Marketing Manager

Description

Title: Marketing Manager

Employee Status: Full Time – Exempt

Salary: Grade 3

Starting range of $61,600 – $69,300 | Chicago

Reports to: Director of Marketing

Department: Capital Solutions – Marketing

Location: Chicago, IL

Hybrid: In office: T/W | WFH: M/Th/F

Department Function

Capital is a critical resource that’s often beyond the reach of nonprofits serving communities with limited resources. IFF works hard to change that. For more than 30 years, IFF has specialized in flexible lending products that help nonprofits achieve their growth goals and best serve their communities. IFF’s clients include human services agencies, supportive housing providers, schools, health clinics, arts organizations, community centers and a full spectrum of other nonprofit organizations. Racial inequality in property values still exists today. IFF takes a different approach to underwriting that isn’t limited by appraisals, but instead is informed by a deep understanding of nonprofit operations and the importance of nonprofit facilities to communities. IFF provides lending to our clients uniquely designed to serve nonprofits with no appraisals on commercial projects, as low as five percent up front, and long-term loans with no prepayment penalties. Loans can be used for acquisition, facility improvement, equipment and vehicles, and affordable housing. Capital Solutions is part of IFF’s Core Business Solutions which is a cross-cutting team that sits at the nexus of nonprofits, communities, and IFF technical knowledge. The group provides thought leadership and expertise to drive corporate strategy across markets. The primary business units in Core Business Solutions are Capital Solutions, Real Estate Solutions, Community Development Solutions, Home First, Legal and Compliance.

The Organization

IFF is a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer that helps communities thrive. Key to our success has been a deep sense of purpose, a broad perspective, and a relentless focus on achieving positive results. Across the Midwest we help clients from every sector, including human service agencies, health centers, schools, affordable housing developers, and healthy food grocery operators. Staff contribute extensive business experience and an unrivaled connection to the mission of IFF to the clients we serve.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Partnering to create thriving communities is at the heart of everything we do. We leverage knowledge, capital, and resources to advance equitable and transformational outcomes in under-resourced communities, guided by our commitment to be an inclusive, anti-racist and anti-oppressive institution that honors communities as asset-rich and as experts in their own stories.

Basic Job Function

The Marketing Manager drives multichannel marketing strategies to increase brand awareness, attract clients, and generate business opportunities for IFF's core areas, including Capital Solutions and Real Estate Solutions. A key focus is content development—creating targeted, mission-aligned marketing materials that support business development and outreach efforts.

Success is measured by the growth of leads, opportunities, loans, and real estate projects, driven by strategic segmentation, precise targeting, and compelling messaging tailored to nonprofit leaders across the Midwest.

The ideal candidate is an experienced marketer skilled in developing and optimizing lead generation campaigns with strong content creation. They excel in project management and use tools like marketing automation, SEO, data analytics, and CRM systems to deliver results.

IFF is looking for candidates with a commitment to the work we do who can demonstrate their creativity, diligence, enthusiasm, growth-mindset, thoughtfulness, and passion to make meaningful change in the areas of economic and racial justice.

Requirements

Core Responsibilities:

• Marketing Planning and Execution: Support the Director of Marketing in developing, implementing, measuring, and optimizing marketing strategies that align with IFF's strategic goals and regional market plans to drive success in core business areas.
• Email Campaigns: Manage end-to-end email marketing campaigns, from researching topics to creating and editing compelling content in IFF’s brand voice. Collaborate with the Communications Manager and market leads to align content with marketing goals and identify new opportunities. Ensure messaging upholds IFF’s commitment to honoring communities as asset-rich and experts in their own narratives while adhering to brand and style guidelines.
• Website content: Lead the development of loan roundups and nonprofit resource articles that highlight how IFF’s capital and real estate solutions support nonprofits. Identify relevant themes, interview subject matter experts, draft and edit content, and collaborate with the Senior Communications Manager to ensure clarity, consistency, and strategic alignment.
• Business Development & Marketing Collateral: Develop and update targeted marketing materials—including one-pagers, case studies, presentations, and digital assets—that promote IFF’s value proposition and core services. Ensure all collateral aligns with brand guidelines, emphasizes diverse representation, applies asset-framing, and supports region-, sector-, and campaign-specific business development efforts.
• Database and Marketing Module Management: Leverage the IFF database and marketing module for marketing automation, analytics, and segmentation to drive targeted email campaigns. Collaborate with the Data Team to improve digital marketing infrastructure and troubleshoot issues. Provide actionable insights into trends and lead generation performance to optimize marketing strategies.
• Landing Pages: Create and recommend improvements for landing pages, focusing on user experience and conversion optimization. [EK1] Work with the Communications Team, Director of Marketing, and external contractors to manage website pages and implement SEO tactics.
• Marketing Reports: Assist the Director of Marketing in collecting and analyzing data for quarterly reports, presenting qualitative and quantitative results from marketing activities to assess performance and guide future strategies.
• Demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Promotes an environment of empathy and respect, ensures the inclusion of all team members, and will actively engage in EDI events and learning opportunities.
• Perform other projects as assigned.

