Learner Engagement Manager - Academic Programs

What We're Looking For (Role Overview)

InStride is seeking a Learner Engagement Manager – Academic Programs to lead learner marketing strategies that increase awareness, engagement, and enrollment across our portfolio of academic partners. You will own developing learner-centered positioning, messaging, and campaigns that help working adult learners discover and enroll in the right education opportunities. You'll use learner insights and performance data to optimize the learner journey, influence academic partner marketing strategies, and improve conversion and enrollment outcomes across our academic partner portfolio.

Skills We'd Love to See You Show Off

• Campaign strategy and execution: Identifying and leading marketing opportunities, leveraging marketing channels and assets to drive learner engagement and enrollment outcomes.
• Driving funnel conversion: Identifying and removing friction points in the user journey, partnering with academic institutions to optimize funnel performance and move learners from consideration to action to enrollment.
• Positioning and Messaging: Developing program positioning and messaging that resonate with first-time, transferring, and re-enrolling working adult learners.
• AI Fluency: Thoughtfully leveraging AI and emerging technologies to improve marketing effectiveness, streamline workflows, uncover insights, and enhance learner and business outcomes.
• Insight-driven decision making: Leveraging learner research, market trends, and campaign performance data to identify opportunities, shape strategy, and confidently recommend actions that improve learner and business outcomes.
• Project leadership: Juggling competing priorities with ease, leading complex projects and multi-client initiatives across multiple teams with discernment and sound judgment, ensuring successful outcomes.
• Influencing & Relationship Building: Building trusted relationships with academic partners and cross-functional stakeholders, using empathy, credibility, and clear communication to influence decisions and drive shared outcomes.

Who You Are (Ideal Profile)

• 5+ years of experience in strategic marketing, academic marketing, or product marketing roles, with experience marketing to both B2B and B2C audiences.
• Experience developing and executing multi-channel marketing campaigns that move learners from awareness to action, including campaign strategy, audience targeting, content development, and performance optimization.
• Keen eye for developing positioning and messaging that clearly communicates the value of academic programs and pathways, helping learners make informed decisions about advancing their education.
• Effective communicator who excels at building relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders, including senior leaders at colleges and universities.
• Curious about emerging technologies and enjoy experimenting with AI to improve how work gets done.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment, adapting quickly to changing priorities while maintaining a focus on delivering meaningful results.
• Uses data, curiosity, and sound judgment to solve problems and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Broadly approaches work with a collaborative, "no job too small" mindset.

How You Will Create Impact (Key Responsibilities)

• Improve inquiry-to-enrollment conversion rates through targeted learner engagement strategies and campaigns that help academic partners achieve their enrollment goals.
• Identify and remove friction points in the learner journey, partnering with academic institutions to optimize funnel performance and move learners from consideration to action to enrollment.
• Develop targeted campaigns and communications that keep learners engaged throughout their education, celebrate milestones, and inspire them to continue lifelong learning through additional programs.
• Partner with academic institutions to recommend positioning, messaging, and learner engagement strategies that improve enrollment outcomes, partner satisfaction, and Net Promoter Score.
• Develop learner-centered positioning, messaging, and recommendations that help learners choose the right academic program while equipping cross-functional teams to prioritize and market the right programs.
• Build scalable processes that improve consistency, accelerate execution, and reduce manual effort, leveraging AI where appropriate.

Pay & Benefits

Compensation range: $100,000—$115,000 USD
Benefits: 401(k) plan with company match, flexible vacation policy, paid family leave, best-in-class health care benefits, and more!

About InStride

InStride is a human capital management company that helps organizations retain talent, upskill employees, and fill critical workforce roles through education programs. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education.