Content Marketing Manager Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A content marketing manager plans and runs a company's content strategy: blog posts, guides, case studies, email and sometimes video, aimed at bringing in traffic and leads and keeping customers engaged. They set the editorial calendar, manage writers and freelancers, and measure which content actually drives signups or pipeline, not just traffic.
The role sits at the intersection of writing, SEO and demand generation, so it suits people who can both edit a sentence and read a traffic or conversion report. Content marketing managers work closely with product, sales and design, since good content usually needs input from people who aren't writers.
Content Marketing Manager job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
Content Marketing Manager
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring a content marketing manager to grow [blog/content program] and support [demand generation / brand] goals. You'll set the editorial calendar, manage a team of writers and freelancers, and track which content moves the metrics [team] cares about.
What you'll do
- Build and maintain the content calendar across [blog, email, social, video].
- Manage freelance writers and editors, from briefs through final edit.
- Write and edit high-priority pieces such as [pillar guides, case studies].
- Partner with SEO to target keywords and improve underperforming content.
- Work with sales and product on content that supports [demos, onboarding, launches].
- Report on content performance: traffic, engagement and contribution to pipeline.
- Manage the content budget, including freelancer and tool spend.
- Keep brand voice and style consistent across contributors and formats.
What you'll bring
- [X]+ years in content marketing, editorial or related writing-led marketing role.
- A portfolio of published content you planned, wrote or edited.
- Experience managing writers or freelancers against deadlines and briefs.
- Working knowledge of SEO fundamentals and content analytics tools.
- Strong editing skills: structure, clarity and voice, not just grammar.
- Ability to tie content output back to business metrics, not just traffic.
Nice to have
- Experience with [industry, e.g. B2B SaaS, healthcare or e-commerce] content.
- Basic skills in Google Analytics, Ahrefs or Semrush.
- Experience with video or podcast content production.
- Email marketing platform experience such as HubSpot or Marketo.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Remote-friendly, budget for freelancers and tools, conference attendance]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a recruiter call, a portfolio and writing sample review, a content strategy exercise for a sample topic, and a final interview with marketing leadership.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Content Marketing Manager duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Writes and edits content from an existing calendar and style guide.
- Coordinates freelancers on routine assignments, with review.
- Learns which content formats and topics perform for the audience.
Mid-level
- Owns the content calendar and freelancer team for a channel or product area.
- Sets content briefs and reviews drafts against strategy and SEO goals.
- Reports on performance and adjusts the plan based on results.
Senior
- Sets content strategy across formats and channels for the whole function.
- Manages a team of writers, editors or freelancers and the content budget.
- Aligns content plans with broader demand generation and brand strategy.
Content Marketing Manager career path
- Content Writer
- Content Marketing Manager
- Senior Content Marketing Manager
- Director of Content or Head of Marketing
Content marketing manager is a common next step for content writers, journalists and SEO specialists who've shown they can plan a calendar, not just fill one. From here, people move into content strategy leadership, broader marketing management, or specialized paths like brand or product marketing.
Similar roles
- Content Writer job description
Writes assigned pieces rather than owning the overall content strategy.
- SEO Specialist job description
Focuses on search visibility and technical SEO over content planning.
- Marketing Manager job description
Owns broader marketing strategy across channels, not only content.
- Copywriter job description
Focuses on short-form, conversion-oriented writing like ads and landing pages.
Content Marketing Manager job description FAQ
What does a content marketing manager do?
Plans and runs a company's content strategy, sets the editorial calendar, manages writers and freelancers, and tracks which content drives traffic, engagement and pipeline.
What skills should a content marketing manager job description require?
A portfolio of published content, experience managing writers against deadlines, working knowledge of SEO and content analytics, and strong editing skills. Video or email marketing experience is a reasonable nice-to-have.
Is content marketing manager a writing job or a strategy job?
Both, in most companies. The role usually combines hands-on writing or editing with planning the calendar, managing other writers, and reporting on results, though the split shifts with seniority.
What metrics should a content marketing manager be measured on?
Traffic and engagement matter, but the strongest postings also tie content to business outcomes like signups, demo requests or pipeline contribution, which should be stated in the role's goals.