Marketing Operations Strategist

Job Title: Marketing Operations Strategist Category: Full-time; Non-Exempt Reports to: Director of Marketing & Communications Location: Remote (HQ in Kansas City, MO) About the PKD Foundation: The PKD Foundation (PKDF) is the only organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and to improving the lives of those it affects. Since 1982, we have proudly funded over $30 million in PKD research and leveraged $1.5 billion in government funding while serving our local communities across the country. We are inspired by our mission and driven by our vision. Our vision is to end PKD. Position Summary: The Marketing Operations Strategist serves as a key operational partner within the Marketing & Communications department, supporting the execution of integrated campaigns, cross-functional projects, and marketing initiatives aligned with PKD Foundation’s strategic priorities. This position builds and improves the operational foundation that enables the marketing team to execute effectively through project management, workflow optimization, vendor coordination, KPI reporting support, and process improvement. The Marketing Operations Strategist collaborates with internal departments, external vendors, and agency partners to ensure projects are aligned, organized, and successfully delivered. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, proactive, and collaborative professional who understands cross-departmental goals, brings structure to complex projects, and identifies opportunities to support the Foundation’s mission through marketing and communications efforts. Ideal Qualifications: Coordinates cross-functional teams, external vendors, and agency partners to support integrated marketing campaigns and projects aligned with Foundation priorities. Develops and manages project plans, timelines, milestones, action items, and status reporting to ensure successful execution of marketing initiatives. Manages marketing calendars, editorial calendars, campaign timelines, and asset inventories while maintaining visibility across projects and priorities. Develops and improves marketing department processes, workflows, and systems to increase efficiency, collaboration, and accountability. Supports integrated campaign execution by coordinating resources, deliverables, communications, and timelines across departments and marketing channels. Serves as a key operational partner to internal departments by understanding goals and needs and helping translate them into aligned marketing initiatives. Manages relationships with external vendors and service providers, including website, print, agency, and other marketing partners. Supports marketing performance tracking and reporting by maintaining KPI reporting, compiling campaign results, and assisting with measurement efforts. Manages marketing project management platforms, including Jira and Confluence, by maintaining project documentation, assigning tasks, tracking progress, and supporting team collaboration. Serves as a key point of contact for website maintenance, managing vendor communication, supporting website optimization, and assisting with the creation and tracking of source codes, vanity URLs, and QR codes. Provides communications support through writing and editing and support of less complex earned media opportunities, organizational announcements, and media tracking using tools such as Meltwater. Coordinates production, inventory, fulfillment, and shipment of marketing materials for conferences, events, meetings, and third-party needs. Supports the Director of Marketing & Communications and Marketing & Communications team with additional operational, project management, and communications needs as assigned. Ideal Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Master’s degree preferred. Minimum of 5 years of experience in marketing operations, project management, communications, public relations, or a related field. Experience managing integrated marketing projects involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, vendors, and deliverables. Experience using project management platforms such as Jira, Asana, Trello, Monday, ClickUp, or similar tools to manage workflows, track milestones, assign tasks, and support collaboration. Strong understanding of marketing operations, including campaign execution, workflow optimization, project management, and performance reporting. Excellent written communication and editing skills. Experience with public relations, media outreach, or earned media opportunities preferred. Experience managing external vendors, agencies, and marketing service providers preferred. Experience with website content management systems, email marketing platforms, CRM platforms and media monitoring tools such as Meltwater preferred. Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with staff, leadership, vendors, and external partners. Previous remote work experience preferred. Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, adapt to changing priorities, and manage time effectively Physical Demands: Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time. Use hands and arms, read, stoop, crouch, talk, hear, and see objects clearly at 20 inches or less. Lift and move items weighing up to 20 lbs. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work Location and Travel Requirements: Position is remote, home-based, available in any U.S. state. Employee must have dedicated workspace free from distractions. The workspace should be large enough to work efficiently and have reliable internet and phone connectivity. Employees must live within reasonable proximity to a major airport hub for required travel. Occasional business travel may be required to the PKD Foundation office in Kansas City, Missouri. Benefits*: We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive compensation (commensurate with experience), in addition to a benefits package including: Employer paid medical benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision for individual; subsidized medical benefits available for spouse/family. Employer funded HSA (for those who elect a HDHP) Life insurance and disability insurance 401(k) retirement savings plan with 12% employer contribution, no match required, after six months of continuous service 11+ paid Holidays and 20 PTO days per year Paid half-day Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day Remote work environment with a collaborative business center available to employees local to the Kansas City metro area as needed. *Benefits are subject to board review annually and may change. As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, PKDF provides a range of minimum compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Multiple factors may be used to determine your actual salary, including: your specific skills and experience, physical location, or other relevant factors. The salary range for this position may be lower or higher in different markets. The anticipated salary range for this role is: $60,000 - $70,000 annually. The PKD Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We’re committed to creating a work environment where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, veteran status, cultures, beliefs or any other status protected by law. As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the PKD Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check. For more information about the PKD Foundation, visit our website at pkdcure.org .