Marketing Manager

Help Expand the Reach of Ideas That Shape a Free Society
The Cato Institute is one of the nation’s leading public policy organizations advancing individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Through our education programs, we equip students, educators, and lifelong learners with the ideas that sustain a free and open society.

About the Role
We are seeking a Marketing Manager to lead growth across Cato’s education portfolio, including Cato University, Cato Courses, Sphere Education Initiatives, and related initiatives.

This is not a support role. You will own the marketing strategy for a growing portfolio of education products and be responsible for expanding their reach, increasing engagement, and driving measurable growth.

The Marketing Manager will report to the Director of Marketing. This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC; the candidate can work remotely 3 days/week and must be in the office 2 days/week.

Salary range: $80,000 - $90,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE TALENT MARKET APPLICATION.

About Cato
The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues. Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power.

Key Responsibilities
What You’ll Own

Increasing course registrations and completion rates across Cato Courses – Cato’s new dynamic online learning platform that dives into key topics shaping the world today

Expanding attendance and geographic reach for Cato University in-person events – this is Cato’s premier educational event series for college and graduate students providing exclusive access to Cato scholars and industry experts

Scaling the Sphere Education Initiatives educator network - providing educators with viewpoint-diverse resources to bring conversations to the classroom and equip students to engage in civil discourse

Growing and activating email audiences to support cross-marketing across products in the education initiatives portfolio

Driving sustained increases in site traffic, engagement, and audience retention

You will define the strategy, manage execution, and continuously optimize performance.

What You’ll Build

Scalable marketing campaigns that introduce new audiences to Cato’s education products

Clear audience journeys that meet learners where they are and guide them deeper into Cato’s ecosystem

A growing national network of educators and learners engaging with classical liberal ideas

A repeatable growth engine that expands Cato’s long‑term influence

How You’ll Work

Collaborate with social, email, creative, and program teams to bring campaigns to life

Manage external vendors and advertising partners to scale acquisition efforts

Translate complex policy and educational content into clear, compelling marketing messages

Establish and monitor key performance indicators for all marketing initiatives, including reach, acquisition, engagement, and ROI

Prepare detailed reports and recommendations for the leadership team

Implement A/B testing and optimization strategies to improve campaign effectiveness

Use data to test, learn, and improve campaign performance over time

Work closely with communications, development, and program teams to ensure brand consistency

You will have the support of internal specialists and external partners. You will own the direction.

What Success Looks Like

Measurable growth in registrations, attendance, and audience size across all education products

Strong performance across acquisition channels, including paid and organic

Clear audience segmentation and effective cross-product engagement

Continuous improvement through testing, analysis, and iteration

Qualifications

A strong understanding of, and alignment with, libertarian or classical liberal principles is required

3–5+ years of experience in marketing, ideally in an agency, or mission-driven environment

Experience driving events and course registrations, or audience development

Experience managing multi‑channel campaigns across digital platforms

Comfort working with data, testing strategies, and performance optimization

Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible, compelling messaging

Strong project ownership and ability to drive work forward across teams

Proficiency in email marketing and automation

Experience with web analytics tools (Google Analytics, social media analytics)

Knowledge of digital advertising best practices

Familiarity with audience segmentation

Working knowledge of LLM AI tools

Why This Role Matters
Cato’s education programs are central to expanding the reach of ideas that support a free society. This role will directly shape how those ideas reach new audiences, especially educators and students at pivotal moments in their development. You will play a key role in building a national network of learners and educators engaging with the principles of liberty.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)

Generous vacation and sick leave

Paid parental leave

Employer‑provided life and disability insurance

401(k) employer match

Transit and parking benefits

Pet discount plan

Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

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