A great Content Marketing Manager does more than just write blogs or post on social media. They are the chief storyteller, strategist, and publisher for your brand. They understand that content isn’t just about filling a calendar; it’s about building an audience, earning trust, and driving profitable customer action. Hiring the right one is fundamental to sustainable growth, but it requires a job description that attracts a true strategist, not just a writer.
A vague job description often yields applicants who are great at one thing—like writing or social media—but lack the strategic vision to build a cohesive content engine. To find a leader who can manage a full-funnel content strategy, from top-of-funnel awareness to bottom-of-funnel conversion, your job description must be precise. This guide will show you how to write it, covering the essential skills, responsibilities, salary data, a smarter way to hire, and a complete set of templates for your entire content team.
Who is a content marketing manager?
A content marketing manager is the person responsible for a company’s entire content ecosystem. They own the content marketing strategy from ideation to distribution and analysis. Think of them as the editor-in-chief of your brand. They decide what stories to tell, who to tell them to, where to publish them, and how to measure their success. Their ultimate goal is to use content—articles, videos, podcasts, case studies, and more—to attract, engage, and retain a clearly defined audience, ultimately driving business growth.
What are the job responsibilities of a content marketing manager?
The responsibilities of a Content Marketing Manager are centered around overseeing the entire content lifecycle. They connect the dots between content creation and business objectives, ensuring every piece of content has a purpose.
- Content Strategy Development: Planning and documenting a comprehensive content strategy that supports marketing and sales goals. This includes defining target audiences, key messaging, and a content roadmap.
- Content Planning & Calendaring: Creating and managing a detailed editorial calendar to ensure a consistent and timely flow of content across all channels.
- Content Creation & Management: Overseeing the production of various content types, including blog posts, whitepapers, ebooks, case studies, videos, and social media content. This may involve writing content themselves or managing a team of writers and creators.
- SEO Integration: Collaborating with SEO specialists to ensure all content is optimized for search engines, from keyword research to on-page optimization.
- Distribution & Promotion: Developing a strategy to promote and distribute content across various channels, including email, social media, and partner networks, to maximize its reach.
- Performance Analysis: Tracking and analyzing content performance using tools like Google Analytics. Reporting on key metrics like traffic, engagement, lead generation, and content-driven revenue.
- Team & Freelancer Management: Managing in-house content creators, freelancers, and agencies to ensure high-quality output and adherence to deadlines.
6 Skills of A Content Marketing Manager Should Possess
A successful Content Marketing Manager requires a rare mix of creative talent and analytical prowess. They must be able to think like a publisher while acting like a data-driven marketer.
- Exceptional Writing & Editing: The ability to write clean, compelling copy and edit the work of others to maintain a consistent brand voice and quality standard.
- Strategic Thinking: The capacity to develop a long-term content plan that aligns with business objectives and addresses the entire customer journey.
- SEO Expertise: A strong understanding of SEO principles and how to create content that ranks well in search engines.
- Data Literacy: The skill to navigate analytics platforms, interpret performance data, and use insights to make informed decisions about future content.
- Project Management: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and contributors simultaneously.
- Storytelling: A natural ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with the target audience and communicate the brand’s value proposition effectively.
Content marketing manager salary
The salary for a Content Marketing Manager reflects their critical role in building a brand’s authority and lead generation pipeline. Compensation varies based on experience, team size, industry, and location. Based on 2024 data for traditional hires in the United States, here are the general salary ranges:
- Content Marketing Specialist/Junior Manager: $65,000 to $85,000 per year.
- Mid-Level Content Marketing Manager: $85,000 to $115,000 per year.
- Senior Content Marketing Manager/Director: $115,000 to $150,000+ per year.
These figures represent the base salary. The total cost to an employer is significantly higher once you add benefits, payroll taxes, recruiting fees, and subscriptions for content and SEO software, which can increase the total investment by 30-40%.
The Smarter Way to Hire: The Global Talent Advantage
Hiring a skilled Content Marketing Manager locally can be a major expense. But what if you could access a global pool of pre-vetted, experienced content professionals for a fraction of the price? Hiring remote talent provides a powerful financial and strategic advantage.
Let’s look at the cost comparison for a Mid-Level Content Marketing Manager:
By hiring a dedicated, full-time Content Marketing Manager from our global talent network, you can secure top-tier leadership for as little as $2,000 a month. This unlocks annual savings of over $100,000, enabling you to build a world-class content engine without straining your budget.
Content Marketing Director Job Description Template
Job Title: Content Marketing Director
Salary Range: $130,000 to $180,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a visionary Content Marketing Director to define and lead our global content strategy. In this role, you will oversee the planning, execution, and optimization of all content initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and creating a cohesive brand narrative. You will build and mentor a high-performing content team, collaborate across departments to drive strategic campaigns, and measure the ROI of content efforts. As a strategic leader, you will elevate our brand voice and position us as an industry thought leader.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive global content marketing strategy aligned with business goals.
- Lead content planning, creation, distribution, and performance analysis across all channels.
- Mentor and manage a team of content managers, specialists, and external contributors.
- Collaborate with marketing, product, and sales teams to align content strategy with broader campaigns.
- Drive thought leadership initiatives to establish the brand as an industry authority.
- Oversee the development of editorial guidelines to ensure consistency in tone, voice, and quality.
- Analyze content performance metrics and provide actionable insights to optimize future strategies.
- Manage the content marketing budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
Skills & Qualifications:
- Proven work experience as a Content Marketing Director or similar senior role.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Exceptional storytelling, writing, and editing abilities.
