Associate Director - Marketing and Communications
Company:
Company: British Universities and Colleges Sports
Salary: -Pension Scheme -3 volunteer days -Christmas Closure -CPD opportunities -Healthcare
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications is responsible for providing leadership & strategic direction for BUCS’ marketing & communications in line with our strategic objectives. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will contribute to the collective leadership & strategic development of BUCS, whilst retaining specific delegated responsibility for the organisation’s marketing & communications agenda.
As a leader in an ambitious & transforming organisation, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will be responsible for shaping & driving a contemporary marketing & communications approach that increases the profile, reach & reputation of BUCS, supports organisational strategy outcomes & strengthens the value we provide to students, member institutions & partners.
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will use professional marketing expertise to build commercial potential & support the effective servicing of commercial partners, whilst ensuring that the marketing & communications needs of members remain central to BUCS’ approach. This will include developing creative & effective approaches to marketing with & to students, supporting increased entries to BUCS sport events & programmes & delegates at member events, increasing BUCS’ profile in sport & in Higher Education, & ensuring that BUCS’ broadcast profile supports organisational strategy outcomes.
Reporting to the CEO, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will provide strategic leadership for the effective development & delivery of BUCS’ activity in this area, ensuring that content, campaigns, channels & platforms are aligned to organisational priorities & the needs of our audiences.
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Management Team, members, participants, partners & wider stakeholders to ensure that BUCS’ marketing & communications activity is creative, contemporary, inclusive & impactful.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide strategic leadership to BUCS’ marketing & communications functions, ensuring activity is innovative, contemporary, dynamic & aligned to organisational strategy.
Develop & deliver a strategic marketing & communications programme that increases the reach, reputation & influence of BUCS across higher education, sport & wider stakeholder audiences, whilst creating value for members, participants & partners.
Work as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to collective organisational leadership, strategic decision-making & the delivery of BUCS’ wider strategic priorities, with appropriate budget management & responsibilities.
Develop creative & contemporary approaches to marketing with & to students, using insight to increase engagement, support entries to BUCS sport events & generate excitement & momentum with students for BUCS sporting offer & partner activations.
Lead high-quality corporate & member communications, ensuring BUCS’ voice is active on key issues & milestones & that members receive the information they need & drive attendance at member events.
Drive respectful & fruitful member relationships, securing member & participant voice & ensuring marketing, communications & content reflect the diverse range of students & members we serve, including developing BUCS’ platforming of students as authentic voices & creators.
Work collaboratively with the Director of Sport & relevant colleagues to promote the BUCS sport portfolio & maximise opportunities through events, broadcast, storytelling & social media.
Ensure that BUCS’ broadcast & content profile supports organisational strategy outcomes, using key moments in the BUCS programme to extend reach, reputation & impact.
Use research, insight & performance data to inform marketing & communications activity, evaluate impact & support key messaging, audience development, partner reporting & the BUCS annual Impact Report.
Lead the evolution, development & application of BUCS’ brand & visual identity, ensuring consistently high standards of graphic design & creative presentation organisation wide.
Work with commercial colleagues to use marketing expertise to build BUCS’ commercial potential, develop effective propositions & provide high-quality marketing & communications support to commercial partners & contributing to commercial stakeholder engagement.
Support the effective design, development & use of BUCS’ digital platforms & tools, maximising their contribution to marketing, communications & audience engagement.
Optimise marketing & communications policies, systems & processes, overseeing relevant suppliers & resources & providing effective management information to support decision-making.
STAFF
Ensure that BUCS has an exceptional staffing experience within the marketing & communications function by establishing cultural & management practices that enable staff to thrive.
Drive an organisational culture within the marketing & communications function that is founded on the BUCS values of respectfulness, inclusiveness, dynamism & innovation, measuring the impact of this with colleagues & stakeholders, including the Head of Belonging.
Lead the development of initiatives that encourage creativity, collaboration & open communication, building confidence & trust as a platform for exceptional organisational performance.
Lead the professional development of colleagues in the team, ensuring access to appropriate training, development & professional support that enables staff & the organisation to thrive.
Design, deliver training & support, monitor & evaluate relevant staff performance review processes ensuring that they drive a transparent, fair & equitable basis for the assessment of staff performance, enabling BUCS & its people to thrive, driving personal & organisational success.
Provide support to colleagues as required, including one-to-one, mentoring & access to specialists.
Ensure that team members understand the strategic priorities of BUCS & can translate these into creative, effective & measurable activity.
Support a culture in which staff are encouraged to innovate, test new approaches, learn from activity & respond dynamically to changing audience & organisational needs.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Associate Director - Marketing and Communications
Company: British Universities and Colleges Sports Salary: -Pension Scheme -3 volunteer days -Christmas Closure -CPD opportunities -Healthcare Hours: Full-time Location: London, SE1 0QX Working pattern: Hybrid - 4 days remote Job type: Permanent Posting date: 23 Oct 2026 Closing date: 19 Nov 2026
Summary
MAIN PURPOSE
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications is responsible for providing leadership & strategic direction for BUCS’ marketing & communications in line with our strategic objectives. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will contribute to the collective leadership & strategic development of BUCS, whilst retaining specific delegated responsibility for the organisation’s marketing & communications agenda.
