A marketing specialist is a professional who engages in the task of analyzing the promotional potential of a given company and oversees the creation of programs and other tools that will help the company become a success. Marketing specialists can work within several different roles as part of this process.

One of the more common tasks of a marketing specialist is serving as a marketing coordinator. Within the scope of this position, the specialist will be responsible for supervising the various components of an existing marketing plan. This responsibility often involves supervising and mentoring members of a marketing team. Generally, several people will be charged with one or more of the various tasks associated with the plan. In order to make sure all efforts are working toward the proper goal, a coordinator helps to keep each area of responsibility functioning at optimum efficiency.

A marketing manager is similar to a coordinator, but often is responsible for managing a group of individuals who are focused on a particular portion of the overall marketing strategy. The marketing manager, like most managers, not only is accountable for the success of his or her team, but also provides guidance within the scope of the team’s areas of responsibility, communicates with other team managers, and ultimately reports to the marketing coordinator.

A marketing specialist does not have to be connected with a specific company. Because the marketing specialist often has a broad range of skills that can be applied to marketing efforts in a number of settings, the specialist may choose to function as an independent consultant, or work with a public relations agency. In both these scenarios, the marketing specialist can enjoy the freedom of working with opportunities in a variety of different industries, often bringing a fresh approach to a company that has followed the same marketing approach for years.

The successful marketing specialist often has advanced degrees associated with marketing, coupled with a flair for creating marketing campaigns that present the strengths of a company in new and exciting ways. Along with a solid educational background and a creative mind, the marketing specialist should also have excellent interpersonal skills. The ability to work well with other people will come in handy when pitching marketing campaigns to corporate executives, bringing the sales force on board with the new approach, and keeping communication lines open with every member of the marketing staff.