Marketing & Communications Specialist

Marketing & Communications Specialist

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

Location: San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)

About Us

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons, dedicated to advancing the lifelong learning and professional interests of the ophthalmic community. Our Annual Meeting is one of the largest medical gatherings in the United States, drawing attendees from around the globe.Through education, advocacy, and innovative programs, the Academy supports ophthalmologists at every stage of their careers and helps advance the field of eye care worldwide.

The Communications Department connects the Academy to our 32,000 member ophthalmologists and a public website audience of 20 million annually. We are the organization’s experts and front line for communication via email, web and social media channels.

Position Summary

The Marketing Communications (Marcoms) Specialist plays a key role in executing targeted, multi-channel marketing campaigns that support the Academy’s mission and business goals. Working closely with the Campaign Manager and cross-functional teams, this role helps translate campaign strategies into effective digital and print marketing deliverables across email, social media, web platforms, and other channels.

This position focuses on campaign implementation, testing, optimization, and reporting to ensure marketing initiatives reach the right audiences and deliver measurable impact. The Marcoms Specialist contributes to campaigns that support membership engagement, professional education, advocacy initiatives, and event and product promotions.

Role and Responsibilities

Campaign Execution

• Build and deploy marketing campaigns across email, social media, paid advertising, landing pages, websites, and print channels.
• Assist in translating campaign strategies into clear channel deliverables aligned with campaign goals.
• Support the creation of video clips for social media, including interviews and editing to promote meetings and programs.
• Coordinate deployment of marketing assets across digital and traditional channels.
• Ensure all marketing materials meet brand guidelines and messaging standards.

Content Coordination & Quality Assurance

• Develop campaign production schedules and coordinate deliverables across marketing channels.
• Manage proofreading, layout review, image optimization, and testing for marketing materials across platforms.
• Collaborate with designers, writers, and creative teams to ensure brand consistency and high-quality execution.
• Review content for accuracy, clarity, and adherence to marketing standards.
• Support the development and refinement of promotional messaging.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Track campaign performance metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions across channels.
• Support the creation of campaign performance reports and insights for stakeholders.
• Conduct A/B testing and optimize campaign components based on data and feedback.
• Monitor campaign results and recommend adjustments to improve engagement and outcomes.

Calendar & Workflow Management

• Maintain campaign calendars and monitor deadlines to ensure timely execution.
• Coordinate marketing deliverables across teams to keep campaigns on track.
• Work with IT and web teams to manage platform requests, updates, and fixes.
• Help streamline workflows and ensure efficient collaboration across teams.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Partner with Campaign Managers, Creative, Content, and Event/Product teams to align marketing tactics with strategic goals.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to refine messaging and ensure audience relevance.
• Help tailor marketing content for different audience segments, including young ophthalmologists and international members.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external vendors to ensure timely production and delivery of marketing assets.

Qualifications, Skills, and Education Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• Approximately 5 years of marketing or related business experience.
• Strong understanding of marketing and communications principles across digital and traditional channels.
• Experience with campaign execution, promotional content development, and marketing analytics.
• Excellent project management, communication, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a marketing agency environment.
• Familiarity with marketing platforms such as Higher Logic, Mailchimp, or similar email marketing systems.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite tools such as InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop.
• Experience with website platforms and basic HTML.
• Video creation or editing experience for social media content.

Key Skills

• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and recommend improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong collaboration skills when working across departments and with external vendors.

Work Environment

This position follows a hybrid schedule, with three days in-office days each week at our San Francisco headquarters. Occasional extended hours and on-site support are required during the Academy’s Annual Meeting and other major events.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $99,732

This position includes a comprehensive benefits package, including health coverage, paid time off, and a generous retirement plan contribution.

Salary listed reflects compensation for San Francisco–based hybrid employees. Compensation may vary based on geographic location, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences and encourage individuals who are excited about our mission to apply—even if their qualifications do not perfectly match every requirement listed.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.