As a leader in an ambitious & transforming organisation, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will be responsible for shaping & driving a contemporary marketing & communications approach that increases the profile, reach & reputation of BUCS, supports organisational strategy outcomes & strengthens the value we provide to students, member institutions & partners.
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will use professional marketing expertise to build commercial potential & support the effective servicing of commercial partners, whilst ensuring that the marketing & communications needs of members remain central to BUCS’ approach. This will include developing creative & effective approaches to marketing with & to students, supporting increased entries to BUCS sport events & programmes & delegates at member events, increasing BUCS’ profile in sport & in Higher Education, & ensuring that BUCS’ broadcast profile supports organisational strategy outcomes.
Reporting to the CEO, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will provide strategic leadership for the effective development & delivery of BUCS’ activity in this area, ensuring that content, campaigns, channels & platforms are aligned to organisational priorities & the needs of our audiences.
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Management Team, members, participants, partners & wider stakeholders to ensure that BUCS’ marketing & communications activity is creative, contemporary, inclusive & impactful.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide strategic leadership to BUCS’ marketing & communications functions, ensuring activity is innovative, contemporary, dynamic & aligned to organisational strategy.
Develop & deliver a strategic marketing & communications programme that increases the reach, reputation & influence of BUCS across higher education, sport & wider stakeholder audiences, whilst creating value for members, participants & partners.
Work as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to collective organisational leadership, strategic decision-making & the delivery of BUCS’ wider strategic priorities, with appropriate budget management & responsibilities.
Develop creative & contemporary approaches to marketing with & to students, using insight to increase engagement, support entries to BUCS sport events & generate excitement & momentum with students for BUCS sporting offer & partner activations.
Lead high-quality corporate & member communications, ensuring BUCS’ voice is active on key issues & milestones & that members receive the information they need & drive attendance at member events.
Drive respectful & fruitful member relationships, securing member & participant voice & ensuring marketing, communications & content reflect the diverse range of students & members we serve, including developing BUCS’ platforming of students as authentic voices & creators.
Work collaboratively with the Director of Sport & relevant colleagues to promote the BUCS sport portfolio & maximise opportunities through events, broadcast, storytelling & social media.
Ensure that BUCS’ broadcast & content profile supports organisational strategy outcomes, using key moments in the BUCS programme to extend reach, reputation & impact.
Use research, insight & performance data to inform marketing & communications activity, evaluate impact & support key messaging, audience development, partner reporting & the BUCS annual Impact Report.
Lead the evolution, development & application of BUCS’ brand & visual identity, ensuring consistently high standards of graphic design & creative presentation organisation wide.
Work with commercial colleagues to use marketing expertise to build BUCS’ commercial potential, develop effective propositions & provide high-quality marketing & communications support to commercial partners & contributing to commercial stakeholder engagement.
Support the effective design, development & use of BUCS’ digital platforms & tools, maximising their contribution to marketing, communications & audience engagement.
Optimise marketing & communications policies, systems & processes, overseeing relevant suppliers & resources & providing effective management information to support decision-making.
STAFF
Ensure that BUCS has an exceptional staffing experience within the marketing & communications function by establishing cultural & management practices that enable staff to thrive.
Drive an organisational culture within the marketing & communications function that is founded on the BUCS values of respectfulness, inclusiveness, dynamism & innovation, measuring the impact of this with colleagues & stakeholders, including the Head of Belonging.
Lead the development of initiatives that encourage creativity, collaboration & open communication, building confidence & trust as a platform for exceptional organisational performance.
Lead the professional development of colleagues in the team, ensuring access to appropriate training, development & professional support that enables staff & the organisation to thrive.
Design, deliver training & support, monitor & evaluate relevant staff performance review processes ensuring that they drive a transparent, fair & equitable basis for the assessment of staff performance, enabling BUCS & its people to thrive, driving personal & organisational success.
Provide support to colleagues as required, including one-to-one, mentoring & access to specialists.
Ensure that team members understand the strategic priorities of BUCS & can translate these into creative, effective & measurable activity.
Support a culture in which staff are encouraged to innovate, test new approaches, learn from activity & respond dynamically to changing audience & organisational needs.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
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Associate Director - Marketing and Communications employer: British Universities and Colleges Sports
BUCS is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, making it an ideal place for those passionate about sports and digital content creation. With opportunities for professional growth and collaboration with globally recognised brands, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment while contributing to impactful campaigns. The role of Commercial Content Administrator not only offers the chance to engage creatively but also provides valuable experiences through event activations and partnerships across the UK.
Contact Details:
British Universities and Colleges Sports Recruitment Team
