Marketing Project Manager: Job Description
A marketing project manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of marketing campaigns and initiatives. Acting as the link between creative, digital, and strategy teams, they coordinate timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure projects meet business objectives. Their role combines project management skills—such as scheduling, communication, and risk management—with marketing expertise to align every task with brand strategy and target audience goals. From product launches to content campaigns, the marketing project manager ensures consistency, efficiency, and measurable impact across all marketing activities.
What is a marketing project manager ?
The role involves orchestrating all marketing activities within a company or agency. The primary mission is to execute marketing strategies while coordinating the various stakeholders involved in projects.
Within a marketing team, the manager develops and supervises initiatives aimed at promoting products and services. This requires expertise in strategic marketing and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, often using marketing project management software to plan tasks, monitor progress, and streamline collaboration.
Working closely with sales, creative, and technical teams, the marketing project manager ensures alignment with company objectives. They are also responsible for managing the budget aspects of projects and optimizing allocated resources.
This role is central to ensuring a company’s competitiveness and visibility in its market.
What does a marketing project manager do ?
A marketing project manager oversees the planning and execution of marketing activities to achieve specific project objectives. Their project management responsibilities include defining timelines, coordinating teams, managing budgets, and ensuring smooth communication between departments. They develop strategies, supervise campaigns, and use data to optimize performance and resource allocation. By aligning creative, digital, and strategic efforts, the marketing project manager ensures each initiative contributes to successful marketing outcomes. Ultimately, they act as the central point of coordination, ensuring every project is delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with the company’s overall marketing goals.
How to become a marketing project manager ?
Several educational pathways lead to a career as a marketing project manager. Suitable post-secondary programs include bachelor's degrees in marketing or business, business schools with a marketing specialization, master's degrees in marketing and communication, and MBAs specialized in marketing management.
The Global BBA at emlyon business school offers comprehensive training in international management and marketing. This program provides foundational marketing knowledge while developing a global business perspective.
This four-year, internationally-focused program confers a State-recognized Bachelor degree. Available in English or French, the curriculum enables students to engage with different cultures while building strong skills in marketing and management.
The Master of Science in International Marketing and Business Development at emlyon is an 18 month generalist program that develops dual expertise in marketing and business development. Graduates gain in-depth knowledge of marketing management and sales, essential for understanding customer needs and creating effective, client-oriented strategies. The program, based on real cases, international experiences, and strong industry ties, prepares students for strategic roles in marketing and business development across global markets.
Discover the Master of Science in International Marketing and Business Development
Industries and companies hiring marketing project managers
Job opportunities for marketing project managers exist across various sectors. Large companies in industry, services, and digital fields seek these professionals to enhance their market presence. Marketing agencies also offer diverse project opportunities with different clients.
Marketing project managers can work in various structures. The e-commerce sector, for instance, has a high demand for digital marketing experts capable of managing innovative projects. Startups, aiming for rapid growth, hire marketing project managers to structure their commercial approach. SMEs and mid-sized companies also recognize the importance of dedicated marketing roles for their development.
The digital transformation has increased the demand for marketing project managers specializing in digital marketing, data marketing, and customer experience. Luxury, retail, and B2B service sectors are particularly in need of these profiles.
What are the key responsibilities of a marketing project manager?
Responsibilities include both strategic and operational tasks:
- Developing and monitoring the annual marketing plan and specific action plans as part of a broader project management plan.
- Coordinating marketing initiatives and multichannel advertising campaigns.
- Managing marketing budgets and optimizing resource allocation to ensure all deliverables are met.
- Using dedicated tools to track and monitor project progress and campaign performance.
- Analyzing results and providing detailed reports on actions undertaken.
Additional tasks involve managing external service providers and leading internal teams. Ensuring the company’s digital presence and overseeing market studies and competitive analysis are also integral to the role.
Essential skills for a marketing project manager
To excel in this role, a marketing project manager needs both technical and personal skills:
- Proficiency in project management tools.
- Expertise in data analysis and statistics.
- Deep understanding of digital marketing techniques.
- Budgeting and financial control skills.
- Proficiency in content creation and production tools.
- Leadership and team mobilization abilities.
Familiarity with project management platforms (Trello, Asana, MS Project), marketing analysis tools (Google Analytics, Semrush), marketing automation platforms (HubSpot, Marketo), and CRM solutions (Salesforce, Dynamics) is essential. Graphic creation tools and Adobe Suite are also beneficial.
Social media expertise and proficiency in marketing automation tools are increasingly important for optimizing campaigns and enhancing customer relationships.
Ideal profile for a marketing project manager
Key personal qualities include leadership and team-building abilities. Creativity and innovative problem-solving, combined with strong organizational skills, are also vital. Adaptability to market changes, resilience, and stress management are important traits. Intellectual curiosity and active monitoring keep professionals updated with industry trends. Analytical and synthesis skills aid in strategic decision-making and stakeholder communication.
Career prospects and salary in marketing
The average salary for a marketing project manager depends on experience and industry. Entry-level positions offer between €40,000 and €50,000 gross annually. With experience, salaries can rise to €60,000-€80,000 annually, particularly in roles like marketing director or project director.
Career advancement opportunities include roles such as marketing manager, marketing director, Marketing Director, digital marketing consultant, or agency director. These positions usually come with increased responsibilities and higher remuneration.
The role of a marketing project manager is central to corporate development strategies. Constantly evolving, this career requires versatile professionals who combine technical expertise, strategic vision, and soft skills. In an era of rapid digital transformation and complex marketing challenges, career prospects in this field are promising. For candidates with strong training, such as emlyon’s BBA graduates, the role offers attractive growth opportunities and the chance to contribute to business growth in a stimulating professional environment.
Conclusion
A marketing project manager plays a powerful and highly strategic role within any organization, coordinating marketing projects from planning to delivery while ensuring every task is completed on time and within budget. Whether working in a marketing agency, product marketing, or brand marketing, they connect people, technology, and processes to deliver effective projects that strengthen a company’s brand and market share.
In today’s hybrid work environment, marketing managers typically use advanced task management and project management systems to monitor KPIs, optimize workflows, and guide marketing teams through each project lifecycle. Their education and experience—often supported by certifications from the Project Management Institute—prepare them to lead digital marketing projects, make data-driven decisions, and manage complex marketing strategies with efficiency.
With attractive benefits, strong salary prospects, and growing opportunities across industries, this position offers a rewarding career path for motivated professionals who want to learn, explore, and lead. For those aiming to participate in shaping the future of marketing and apply their skills in a dynamic, global environment, becoming a marketing project manager is a successful project in itself.