Performance Measures

• Achievement of Marketing Goals and Accountability: Ensure the successful execution of marketing plans aligned with regional market strategies and IFF's strategic pillars, while taking full ownership of your tasks and responsibilities. Deliver high-quality, effective content that drives measurable outcomes, maintaining high standards in content development and campaign execution, and consistently meeting deadlines and objectives.
• Proactive Communication and Coordination: Maintain clear, proactive communication with internal and external teams, ensuring alignment and timely updates on marketing campaigns and initiatives to maximize effectiveness.
• Problem-Solving: Proactively identify challenges in providing marketing support for business development across all regions and recommend actionable solutions to enhance IFF's brand presence, while driving lead generation and nurturing efforts to maximize impact.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Actively collaborate with Lending, Real Estate Solutions, Communications, Senior Leadership, and Data teams to align on key marketing initiatives, ensuring campaigns reflect organizational priorities and drive growth.
• Culture of Openness and Innovation: Foster a culture of transparency and knowledge-sharing, encouraging creativity, innovation, and cooperation among team members to continually improve marketing efforts and overall organizational performance.
• Commitment to Inclusivity: Champion diversity and inclusion within the workplace, demonstrating respect for diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Engage in open communication that promotes a collegial and caring community across IFF.
• Proactive Campaign Ideation and Strategy: Continuously suggest and explore new marketing campaign ideas, ensuring content is relevant, high-quality, and impactful, with a keen ability to assess and measure the effectiveness of tactics to drive continuous improvement.
• Models personal accountability that promotes ownership and engagement.
• Builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues, peers and team members.
• High level of satisfaction with both internal colleagues and external contacts.

Position Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, communications, or a related field.

Previous Experience

• Five to seven years of relevant marketing experience, ideally within nonprofit or community development sectors.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, along with strong presentation skills.
• Extensive experience in developing and executing email campaigns using marketing automation software integrated with CRM systems, tracking KPIs, and monitoring website performance via Google Analytics.
• Proven ability to create compelling marketing content across multiple platforms, including email, print, and social media.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management skills, capable of handling multiple initiatives and tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Skilled in gathering data, analyzing trends, and translating insights into actionable plans to optimize marketing processes and projects.
• Adaptable, open-minded, and confident, with the ability to work and learn within a complex organization while building alignment and fostering strong relationships with internal and external teams.

Technical Proficiency

Experience actively using marketing technology stack components, including:

• CRM & Marketing platform: Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Digital: Website CMS (e.g., WordPress), Google Analytics and Google Ads.
• Collaborative platforms: SharePoint and Microsoft Teams.
• Design/Production: Canva and Adobe Creative Suite.

Special Knowledge & Skills

Familiarity with banking/financial services, commercial real estate, nonprofits, and/or community and economic development is a plus.

Standard Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Life Insurance
• Short and long term disability

Work-Life Balance Benefits

• Hybrid workplace
• Summer Fridays

Employee Development Benefits

• Professional development stipend
• Mentorship program

Miscellaneous

• Wellness programs
• Employee assistance
• Referral Bonuses

IFF Does Not Offer The Following

• relocation package
• 100% remote
• provide sponsorship to applicants who require or will require a work permit.

Check off only some boxes in the requirements listed above. Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification. So, if you're excited about this role, we encourage you to apply.

Application Instructions: Please visit the Careers section of our website to apply online.IFF values equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of its mission to strengthen nonprofits and the communities they serve. _IFF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate

_[EK1]Paula, do you think this should stay? I know SEO has been mainly your project this year.