Creative Marketing Specialist

Position Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Marketing Manager, the Creative Marketing Specialist is responsible for developing and managing Native Forward Scholars Fund’s visual brand, creative assets, website content, digital advertising, and marketing analytics. This position combines creative design, digital marketing, website management, and data analysis to strengthen Native Forward’s visibility, engagement, and organizational impact across print and digital channels.

The Creative Marketing Specialist leads the development of branded materials and campaign assets; manages website updates, SEO and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) efforts; supports paid digital advertising; monitors marketing performance; and translates organizational data and stories into compelling visual communications. The position works collaboratively with the Marketing Manager, PR & Digital Marketing Specialist, internal departments, contractors, and vendors to ensure marketing initiatives are strategic, consistent, accessible, and results driven.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead creative design and brand execution for organizational campaigns, advertisements, publications, presentations, social media, executive communications, events, fundraising initiatives, and other print and digital marketing materials while ensuring consistent application of Native Forward’s visual identity and brand standards.

• Conceptualize and develop campaign creative, including graphics, digital advertisements, social media assets, videos, motion graphics, infographics, photography selections, and supporting collateral that advance organizational priorities and audience engagement.

• Manage and maintain Native Forward’s website, including designing and updating webpages, campaign and event landing pages, website forms, images, digital assets, and content while monitoring functionality, accessibility, user experience, and overall brand consistency.

• Lead website optimization efforts, including Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), keyword strategy, metadata, alt text, linking, readability, technical optimization, and digital ranking performance to increase organizational visibility and discoverability.

• Support and execute paid digital advertising strategies, including Google Ads, display advertising, remarketing, paid social media, and boosted content; conduct audience and keyword research, establish campaign structures, monitor performance, and recommend optimization based on results.

• Monitor and analyze marketing performance across campaigns, social media, website traffic, advertising, SEO/AEO, media placements, and other digital channels; track established KPIs and benchmarks and prepare regular reports and strategic recommendations for the Marketing Manager and leadership.

• Lead creative production and vendor coordination for printed and digital materials, including preparing production-ready files, reviewing proofs, managing specifications and timelines, and coordinating with printers, advertising partners, photographers, videographers, and other vendors as needed.

• Manage the development and production of the organization’s Annual Report, including creative direction, data and content collection, storytelling, layout and design, graphics and infographics, production files, printing, digital publication, distribution support, and performance evaluation.

• Maintain organized libraries of approved creative assets, including graphics, photography, video, templates, website assets, organizational statistics, and other marketing resources to support efficient and consistent department-wide use.

• Support annual and ongoing marketing planning by analyzing performance trends, researching emerging digital and creative best practices, monitoring peer organizations and industry trends, identifying opportunities for increased visibility, and recommending improvements to marketing strategies and tactics.

• Collaborate across the organization and with external partners to translate programmatic, fundraising, scholarship, executive, and organizational priorities into effective visual and digital communications while managing multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.

• Maintains strict student confidentiality and compliance with the Family Education Right to Privacy Act.

• Embodies Native Forward Core Values and promotes the Native Forward organization, staff, and programs, in a positive and professional manner.

• Contributes to team effort and accomplishes related results.

• Perform other duties as required.