Marketing Operations Manager

About This Role

Description

Founded in 1873, the non\-profit U.S. Naval Institute (located at but not part of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD) is a non\-governmental, independent publisher for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

The Institute is seeking a Marketing Operations Manager to help power the systems, data, and insights behind our mission\-driven marketing efforts. This role is responsible for marketing automation and platform administration across tools such as Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) and Mailchimp, ensuring strong data quality and governance, and delivering clear, reliable reporting and analytics. By strengthening how the Institute captures, manages, and interprets data, the Marketing Operations Manager will empower teams to better leverage the information we have today—while also identifying new opportunities for insight that support smarter decision\-making and long\-term impact in support of the sea services. The Marketing Operations Manager serves as a key enabler of the marketing team’s effectiveness by managing marketing technology platforms, optimizing workflows, and transforming data into actionable insight. This role sits at the intersection of marketing strategy, technology, and analysis, supporting cross\-functional collaboration and helping the Institute move from data collection to data\-driven decision\-making.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytically curious, and comfortable working across both technical and non\-technical teams. They will bring a proactive mindset, strong attention to detail, and a desire to continuously improve how data, systems, and processes support organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Systems \& Tools

• Manage marketing automation platforms (Salesforce NPSP, Mailchimp, and similar tools) to ensure technical execution of campaigns runs smoothly
• Configure automations, workflows, segmentation, templates, and integrations across platforms
• Maintain clear documentation of system configurations, processes, and best practices
• Troubleshoot technical issues and optimize platform performance

Data \& Segmentation

• Maintain audience segmentation, suppression lists, and contact lists to ensure communications reach the right audiences
• Monitor and resolve duplicate records, field inconsistencies, and data hygiene issues
• Conduct regular audits of data integrity and system health
• Partner with stakeholders to identify new data points or sources that can inform outreach and engagement

Process \& Governance

• Define workflows, approval processes, and campaign standards to streamline operations
• Ensure compliance with email and data regulations, including CAN\-SPAM, GDPR, and other relevant requirements
• Establish and enforce data governance practices, naming conventions, and operational standards

Reporting \& Analytics

• Build and maintain standard and ad hoc reports and dashboards in Salesforce and Mailchimp
• Track campaign performance metrics and identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement
• Provide actionable insights to marketing, membership, and fundraising teams to optimize future campaigns
• Translate complex datasets into clear, actionable recommendations for both technical and non\-technical audiences

Cross\-Functional \& Operational Support

• Collaborate with marketing, development, editorial, and membership teams to define data needs, success metrics, and reporting priorities
• Support onboarding, training, and documentation related to marketing systems and data usage
• Assist with process documentation, workflow optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Provide day\-to\-day marketing operations support across campaigns and initiatives
• Participate in project coordination, ensuring timelines, follow\-ups, and deliverables are met

Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, information systems, or equivalent professional experience
• 2–4 years of experience in marketing operations, marketing technology, CRM administration, or a related field
• Hands\-on experience with CRM systems (preferably Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack) and email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp
• Strong analytical and problem\-solving skills with the ability to work with complex datasets
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and quality
• Ability to translate technical or data\-related issues into clear, actionable recommendations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative working style
• Proactive, self\-starter mindset with strong time management and organizational skills

Preferred

• Experience working in a nonprofit, membership\-based, publishing, or mission\-driven organization
• Familiarity with data modeling, audience segmentation, and lifecycle communications
• Experience developing dashboards and performance metrics for marketing and engagement efforts
• Exposure to data governance, compliance, or regulated communications environments
• Familiarity with the U.S. military—particularly the sea services (U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard)—or experience working with military\-affiliated audiences
• Curiosity and initiative in exploring new tools, data sources, or methodologies to deepen insight

The U.S. Naval Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled