Marketing Manager

Role: Marketing Manager – Brand

Rate: £500 p/d Inside IR35

Location: Southampton HQ – 2 days per week on site

Duration: 3 months initial, extensions likely

We are seeking a brand-led marketer, rather than a retail-focused shopper marketer, to act as the “Brand Owner” for our categories. You will drive high-level strategy and oversee the end-to-end delivery of major campaigns and product innovations for key sectors.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Brand Ownership: Lead the annual marketing strategy for your category as if it were a standalone brand, ensuring all plans are insight-led and aligned with broader business priorities.
• Full-Funnel Campaign Leadership: Brief and lead cross-functional teams and agencies to deliver integrated Above-the-Line (ATL) and Below-the-Line (BTL) campaigns across advertising, social, and PR channels.
• End-to-End Innovation: Champion the launch of new products and services from concept to consumer, moving beyond “on-shelf” execution to drive total market entry.
• Commercial & Brand Balance: Manage the tension between short-term trading needs and long-term brand equity, ensuring every initiative builds the brand while driving sales.
• Single Point of Contact: Act as the definitive marketing lead for your category, navigating trade-offs and ensuring seamless execution across all customer touchpoints.
• Performance & Insight: Become the authority on customer behaviour and category trends, using clear analysis to report performance to senior stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Leadership: Lead quarterly reviews with the Category Leadership Team to adapt forward plans and embed consumer insights

Experience Required:

• Core Marketing DNA: You have proven experience running high-impact marketing plans for major household brands, not just managing retailer relationships.
• Campaign Expertise: You have a track record of delivering creative, multi-channel campaigns (TV, Digital, OOH, etc.) that move the needle on brand perception and commercial growth.
• Product Launch Experience: You have experience in product development or innovation roles, having taken products from initial insight to full-scale market launch.
• Strategic Prioritization: You can simplify complex plans, drive decisions, and remove duplication to ensure clear execution.
• Collaborative Communicator: You must be able to speak effectively to specialists within advertising, social, and PR channels to ensure a unified brand voice.

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