Marketing Specialist for Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Compensation is based on qualifications and classification level, and is fixed.

• Marketing Specialist for Entrepreneurship Initiatives: $26.00 - $31.50 per hour. This role is hourly and non-exempt.
• Marketing Lead for Entrepreneurship Initiatives: $5,916.67 per month ($67,000 - $71,000 annually). This role is salaried and exempt.

The ZIP Launchpad at San Diego State University serves as a startup incubator aimed at nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship among students. Operating within the Division of Research and Innovation, the program offers resources, mentorship, and guidance to assist students in transforming their ideas into viable business ventures. The department supports a diverse array of projects, ranging from technology startups to social enterprises, with the goal of converting innovative concepts into market-ready solutions. Typically, the ZIP Launchpad consists of approximately 5-7 full-time staff members, alongside a fluctuating number of student assistants. Participants include students, staff, and faculty, with numbers varying from 50 to 100 based on the semester and active projects.

The SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives, guided by the Division of Research and Innovation and the Fowler College of Business, aim to bring entrepreneurship and commercialization opportunities to the SDSU community through four key organizations: ZIP Launchpad, Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, San Diego Techstars powered by SDSU, and the Advancement of Research Commercialization in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office. These initiatives provide essential resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities to support entrepreneurial endeavors from ideation to market entry. They cultivate a culture of innovation, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and equip the SDSU community with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the entrepreneurial landscape. Through workshops, events, and practical programs, the Entrepreneurship Initiatives strive to convert innovative ideas into successful businesses, contributing to regional economic growth and social impact.

Role Purpose

The Marketing Lead for Entrepreneurship Initiatives is tasked with developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies for SDSU's Entrepreneurship Initiatives, with a focus on the ZIP Launchpad and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, while also supporting San Diego Techstars powered by SDSU and the Advancement of Research Commercialization in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office. This position involves planning and organizing marketing activities, cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, and ensuring the quality and accuracy of all promotional materials. The individual leads a team of student assistants, oversees the creation and implementation of marketing plans, tracks performance metrics, and provides administrative support to enhance the visibility and impact of SDSU's entrepreneurial programs.

Core Responsibilities

The Marketing Specialist for Entrepreneurship Initiatives undertakes a variety of moderate to complex marketing assignments that require careful planning and organization of marketing activities related to SDSU's Entrepreneurship Initiatives, including but not limited to the ZIP Launchpad, Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, San Diego Techstars powered by SDSU, and the Advancement of Research Commercialization in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office.

Responsibilities include assisting in the coordination and recruitment of a team of student assistants, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of various policies, procedures, and precedents. The role also involves supervising and training these student assistants in performing clerical and marketing tasks of moderate complexity.

The Marketing Specialist engages in challenging clerical work across various subjects, programs, or projects, requiring the selection and application of numerous procedures and regulations. Additional clerical duties encompass office support related to budgeting, program administration, personnel management, supply and equipment ordering, and record-keeping, each involving distinct policies and procedures.

Position-Specific Responsibilities:

Marketing & Promotion (60%)The Marketing Specialist, under the guidance of the ZIP Launchpad Program Manager, is responsible for the effectiveness of marketing activities for the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program and the ZIP Launchpad, as measured by key performance indicators (KPIs), while also supporting the marketing efforts of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU and the Advancement of Research Commercialization in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office.

Marketing & Promotion of SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives:

Includes but is not limited to the ZIP Launchpad, Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, San Diego Techstars powered by SDSU, and the Advancement of Research Commercialization in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office.

Marketing Specialist:

• Coordinates the execution of an annual marketing calendar for all Entrepreneurship Initiatives.
• Builds relationships with communication heads within the colleges, on-campus newsletter producers, StratComm, and clubs for promotional opportunities that highlight SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives content through their channels.
• Schedules photography and videography for all ZIP Launchpad events and other Entrepreneurship Initiative events as needed.
• Guides the creation and distribution of marketing materials through campus and online platforms.
• Supports presentations to campus organizations to promote the Entrepreneurship Initiatives.
• Ensures the quality and accuracy of all materials, presentations, and promotional activities produced by the marketing team.

Marketing Lead:

• Maintains and coordinates the execution of an annual marketing calendar for all Entrepreneurship Initiatives.
• Develops and sustains critical relationships with communication heads within the colleges, on-campus newsletter producers, StratComm, and clubs for promotional opportunities that highlight SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives content through their channels.
• Coordinates photography and videography for all ZIP Launchpad events and other Entrepreneurship Initiative events as needed.
• Provides support in the creation and distribution of marketing materials through campus and online platforms.
• Supports presentations to campus organizations to promote the Entrepreneurship Initiatives.
• Ensures the quality and accuracy of all materials, presentations, and promotional activities produced by the marketing team.

