Assistant Director - Marketing

Overview

This fixed-term position, lasting up to one year, reports to the Director of Growth or potentially the CEO. Located in London with occasional travel, the role requires managing and transforming the marketing, communications, and press team during a transitional phase, designing a future operating model for the function based on organizational data, and implementing sustainable structures involving both in-house and external expert partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership to maintain marketing and communications team performance and stability throughout ongoing changes.
• Manage day-to-day marketing, press, and communications activities to uphold the organization's brand, campaigns, and external presence.
• Support team members through transition by fostering open communication and nurturing engagement aligned with organizational people values.
• Develop a future marketing operating model delineating roles for internal staff and external specialists.
• Analyze Target Operating Model results and data to prioritize initiatives and validate design assumptions for the marketing function.
• Lead selection and contracting of external partners, partnering with Procurement to ensure fair and well-governed sourcing.
• Establish effective governance, service expectations, and collaboration methods for a hybrid in-house and partner-delivered marketing model.
• Create an enduring in-house role focused on contract management and subject matter expertise to oversee partners and safeguard strategic control post-contract.
• Collaborate closely with the Growth leadership team to align marketing efforts with organizational commercial growth objectives.
• Provide transparent progress updates, risk assessments, and decision reporting to senior leadership and executive committees.

Role Characteristics

This position requires balancing operational delivery with strategic design in a changing environment. The individual must manage current performance while shaping a new marketing model, conducting this leadership with sensitivity and adherence to organizational values. The final structure and partnerships are to be defined through organization-wide consultations.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive senior marketing and communications leadership experience, including external and press communications.
• Proven ability to lead marketing functions through change, restructuring, or operational shifts.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing operating models and managing external agency relationships.
• Experience collaborating with Procurement for sourcing and contracting or strong commercial contracting acumen.
• Capability to oversee service quality and achieve performance standards with partner-delivered services.
• Background in membership organizations, professional bodies, or financial services is advantageous.
• Relevant degree or professional accreditation (e.g., CIM) or equivalent experience.

Competencies

• Effective communication and influence, particularly in managing change within teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to devise cost-effective operational models.
• Excellent project and change management skills balancing daily operations and transformation delivery.
• Collaborative approach working with diverse stakeholders including Procurement and partners.
• Resilience to maintain performance and accountability in uncertain environments.
• Innovative thinking to preserve marketing excellence while envisioning new delivery methods.
• Organized planning to sequence complex transition activities efficiently.
• Commitment to continuous learning and sharing current best practices.

Additional Information

• This contract is for a period of up to 12 months and may evolve alongside the organization’s operating model development.
• Benefits include 7.5% employer pension contributions on top of employee contributions, £30 monthly wellness allowance, 26 days annual leave plus institute closure for three days over Christmas/New Year, £2,500 annual travel allowance, and hybrid working arrangements requiring at least three office days per week.
• The organization fosters an inclusive environment encouraging neurodiverse candidates to apply and offers accommodations for disabilities throughout the recruitment and working processes.