertising, media and computer studies. On top of that, marketing program managers normally spend time working in the lower levels of the field, or perhaps in the advertising, sales or graphics departments.

Prospects

Marketing program managers are likely to see their opportunities increase. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for marketing managers will grow by 12 percent from 2008 through 2018. That is about as fast as the national average for all professions.

Earnings

Marketing managers earned a median salary of $108,580 per year in May 2008, according to the BLS. Those in the computer systems design industry earned $127,870 per year, while those in the insurance carrier industry brought in $103,210 per year.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Marketing Managers