At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead marketing strategies to recruit foster carers and adoptive parents, making a real difference in children's lives.
- Company: Join Barnardo's, a charity dedicated to changing childhoods and supporting vulnerable children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and the chance to make a meaningful impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape impactful campaigns that help children find safe, loving homes across the UK.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in integrated marketing and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Barnardo's exists to change childhoods and change lives. Too many children and young people are growing up with disadvantage or at risk of harm - missing out on a safer, happier childhood and the opportunities they deserve in adulthood. Fostering and adoption are central to that mission. Across Barnardo's, we work to recruit, support and retain foster carers and adoptive parents who can provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children and young people.
The Senior Marketing Manager (Fostering & Adoption) plays a pivotal role in leading this work - shaping the strategy, driving integrated campaigns and ensuring our marketing and recruitment activity delivers sustained recruitment growth and impact across the UK. This role leads the marketing and recruitment approach for fostering and adoption across the UK, bringing together national and regional activity to deliver consistent, high-quality campaigns and support local recruitment needs.
A key focus is the journey to enquiry - ensuring we engage and support prospective carers and adopters from first awareness through to enquiry. The role draws on insight from across the full journey, including approvals and placements, using this to strengthen how we reach, target and engage audiences at earlier stages. It works in close partnership with Children's Services, as well as colleagues across Fundraising and Marketing and Strategy & External Affairs, to plan and deliver joined-up activity that reflects service priorities, audience needs and the wider organisational strategy.
The role leads a national and regional marketing team, setting clear direction, building capability and creating a collaborative, supportive and high-performing culture where people feel valued and able to do their best work. It also oversees significant campaign and media investment, ensuring budgets are well managed and activity delivers strong return through a focus on performance, continuous improvement and learning.
A strong focus of the role is on outcomes. This includes driving enquiry growth through integrated, multi-channel campaigns and developing effective stewardship approaches that support people from initial engagement through to taking the first step. It requires a clear understanding of audience needs and motivations, and the ability to use insight, testing and data to continually refine activity and improve effectiveness.
The role also plays an important part in shaping how Barnardo's presents its fostering and adoption offer - developing clear, compelling propositions and ensuring messaging is consistent, competitive and aligned to the needs of the audiences we are seeking to reach.
What this role brings:
- Significant experience leading integrated marketing strategies and campaigns that deliver measurable growth
- Strong leadership experience, with the ability to develop and motivate teams and build inclusive, high-performing ways of working
- Experience working across complex organisations, building partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders
- Experience using insight, audience understanding and performance data to shape and improve marketing
- Experience managing multi-channel campaigns and budgets, with a focus on effectiveness and return on investment
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with delivery, working across national and regional priorities
This is a critical leadership role at the heart of how Barnardo's recruits foster carers and adoptive parents - shaping strategy, leading teams and delivering activity that enables more children and young people to grow up in safe, stable and supportive homes. The role works closely across teams and involves regular in-person collaboration, including time in central London and across the UK as needed to support planning, partnership working and delivery. Above all, this role plays a vital part in delivering Barnardo's mission of changing childhoods and changing lives.
Senior Marketing Manager employer: BARNARDOS
Barnardo's is an exceptional employer dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people across the UK. With a strong focus on fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact through their work. The organisation offers robust professional development opportunities, a supportive environment, and the chance to lead innovative marketing strategies that directly contribute to the mission of providing safe and nurturing homes for those in need.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Marketing Manager
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for BARNARDOS and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like BARNARDOS are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with BARNARDOS on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at BARNARDOS. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Marketing Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit BARNARDOS. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of BARNARDOS:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about BARNARDOS’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at BARNARDOS
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at BARNARDOS will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At BARNARDOS, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
