For the most part, campaign manager jobs involve marketing and promotion. Most of these positions are found in either politics or advertising. Many of these managers work in the political arena, where they help create and run campaigns for people seeking elected office. In the advertising industry, campaign managers work to form and promote a brand image across a variety of media.
Most campaign managers in any field will work to coordinate marketing efforts. They are typically in charge of managing a campaign staff made up of either paid employees or volunteers. They usually focus on promoting the image of their candidate or organization through media such as online, print, and television advertisements.
Many campaign manager jobs are in politics. Political campaigns often require a manager to create a desirable image for the candidate, to win votes from the public. Typically, the goal of a campaign manager is to focus public attention on the candidate and his or her message.
Political campaign managers are often in charge of coordinating paid staff, volunteers, and outside consultants. They also generally work with the basic mass media marketing tools, like creating television or print advertisements. They may also be called on to coordinate other campaign strategies, such as speechwriting, neighborhood canvassing, and even public opinion polling.
Electoral campaign manager jobs may require different levels of responsibility, depending on the type of election. In smaller, local races, the campaign manager may be asked to set the strategy for winning the election. In larger campaigns, for the most part, the candidate has a team of outside advisors and consultants who set the election strategy, and trust the manager to implement the plan.
Experienced campaign managers may be able to find work with other campaigns after an election is over. They also may continue working as public relations advisors for their winning candidates. There may be some crossover campaign manager jobs with non-governmental organizations, promoting political issues but not particular candidates.
Other campaign manager jobs work with branding. These positions typically focus on creating and advancing a brand name, and often a brand image, for a company or organization. These managers may work to promote a service rather than a product.
This type of campaign manager is usually responsible for outreach to both new and returning customers. He or she may also be called on to manage the marketing budget, and oversee all advertising efforts on behalf of the organization. Depending on the type of organization, he or she may also be required to raise funds.
