Marketing Manager, Brand Partnerships

Education - It's in Our DNA At Barnes & Noble Education ("BNED") we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education. To support this mission, we are seeking a Marketing Manager, Brand Partnerships to join our dynamic team! Within this role you will support the Brand Partnership Sales team across the full pre-sale lifecycle and drive execution of marketing initiatives that accelerate revenue growth through new business acquisition, client retention, and account expansion. This role is responsible for managing media budgets, developing store lists, vetting leads, and creating compelling client-facing materials. You will lead proposal development and presentations end-to-end, partnering closely with Sales to deliver effective tools and resources that help win and retain business. You will also support the execution of integrated go-to-market (GTM) strategies targeting marketing leaders at key consumer brands. How You'll Make an Impact 90% Sales Support | 10% Marketing Campaign + Demand Generation Partner with Sales to develop high-impact, client-centric proposals—including strategy, copy, design, and mockups—that leverage media, promotions, activations, and sponsorships to drive revenue and close deals. Lead all phases of the pre-sales process and RFP responses, including concept development, store selection, and media budget planning in collaboration with cross-functional teams. Track and analyze program revenue by channel to inform strategy, optimize performance, and drive Brand Partnership sales growth. Own and maintain the Brand Partnerships store marketing database, ensuring accuracy across permissions, eligibility, and targeting criteria. Manage communications with store and regional managers, including surveys, messaging, and insights gathering via internal platforms. Develop and manage sales enablement materials (e.g., case studies, pitch decks, media kits) and support lead generation and inbound inquiries. Build strong cross-functional partnerships and support Account teams with client- and university-facing materials, including program summaries and presentations. Additional responsibilities as required. What You'll Need to Succeed Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required 5-8 years of experience in a marketing environment (e.g., sales enablement, brand partnerships, integrated or media marketing), with a proven track record of driving business results Advanced Excel and data management skills (e.g., formulas, VLOOKUP, filtering, and data manipulation), along with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Experience with Salesforce/Pardot and familiarity with WordPress are a plus Experience developing visually compelling, storytelling-driven materials using creative design tools (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign, Canva) Strong communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment Strategic, solutions-oriented thinker with strong problem-solving abilities and a high level of creativity Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines Interest in Gen Z, higher education, retail, and/or media preferred Willingness to travel (~5%) How We Elevate Our Employees We believe your success is our success, so our benefits package is designed specifically to support you in every aspect of your life. At BNED, we offer a variety of programs and resources to support the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employees by offering a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401k match, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off with paid holidays, and a broad range of other benefits. The hiring range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 per year. This range represents the base salary only, in good faith at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, and qualifications. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion At Barnes & Noble Education we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated. Barnes & Noble Education is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. In the spirit of inclusivity, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, protected veteran status, race, religion or sexual orientation. #LI-MT1 #INDBNED