MARKETING MANAGER – AUDIENCE STRATEGY & MEDIA ACTIVATION

Carolina Ascent FC and Charlotte Independence are seeking a results-driven Marketing Manager to lead audience development, media strategy, and advertising campaign execution designed to drive ticket sales, increase attendance, generate qualified leads, and grow the club's fan base. This is a revenue-focused marketing position responsible for identifying, targeting, and activating audiences through AI-powered marketing platforms, customer data, digital advertising, and traditional media channels. The position will oversee audience strategy, campaign planning, media buying, production scheduling, performance analysis, and optimization across all marketing initiatives. The ideal candidate understands how to leverage audience data, predictive analytics, and modern marketing technology to connect the right message with the right audience at the right time. Success in this role will be measured by ticket sales, lead generation, database growth, fan engagement, and return on marketing investment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESAudience Intelligence & Growth Marketing• Utilize AI-powered audience platforms including Stellar Algo, CRM systems, ticketing data, and digital marketing tools to identify, segment, and prioritize target audiences. experiences, single-game ticket buyers, youth soccer families, corporate prospects, and sponsorship activations.• Analyze fan behavior, purchase history, digital engagement, and demographic data to identify growth opportunities.• Leverage first-party data, lookalike modeling, behavioral targeting, geofencing, and predictive audience tools to improve campaign performance.• Design and execute lead generation campaigns that build the club's customer database and future sales pipeline.• Develop and manage fan research projects, surveys, and audience profiling initiatives to better understand customer motivations and barriers to attendance. Campaign Coordination• Coordinate integrated marketing campaigns that drive ticket sales, attendance, lead generation, and fan engagement.• Develop seasonal and match-specific marketing campaigns supporting ticket sales objectives, theme nights, community initiatives, and special events.• Ensure marketing campaigns align with ticket sales, sponsorship, merchandise, and community engagement strategies.• Collaborate with ticket sales, partnerships, and operations departments to maximize campaign effectiveness and revenue generation. Media Planning, Buying & Activation• Translate audience insights and customer data into highly targeted media plans.• Plan, negotiate, execute, and optimize media buys across digital and traditional channels, including:o Paid Social Mediao Digital Display and Videoo Google Search and Programmatic Advertisingo Streaming Audio and Radioo Out-of-Home Advertisingo Television and Local Broadcasto Emerging Digital Platforms• Manage media budgets, campaign flighting, audience targeting, and allocation strategies.• Build relationships with media partners to secure added-value opportunities and maximize exposure.• Monitor and optimize campaigns to improve conversion rates, customer acquisition costs, and return on advertising spend. Production, Scheduling & Trafficking• Oversee production workflows for marketing, advertising, game presentation, and promotional assets.• Develop and manage campaign timelines, creative schedules, and trafficking processes across all platforms.• Coordinate with internal departments and external vendors to ensure timely delivery of creative assets and media placements.• Maintain consistency in messaging, branding, and campaign execution. Digital Marketing & Social Media Integration• Oversee social media strategy and execution to ensure alignment with broader marketing campaigns.• Coordinate paid and organic marketing efforts to maximize reach and engagement.• Support content development that reinforces campaign messaging and drives customer action.• Work closely with creative teams to ensure content is optimized for audience engagement and conversion. Analytics & Performance• Track and evaluate campaign performance across all media channels and audience segments.• Monitor key performance indicators including:o Ticket Saleso Cost Per Ticket Soldo Cost Per Leado Return on Advertising Spendo Database Growtho Fan Engagemento Survey Participationo Audience Conversion Rates• Build dashboards and reporting systems that connect marketing performance directly to revenue outcomes.• Analyze campaign results and provide strategic recommendations to improve future performance.• Present performance insights and audience intelligence to senior leadership. Matchday & Event Support• Support marketing initiatives for home matches, community events, and club activations.• Ensure campaigns are effectively driving awareness and attendance for upcoming matches.• Assist with in-market promotions, fan engagement efforts, and real-time campaign adjustments. EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business, or related field. Experience in sports, live events, entertainment, agency, or consumer marketing environments strongly preferred. KEY SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS• Strong understanding of audience development, customer acquisition, and performance marketing. skills. Experience managing budgets, timelines, and multiple concurrent campaigns.• Creative thinker with a strong understanding of consumer behavior and fan engagement.• Passion for soccer, live events, and the growth of women's professional sports. WORK ENVIRONMENTThis role requires availability for home matches, community events, evenings, weekends, and occasional travel based on team schedules. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.