At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate retail marketing strategies for a major automotive group.
- Company: Join cinch, the UK's largest online used car retailer, part of Constellation Automotive Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, pension scheme, and enhanced family leave.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of creativity, collaboration, and diversity.
- Why this job: Drive impactful marketing initiatives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in marketing with experience in multi-site organisations.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive salary + car + bonus + benefits
Location: Hybrid role, with occasional travel to various offices. Main office location will be Milton Keynes
Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours per week (9:00am – 5:30pm)
Job Status: Permanent
At cinch our mission is simple - to remove the faff from buying and owning cars, giving customers more choice, with more ease (not to mention a free 90-day warranty on all cars...). Already the UK’s largest online used car retailer, we’re expanding our offering with an exciting roadmap of online and physical retail solutions - including faff‑free car servicing at over 100 locations across the country.
We’re part of Constellation Automotive Group - a family of brands that also includes We Buy Any Car, British Car Auctions (BCA) and Marshall Motor Group. Together, cinch and Marshall operate as Constellation Retail - bringing together 100+ years of motoring know‑how at 130+ stores (Marshall) with a market‑leading digital experience from a much‑admired brand (cinch).
Main Purpose of The Role
cinch and Marshall Motor Group are looking for a Group Marketing Director who will be accountable for defining and delivering a unified, customer‑centric retail marketing strategy across Marshall Motor Group, driving sustainable commercial growth and exceptional customer outcomes across the dealership network. The role leads and governs all retail marketing disciplines, including OEM partnerships, retail activation, local marketing, showroom experience, and retail execution standards, and works closely with the Head of Content & PR on social media and PR to support reputation, local market engagement, and retail performance.
Operating at Constellation Retail Executive level, the role works in cross functional alignment and collaborates with the Marketing Director for Media & Campaigns to deliver a cohesive, end‑to‑end marketing approach across Constellation Retail (cinch and Marshall). The role owns and manages multi‑million‑pound marketing budgets, ensuring strong ROI and delivery against ambitious targets for footfall, conversion, customer engagement, and overall retail performance.
What you’ll be working on
- Define, own, and deliver the Group Retail Marketing Strategy across Marshall Motor Group (MMG), aligned to Group objectives and growth plans for both cinch and MMG.
- Translate strategic priorities into clear retail marketing roadmaps, investment plans, budgets, KPIs, and performance frameworks.
- Act as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders, enabling commercial decision making with robust insight and performance tracking.
- Ensure marketing investment delivers measurable commercial impact across showroom traffic, local market share, conversion, and profitability.
OEM Partnerships & Brand Governance
- Lead strategic marketing relationships with 27+ OEM partners, ensuring strong alignment, collaboration, and delivery against shared objectives.
- Ensure full compliance with OEM brand standards, guidelines, and campaign requirements across all retail locations.
- Maximise OEM co‑funded marketing opportunities, new model launches, and joint retail campaigns.
- Ensure alignment between OEM activity and Group propositions, supporting integrated customers journeys across retail and digital touchpoints.
Retail Marketing & Activation for Conversion
- Define and lead the Group approach to retail marketing and local activation across all dealerships.
- Set Group governance and standards for retail marketing, showroom experience, POS, signage, merchandising, and in‑store digital.
- Ensure consistent, high‑quality execution across all locations, supported by centrally developed playbooks and toolkits.
- Working across the business for the delivery of events, new model launches, and community‑based marketing initiatives.
- Support dealership teams with clear activation frameworks that balance national strategy with local market opportunity.
Social Media, PR & Local Reputation
- Working in collaboration with Brand, product and content teams to define and lead the Retail approach to social media, strengthening brand presence and community engagement at a national and local level.
- Provide clear frameworks for dealership‑level social media activity, ensuring consistency, compliance, and effectiveness.
- Lead national and local PR activity, supporting dealership visibility, events, and reputation building.
- Drive reputation management across review platforms and local channels to enhance trust and customer consideration.
In‑Store Experience & Omnichannel Integration
- Work closely with Technology teams to enhance the digitally enabled in‑store customer experience.
- Support the integration of online and in‑store journeys, enabling customers to move seamlessly between digital research and physical engagement.
- Set standards for customer engagement within dealerships, including use of digital tools, stock access, finance tools, and appointment booking.
- Establish performance measures focused on customer experience, conversion, and operational effectiveness.
Insight, Performance & Effectiveness
- Establish clear retail marketing performance frameworks focused on footfall, lead generation, conversion, and customer satisfaction.
- Embed an insight‑led approach to optimise local and national marketing activity.
- Continuously evaluate marketing effectiveness to improve efficiency and commercial impact.
Leadership, Talent & High Performance Culture
- Build a high‑performing culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, and execution excellence.
- Lead and govern agency and partner ecosystems, ensuring delivery aligns with Group priorities, OEM requirements, and retail performance objectives.
- Own and manage multi‑million‑pound marketing budgets with strong financial control and ROI accountability.
- Ensure governance, compliance, and reporting standards are consistently applied.
Things we’d love to see
- Proven senior marketing leadership experience within large, complex, multi‑site or multi‑brand organisations.
- Demonstrable experience managing significant marketing budgets with strong commercial accountability.
- Strong experience in retail marketing, local activation, or customer‑facing environments, with a focus on driving footfall and conversion.
- Experience working within brand‑governed environments and managing multiple partner or stakeholder relationships (e.g. OEM or equivalent).
- Strong understanding of social media, PR, and local market engagement strategies.
- Experience leading and developing large, diverse teams in fast‑paced environments.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate strategy into effective execution and measurable results.
- Credibility operating at Board and Executive level.
cinch and Rewards
cinch’s benefits programme sees that our people are supported both in and out of work. That’s what a faff‑free life is all about. We offer:
- Competitive salaries and bonuses
- A company pension scheme
- An Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to trained mental health first aiders
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
cinch and You
In making the most out of a career at cinch you need to be curious, creative, and collaborative. See, we are putting you in the driver’s seat, in control of your career and ready to drive your own development. There’s no bureaucracy, no hierarchy, just an environment with values that bring us together and a purpose that sets us apart. Join us as we continue to accelerate, defy expectations, and revolutionise an entire industry.
cinch and Diversity and Inclusion
cinch wants to help all kinds of people in the UK find and buy a car. So, it makes good sense to have all kinds of people working with us on the challenge. Conversations and the decisions they lead to are better for featuring different voices. Representation matters. And doing your job while not being your authentic self is not faff‑free. Being free to be the best of who you are as you soar to professional greatness is the kind of business we commit to creating, as one.
Group Retail Marketing Director in Milton Keynes employer: cinch
At cinch, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions a culture of collaboration, creativity, and personal growth. Our hybrid work model, combined with competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensures that our employees thrive both professionally and personally. Join us in Milton Keynes, where you can take the wheel of your career and contribute to revolutionising the automotive industry while enjoying a supportive and dynamic work environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Retail Marketing Director in Milton Keynes
✨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 cinch 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 cinch 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 cinch 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 cinch. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Retail Marketing Director in Milton Keynes
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 cinch. 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 cinch:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about cinch’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 cinch
✨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 cinch 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 cinch, 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.
