Performance Marketing Lead

Position Overview:

MIT Open Learning is seeking a Performance Marketing Lead to lead paid acquisition and performance execution across channels. This role will operate with a high degree of independence and accountability, while working in close collaboration with the Marketing team and cross-functional partners. This role emphasizes strong judgment, operational execution, and the ability to translate strategy into measurable outcomes with limited oversight.

This role plans, executes, optimizes, and scales paid marketing initiatives across search, social, display, video, and emerging channels, while working closely through regular in-person collaboration with data, content, and product partners to align performance with business goals.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions**):

• Lead channel-level paid media strategy and execution across core channels including Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, YouTube, display, and emerging platforms in support of MIT Open Learning’s growth objectives.
• Translate growth objectives and portfolio priorities into clear media plans and testing roadmaps.
• Build, launch, and optimize full-funnel campaigns across awareness, consideration, and demand capture, in coordination with on-campus partners. 
• Manage daily optimization across platforms, including bids, budgets, audiences, creatives, placements, and testing strategies.
• Develop and improve scalable processes – including automation and rules – to manage large budgets efficiently and reduce manual effort.
• Use platform automation and workflow tools to support pacing, budget allocation, alerts, and performance monitoring.
• Work closely with content and creative teams through regular onsite working sessions to shape high-performing messaging, creative direction, and landing page experiences.
• Independently identify performance issues and opportunities, propose solutions, and implement changes with minimal direction.
• Analyze campaign performance using GA4, in-platform tools, and internal dashboards to inform optimization and scaling decisions.
• Translate performance data into clear insights and recommendations for growth strategy and decision-making.
• Plan and run structured experimentation, including A/B testing of creatives, audiences, offers, and funnel components.
• Support forecasting, pacing, and scenario planning in close coordination with Data & Insights and Marketing leadership.
• Ensure accurate tracking, tagging, and measurement in collaboration with analytics and platform teams.
• Maintain budget discipline and accountability for efficiency metrics such as CAC, CPA, and ROI.
• Stay current on platform updates, automation capabilities, and emerging paid media tools.
• Contribute to shared playbooks, documentation, and best practices that improve execution quality at scale.
• Act as a trusted execution partner to the Growth Marketing Manager, capable of running independently while aligning to broader strategy through regular, on-site collaboration.
• The Performance Marketing Lead is required to work in person, on campus, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, two – three days per week. The in-person requirement is determined by the Vice Provost, Open Learning and is subject to change based on the needs of Open Learning and MIT.

Supervision Received:

Reports to the Director of Marketing and works as part of a collaborative, hybrid on-campus Marketing team

Supervision Exercised:

May manage the work of temporary, freelance, or student workers if/when needed

Qualifications & Skills: 

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, analytics, or a related field.
• 7 years of experience managing paid digital marketing programs with direct accountability for performance outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience operating independently across paid media platforms and managing budgets at scale.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using performance data to inform optimization and decision-making.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working in complex, multi-portfolio or matrixed organizations.
• Experience with marketing automation, attribution, or CRM-integrated acquisition strategies.

** To comply with regulations by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the principal duties in job descriptions must be essential to the job. To identify essential functions, focus on the purpose and the result of the duties rather than the manner in which they are performed. The following definition applies: a job function is essential if removal of that function would fundamentally change the job.