We're hiring a Digital Marketing Manager to run marketing for an established catering, banquet, and events business in Morris, IL. Weddings, corporate events, private catering, plus an active bakery and market presence.
This is a build-and-own role, not a support role. You'll be responsible for how this business shows up online — from the first time a bride finds us on The Knot through the follow-up text that closes the booking. If you want work that traces directly to booked revenue, this is that seat. If you want to execute a content calendar someone else wrote, it isn't.
You will be the entire marketing department. No team, no designer, no agency behind you. You'll have a budget, direct access to the owner, and the authority to make decisions. That trade is the job.
What You'll Own
Social media and content
- Run all social accounts end to end — strategy, calendar, publishing, community management, DM response
- Produce the content yourself: shoot and edit photo and video on-site at events, in the kitchen, and in the bakery
- Build a content library organized around the wedding and event booking cycle
Website and search
- Own our Wix website: page updates, menu and pricing changes, seasonal landing pages, forms, lead capture
- Manage local SEO and the Google Business Profile — hours, photos, Q&A, posts, review response
- Plan and manage paid advertising on Google Ads and Meta within an agreed monthly budget
Wedding directories and reputation
- Maintain our listings on The Knot, WeddingWire, and Zola — photos, pricing, packages, FAQs, storefront copy
- Monitor and respond to reviews across all directories, Google, and Facebook
- Track which directories actually produce booked business and reallocate spend accordingly
Email, SMS, and lead nurture
- Design and send email campaigns and newsletters to prospect and past-client lists
- Run our text-message marketing program — list growth, segmentation, send cadence
- Maintain documented opt-in and opt-out practices in line with TCPA requirements
Lead tracking and pipeline
- Capture and track every inbound inquiry — web form, phone, social DM, directory lead — in one system
- Coordinate with the events team in Perfect Venue so marketing-sourced leads move cleanly into booking
- Hold the line on inquiry response time. In this market, speed to first response is the biggest lever on close rate
- Report monthly on lead volume, source, cost per lead, and bookings closed by channel
Your First 90 Days
- You've taken full administrative ownership of every marketing account and documented where each one lives
- A consistent posting cadence runs across all social channels without daily direction
- Every directory listing is current, complete, and accurate
- Inbound leads are tracked in one place and you can say where they came from
- You've delivered one monthly report the owner can read in five minutes and act on
What You Need
- 2+ years running marketing for a business — agency or in-house — with accounts you personally managed
- Hands-on experience with Meta Business Suite and Google Analytics
- Comfortable editing a website yourself. Wix preferred; comparable platform experience considered
- Strong copywriting — you'll be writing in our voice constantly
- Proficiency in Canva or Adobe Creative Suite
- Able to shoot and edit usable photo and video on a phone or DSLR
- Reliable transportation to Morris, IL and willingness to be on-site for some evening and weekend events
Nice to Have Direct experience with The Knot, WeddingWire, or Zola storefronts
- Background in hospitality, weddings, catering, venues, or events
- Experience with an SMS marketing platform (Textedly, EZ Texting, Attentive, Twilio, or similar)
- Experience with a CRM or structured lead-tracking system
- Google Ads or Meta Ads management with real budget responsibility
Schedule and Work Arrangement
- Full-time. We'll consider part-time for an exceptional candidate
- On-site in Morris, IL for the first 90 days
- Hybrid schedule available after that, based on performance and demonstrated ownership of the role
- Some evening and weekend event coverage is part of the job, not an exception to it
Applying
Please answer the application questions — they matter more to us than the resume. We're looking for work you actually did, with numbers where you have them. Approximate figures are fine; vague ones aren't.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: $48,000.00 - $61,460.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Please list 2 Social media accounts you have personally managed. Handles or links are fine. Briefly tell us what you inherited and what changed.
- Have you personally edited or updated a website on Wix or a comparable platform? If yes, which platform and
what did you do?
- Have you run an email or SMS marketing program, including managing the list and opt-ins? [Yes / No]
- Describe one marketing campaign you ran: what you did, roughly what you spent, and what it produced.
Experience:
- Social media management: 1 year (Preferred)
- Marketing: 1 year (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Morris, IL 60450 (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Morris, IL 60450