Marketing & Promotion of ZIP Launchpad & Lavin Entrepreneurship Program:

Marketing Specialist:

• Annually supports the development of a marketing plan with input from Program Managers.
• Assists in establishing annual metrics (KPIs) for ZIP Launchpad & Lavin Entrepreneurship Program applications, marketing analytics, student engagement (events and special programs), and more.
• Supports the maintenance of the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center website (under the direction of the Lavin Center Program Manager).
• Responsible for maintaining the Lavin and ZIP Launchpad brand guidelines.
• Oversees the design of all marketing and promotional materials, including flyers, handouts, video content, and digital marketing.
• Manages the Entrepreneurship Passport Program, communicating with participating faculty, overseeing technical implementation, and utilizing it as a marketing tool.
• Leads and operates all platforms used in the ZIP Launchpad application cycle for marketing, application processing, and applicant communication, while supporting the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center in these activities (under the direction of the Lavin Program Manager).
• Implements the ZIP Launchpad and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center email marketing strategy using MailChimp (or other tools) and the university all-campus email platform to meet the organization's key metrics.
• Tracks an annual marketing budget for ZIP Launchpad and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center.

Marketing Lead:

• Annually creates a marketing plan with input from Program Managers.
• Establishes annual metrics (KPIs) for ZIP Launchpad & Lavin Entrepreneurship Program applications, marketing analytics, student engagement (events and special programs), and more.
• Supports the maintenance of the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center website (under the direction of the Lavin Center Program Manager).
• Responsible for creating, maintaining, and enforcing the Lavin and ZIP Launchpad brand guidelines.
• Oversees the design of all marketing and promotional materials, including flyers, handouts, video content, and digital marketing.
• Manages the Entrepreneurship Passport Program, communicating with participating faculty, overseeing technical implementation, and utilizing it as a marketing tool.
• Leads and operates all platforms used in the ZIP Launchpad application cycle for marketing, application processing, and applicant communication, while supporting the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center in these activities (under the direction of the Lavin Program Manager).
• Oversees the ZIP Launchpad and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center email marketing strategy using MailChimp (or other tools) and the university all-campus email platform to meet the organization's key metrics.
• Tracks an annual marketing budget for ZIP Launchpad and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center.

Marketing & Promotion of ZIP Launchpad

Marketing Specialist:

• Provides support to ZIP Launchpad teams on their social media paid advertisements and analytics.
• Ensures all content on the ZIP Launchpad website is current and updated regularly using HTML/CSS or other tools.

Marketing Lead:

• Conducts an annual in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of the ZIP Launchpad website based on analytics to identify necessary changes for improved engagement.
• Provides support to ZIP Launchpad teams on their social media paid advertisements and analytics.
• Ensures all content on the ZIP Launchpad website is current and updated regularly using HTML/CSS or other tools.

Lead Support (20%)

The Marketing Specialist, under the ZIP Launchpad Program Manager, is responsible for leading a team of new student assistants each semester (as funding allows) to assist in the marketing activities required to meet the organization's metric-driven goals.

Marketing Specialist or Lead:

• Recruits, trains, and manages a team of interns (as funding allows) each semester to perform marketing, promotion, and clerical work of average difficulty.
• Assigns and reviews work related to administrative and marketing tasks for the intern team.

Administrative Support (15%)

The Marketing Specialist, under the ZIP Launchpad Program Manager, regularly assists in and takes initiative in preparing and executing various clerical and administrative tasks to support the entrepreneurship initiatives.

Administrative Support of SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Marketing Specialist or Lead:

• Supports CRM use for the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, SDSU TTO office, and San Diego Techstars powered by SDSU for data storage and analysis.
• Assists San Diego Techstars powered by SDSU and the SDSU TTO office with various administrative tasks.
• Supports ZIP Launchpad & the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center development activities by drafting and managing emails, keeping development updated on prospect communication, and other related duties.

Administrative Support of ZIP Launchpad

Marketing Specialist:

• Oversees the administration of required agreements for program participants.
• Administers surveys (semesterly and annually) to current and past program participants.
• Responsible for the CRM (SalesForce) for data storage and reporting.

Marketing Lead:

• Oversees the administration of required agreements for program participants.
• Creates, administers, and analyzes surveys (semesterly and annually) to current and past program participants.
• Responsible for the CRM (SalesForce) for data storage and reporting.

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned (5%)

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and Program Manager.

Knowledge & Abilities

Marketing Specialist or Lead:

• Strong public speaking skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to apply independent judgment, discretion, and initiative to solve problems and develop solutions.
• Ability to perform standard arithmetic functions.
• Competence in understanding, interpreting, and communicating procedures, policies, information, ideas, and instructions.
• Proficiency in using standard office software packages.

Project-Specific Knowledge and Abilities

• Basic working knowledge of web design and editing.
• Highly organized and capable of multitasking.

Education/Experience

Marketing Specialist:

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree, including relevant coursework in Marketing or a related field.
• Two years of related professional or technical experience.

Marketing Lead:

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree, including relevant coursework in Marketing or a related field.
• Three years of related professional or technical experience.

Preferred Qualifications and Special Skills:

• Basic working knowledge of Salesforce, Canva, F6s, MailChimp, and social media advertising.
• Basic understanding of entrepreneurship at SDSU.
• Proficiency in Google Data Studio and Analytics.
• Experience overseeing student interns.
• Graduate (BS or BE) from SDSU.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidates must reside in California and be within a commutable distance from SDSU at the time of hire.
• Job offers are contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including criminal record checks).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets/Title IX Employer.