- Expertise in SEO, content strategy, and performance measurement.
- Data-driven mindset with experience in analytics tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush.
- Ability to think strategically and execute tactically.
- Solid understanding of content trends, digital marketing, and audience engagement strategies.
Senior Content Marketing Manager Job Description Template
Job Title: Senior Content Marketing Manager
Salary Range: $100,000 to $140,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Job Summary:
We are looking for a seasoned Senior Content Marketing Manager to own and scale our content marketing initiatives. You will refine our content strategy, manage complex multi-channel campaigns, and oversee the creation of high-quality, engaging content. As a senior leader, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage a team of content creators, and drive measurable results that impact brand awareness, lead generation, and revenue growth.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage a robust content marketing strategy to support brand objectives.
- Oversee end-to-end content creation, including blogs, whitepapers, case studies, videos, and more.
- Manage and mentor a team of writers, designers, and freelancers to deliver quality content.
- Collaborate with SEO, social media, and paid media teams to maximize content reach.
- Track content performance, analyze metrics, and optimize campaigns based on data insights.
- Lead complex multi-channel campaigns, ensuring consistent messaging across platforms.
- Align content strategy with customer journeys to drive conversions and retention.
- Research industry trends and competitor activity to keep content strategy relevant and innovative.
Skills & Qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience in content marketing or related roles.
- Strong project management skills and the ability to handle multiple campaigns simultaneously.
- Hands-on experience with SEO, content management systems, and analytics tools.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling capabilities.
- A strategic thinker with a focus on results and ROI.
- Proven ability to lead and inspire teams.
Content Marketing Manager Job Description Template
Job Title: Content Marketing Manager
Salary Range: $85,000 to $115,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Job Summary:
We are hiring an experienced Content Marketing Manager to lead our day-to-day content operations. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing a content strategy, managing an editorial calendar, and creating high-quality content that aligns with our business goals. This is a hands-on role that combines strategic planning with content creation and performance analysis.
Key Responsibilities:
- Create and manage a detailed editorial calendar to ensure consistent content delivery.
- Develop and execute content strategies that align with marketing objectives and customer needs.
- Write, edit, and oversee the production of blogs, whitepapers, case studies, videos, and other content formats.
- Collaborate with SEO and digital marketing teams to optimize content for search engines and lead generation.
- Monitor content performance using tools like Google Analytics and generate actionable insights.
- Work closely with sales and product teams to align content with target audiences and business priorities.
- Manage freelance writers, designers, and agencies to ensure content quality and timely delivery.
Skills & Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in content marketing or a related field.
- Excellent writing and editing skills with a strong portfolio of content work.
- Proficient in SEO, content management systems, and analytics tools.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Ability to balance creative storytelling with data-driven decision-making.
Content Marketing Specialist Job Description Template
Job Title: Content Marketing Specialist
Salary Range: $50,000 to $70,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented Content Marketing Specialist to support our content marketing efforts. You will be responsible for creating, editing, and publishing content across multiple platforms, including blogs, social media, and email. This role is perfect for a skilled writer with a passion for digital marketing and a desire to grow in the content space.
Key Responsibilities:
- Write and edit blog posts, social media updates, email campaigns, and other content formats.
- Assist in researching and developing new content ideas aligned with marketing objectives.
- Collaborate with design and social teams to create visually compelling content.
- Optimize content for SEO and user engagement.
- Track and report on content performance metrics to identify areas for improvement.
- Stay up-to-date on content marketing trends and best practices.
Skills & Qualifications:
- 1-3 years of experience in content marketing, copywriting, or digital marketing.
- Strong writing and editing skills with attention to detail.
- Familiarity with SEO principles and content management tools.
- Basic knowledge of analytics tools like Google Analytics.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Junior Content Marketing Manager Job Description Template
Job Title: Junior Content Marketing Manager (Content Coordinator)
Salary Range: $40,000 to $55,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
Job Summary:
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Junior Content Marketing Manager to support our content team. You will assist with research, writing, editing, and scheduling content across various platforms. This entry-level role is ideal for a recent graduate or aspiring marketer looking to build a career in content marketing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in researching and brainstorming content ideas for blogs, social media, and campaigns.
- Write and edit content while maintaining brand tone and voice.
- Help manage the editorial calendar to ensure timely content delivery.
- Publish and schedule content across platforms, including websites and social media.
- Monitor content performance and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Support the content team with administrative tasks and project coordination.
Skills & Qualifications:
- 0-2 years of experience in content marketing, writing, or digital marketing.
- Strong writing and editing skills with a willingness to learn.
- Familiarity with social media platforms and basic SEO concepts.
- Highly organized with excellent time management.
- A proactive and collaborative attitude.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the difference between a Content Marketing Manager and a Content Strategist?
A: The roles are very similar and often overlap. A Content Marketing Manager is typically more focused on the execution, management, and promotion of content. A Content Strategist is often more focused on the high-level planning, including audience research, journey mapping, and information architecture, that informs the content manager’s work.
Q: How do you measure the success of a Content Marketing Manager?
A: Success is measured by a range of KPIs that connect content to business results. These include organic traffic, keyword rankings, engagement metrics (e.g., time on page, social shares), lead generation from content assets (e.g., ebook downloads), and, most importantly, content-sourced revenue.
Q: Should a Content Marketing Manager be an expert in SEO?
A: Yes, a modern Content Marketing Manager must have a strong, practical understanding of SEO. While they may not be a technical SEO expert, they need to know how to conduct keyword research, apply on-page SEO principles, and build a content strategy that is designed to rank in search engines from the start.
