Job Description

About ACER

ACER is an independent, not-for-profit educational research and development organisation focused on creating and promoting research-based knowledge, products and services that can be used to improve learning across the life span.

This is a senior leadership role with organisation-wide influence, responsible for shaping and executing ACER’s global marketing strategy across diverse product portfolios and international markets.

Position context

For more than 95 years, the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) has been driven by a single purpose – to improve learning for all.

Founded in Australia in 1930, ACER began as a small team of researchers determined to bring rigour and evidence to education and assessment. Over the decades, that commitment has evolved into a global mission – combining world-class assessment and research to help learners, educators and systems understand what works in education, and why.

Today our work spans over 150 countries and reaches millions of learners from early childhood through to adulthood. Across our offices in Australia, India, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, nearly 500 dedicated people work alongside industry, governments, education systems, early learning institutes, schools, tertiary institutions, and international development agencies to turn research into action, and evidence into impact.

The Marketing, Communications and Media (MCM) team drives ACER’s visibility, engagement and growth by delivering strategic, integrated communications across key audiences and markets. The team leads marketing and business development, internal and external communications, media and government relations, publishing, creative design, and digital information services.

Through targeted campaigns, content strategy, brand stewardship and stakeholder engagement, the MCM team enhances ACER’s reputation, supports revenue growth, and ensures consistent, high-impact messaging that advances the organisation’s mission in Australia and globally.

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer the Product Marketing Manager will operate with a high degree of strategic and operational autonomy, leading a high-performing team and overseeing significant transformation initiatives.

Job responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Lead the development and implementation of ACER’s global marketing strategy, aligned with organisational goals and market insights.
• Oversee brand positioning, audience segmentation, and campaign planning across priority products, services and markets.
• Define and monitor marketing performance metrics and KPIs, and prepare performance reports, ensuring data-driven insights inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Champion a shared organisational understanding of marketing as a strategic, mission-aligned enabler.
• Lead a high-performing team, manage marketing budgets and report on ROI.

Product Marketing

• Deliver go-to-market strategies for ACER’s commercial education products, including assessments, professional learning resources, and digital services.
• Drive audience engagement across all external ACER channels through impactful storytelling and consistent messaging, developing a trusted relationship with external audiences.
• Oversee the creation of high-quality marketing collateral, digital assets, and promotional materials.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment.
• Oversee the implementation of ACER’s conference strategy, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and amplification through marketing.

Digital Marketing and Ecommerce Innovation

• Lead the marketing strategy for ACER’s digital transformation, including the launch of a new global website and e-commerce platform, CRM integration, and data-driven customer engagement systems.
• Develop global digital and social media marketing strategies
• Lead platform selection and workflows for EDMs and social media management.
• Collaborate closely with the Business Development Manager to develop nurture strategies and optimise digital flows with the CRM and other business development systems.
• Ensure the development of systems for accurate and informative data collection for a comprehensive view of ACER’s customers and the impact of marketing activities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Reputation

• Work closely with global offices to support localised marketing effort, and capability-building in marketing tools and campaign execution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organisation and externally, including thought leaders and suppliers.
• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen ACER’s reputation in the education sector, with a particular focus on engaging with teachers and school leaders locally and internationally.
• Represent ACER at conferences and events to local and global audiences.

Organisational accountabilities

• Proactively work towards achieving individual, team and organisational objectives while demonstrating ACER’s leadership behaviours
  • Developing Self – involves self-management, self-reflection and self-improvement
  • Embracing Change – being open to change and leading change when appropriate
  • Pursuing Excellence – ongoing search for new and better ways of working
  • Setting Directions – strategic thinking and planning for the future
  • Supporting Colleagues – supporting and contributing to the development of others
  • Working Collaboratively – building highly effective internal and external relationships
• Actively work to create an equitable, fair and harmonious work environment which is free from harassment, bullying and discrimination by demonstrating respectful and courteous behaviour towards others
• Proactively foster an inclusive and diverse work environment which encourages and respects different experiences and perspectives, and values diversity of thought
• Comply with all occupational health and safety requirements, including following safe work practices for self and others and identifying, assessing, and mitigating psychosocial risks
• Comply with all information security requirements, including completing regular security training and abiding by the standards and procedures laid out in ACER’s Information Security Management System
• Work in accordance with ACER’s policies and procedures.

Decision Making Authority

The Marketing Manager will work under the broad direction of the Chief Marketing Officer and will operate with a high degree of accountability with respect to strategic and operational decisions within the marketing portfolio.

Qualifications

Postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Communications, Business or a related field.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential

• Strong track record in product marketing, digital transformation, and strategic campaign leadership – whether from education, EdTech, or other mission-aligned sector.
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing marketing teams and strategies
• At least 7 years’ experience in marketing, ideally within B2B, education, EdTech, or mission-driven sectors.”
• Strong understanding of digital transformation and ecommerce strategies.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership skills.
• Experience managing multi-channel campaigns and budgets.
• Exceptional communication, writing, and facilitation abilities.
• Experience in change management and cross-cultural collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability in campaign management, content strategy, and digital marketing.
• Demonstrated ability to translate organisational strategy into measurable marketing outcomes.

Desirable

• Knowledge or experience in the education or research sector.

Our commitment to equity, diversity, access and inclusion

ACER is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to actively fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, cultural and faith background, sexual orientation, disability and/or age. ACER welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

ACER encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

ACER is committed to supporting candidates with disability through provision of adjustments during the recruitment and selection process and throughout employment. To request or discuss adjustment requirements, please contact: p&c@acer.org