DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

At Esalen, we believe in the power of our potential -- both in our staff and in our global community of students and faculty who turn to us for transformative learning experiences. More than 50 years ago, Esalen co-founders imagined a place inspired by Abraham Maslow’s psychology of peak experiences and Aldous Huxley’s belief in “human potentialities”, the unrealized capacities of our mind and body. Today we build on this legacy by creating deep connections in a world challenged by disconnection and isolation; reigniting awe and wonder to spark greater curiosity about ourselves and others; and asking the questions that can lead to transformative change both for an individual and society.  

Esalen isn’t just a place to work, it’s an invitation to help change the world.

Location: Remote (Preference for candidates with availability to visit Esalen as needed)

Reports to: CEO

• The Director of Marketing will be responsible for shaping and executing Esalen’s marketing strategy, with a strong emphasis on quantitative marketing, growth, and brand development. This role will lead product marketing efforts for Esalen’s programs, optimize digital engagement, and execute successful marketing campaigns with measurable results. Additionally, this position will collaborate with HR to develop targeted recruitment marketing strategies for faculty, educators, and operational staff.
• The ideal candidate is a data-driven, strategic thinker with expertise in marketing analytics, communications, product management, and digital marketing. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone passionate about mission-driven organizations, innovation, team collaboration and proven marketing growth strategies.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, data-driven marketing strategy to drive brand awareness, program enrollment, and audience engagement.
• Lead product marketing for Esalen’s educational offerings, ensuring strong market positioning and audience alignment.
• Lead Market research and audience segmentation and analytics
• Utilize quantitative marketing analytics to track campaign performance and optimize for maximum impact.
• Lead integrated marketing campaigns focused on customer acquisition, retention, and conversion optimization.
• Manage budget allocation for paid media, digital advertising, and marketing operations to ensure high ROI.
• Developing a strategy to promote educational programs and retreats to the right audience.
• Creating marketing campaigns that drive program enrollment and engagement.
• Identifying the best channels to reach potential participants, such as email marketing, social media, paid ads, and partnerships.
• Optimizing messaging and branding to differentiate Esalen’s offerings from competitors.
• Develop customer personas and audience segmentation strategies to target the right audience effectively.
• Work closely with the programming team to craft messaging that highlights Esalen’s unique educational experiences.
• Oversee email marketing, content marketing, and automation strategies to drive engagement and enrollment.
• Ensure all brand messaging, storytelling, and content marketing align with Esalen’s mission and values.
• Lead social media strategy, ensuring engaging, high-impact content across all platforms.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop press releases, thought leadership content, and external communications.
• Act as a key brand steward, ensuring a consistent voice and visual identity across all touchpoints.
• Partner with HR to develop and execute targeted recruitment campaigns for faculty, educators, and operational staff.
• Build an employer branding strategy to attract top-tier talent and position Esalen as a desirable workplace.
• Use data-driven audience segmentation to target and engage prospective candidates.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for all marketing initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Conduct A/B testing, audience segmentation, and market research to optimize campaigns for higher engagement.
• Prepare data-driven reports for senior leadership with actionable insights and recommendations for growth.

• 7-10 years of marketing experience, with a proven track record in quantitative marketing, growth strategy, and brand communications.
• Expertise in product marketing, digital advertising, SEO, social media strategy, and campaign execution.
• Strong background in communications, messaging strategy, and brand storytelling.
• Experience in product management, go-to-market strategy, and customer segmentation.
• Data-driven mindset with proficiency in Google Analytics, CRM platforms, and marketing automation tools.
• Proven experience in running high-impact marketing campaigns with measurable success.
• Familiarity with HR/recruitment marketing is a plus.
• Strong leadership, team collaboration, and budget management skills.
• Passion for personal growth, holistic education, and Esalen’s mission is a plus.

• Esalen functions best when all staff work toward the common mission of encouraging everyone to reach our highest human potential. With this goal in mind, this job description is not intended to cover or contain an all-encompassing listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice based on Esalen’s and your team’s needs.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to sit for long periods of time, occasionally carry and lift up to 25 pounds and be able to perform daily repetitive hand motions as it pertains to computer mouse and keyboard.

• Remote work flexibility with opportunities to visit Esalen’s breathtaking campus in Big Sur. On-site work days required each month. The ideal candidate should live within a three hour radius of Big Sur, CA. Complimentary commuter housing provided and mileage will be reimbursed.

• This role offers a generous benefits package including competitive pay commensurate with experience, medical and dental insurance, and paid time off. In alignment with Esalen’s mission in advancing human potential, staff are encouraged to engage in a wide range of  personal and professional development programs designed by Esalen faculty and staff.

Esalen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.