Head of Marketing

Reporting to: Director of Admissions & Marketing

Contract: Full time, term time only plus 30 days in holidays

Additional expectations: Occasional evening, weekend and holiday work (particularly in the autumn term)

Salary: FTE £50,000-60,000

The Marketing Manager plays a central role in shaping the school’s brand, digital presence and communications strategy, with a strong focus on supporting pupil recruitment and retention. The role requires exceptional communication skills, creativity, strong digital capability, strategic thinking and meticulous attention to detail. Working closely with the Director and the wider Admissions team, the postholder will lead a small team and manage the operational delivery of the annual Admissions and Marketing plan, ensuring a high‑quality experience for prospective and current families throughout their journey with the school. Direct line management of Marketing Officer and shared line management of Data & Systems Officer.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Strong digital literacy, including confident use of website CMS platforms, SEO tools, analytics dashboards and social media management systems
• Advanced content creation skills, including photography, videography, short‑form video production and editing
• Imaginative and creative approach to marketing and digital storytelling
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships with prospective parents, current families and colleagues across the school community
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, particularly during peak periods
• Awareness of emerging marketing technologies and trends, with the ability to apply them to enhance brand presence and customer experience
• Experience managing external agencies - such as web developers, photographers and videographers - ensuring strong performance, value for money and high‑quality delivery across all projects
• Experience of managing budgets effectively
• Proven ability to lead, support and develop team members ensuring high‑quality output and professional growth

Responsibilities

Marketing Communications

• Help to develop and maintain and update clear brand guidelines and visual assets to ensure a consistent, authentic and engaging school identity
• Oversee the production, editing and distribution of all marketing materials – print and digital
• Act as the school’s lead digital storyteller, ensuring content reflects the school’s values, achievements and community
• Lead the creation of engaging visual content, including photography, videography and short‑form video
• Ensure communication with current families is thoughtful, consistent and engaging, strengthening loyalty and positive word‑of‑mouth

Digital Marketing, Social Media & Website

• Lead the planning, creation and management of digital content across the website and social media channels
• Working with the Director, ensure all communication - internal and external - is clear, timely and aligned with the school’s aims
• Work with the Director to develop and maintain a rolling digital and social media strategy
• Define and track KPIs for digital communications aligned to school goals
• Use data and performance insights from advertising, digital platforms, social media and website analytics to inform decisions and improve results
• Provide regular reporting using Google Analytics, social media insights and monitoring tools
• Monitor online conversations and parent/community sentiment to inform content planning and customer service responses
• Manage ongoing website development, including site audits, SEO improvements, CMS upgrades and content migration where required

Admissions Marketing & Support

• Collaborate closely with the Admissions Managers to shape communications for prospective parents from enquiry to acceptance
• Work with the Director to design and deliver research and insight gathering
• Implement the school’s marketing plan to support pupil recruitment and strengthen public perception
• Manage the strategic and operational delivery of advertising campaigns for pupil recruitment

Parent Experience

• Supports the Director in leading clear, timely and consistent school‑to‑parent communication across all channels, ensuring families feel informed, valued and connected
• Oversees the creation, accuracy and ongoing maintenance of parent guides, ensuring information is accessible, up to date and aligned with school policies and expectations
• Manages the parent portal, ensuring content is well‑structured, intuitive to navigate and reflective of the school’s communication standards
• Leads and supports pupil and family onboarding processes, ensuring new families receive a warm, well‑organised and seamless introduction to school life, from offer acceptance through to their first term
• Contributes to pupil retention strategies by understanding parent needs, monitoring sentiment and identifying opportunities to strengthen engagement throughout the parent journey
• Ensures the end‑to‑end parent experience - from first enquiry to ongoing school life - is positive, consistent and aligned with the school’s values
• Led by the Director, work collaboratively with Admissions, Pastoral, Academic and Operational teams to ensure parents receive a seamless, joined‑up experience at every stage
• Uses feedback, data and insights to identify areas for improvement and recommend changes that enhance parent satisfaction and loyalty

Internal Communications

• Champion a marketing and customer‑focused culture across the school
• Ensure all staff are informed and engaged with the school’s marketing activities
• Maintain a visible presence among pupils and staff, gathering insights that inform authentic storytelling
• Work collaboratively with other departments across the school - including Development, Alumni Relations and Colfe’s Leisure Services - providing guidance, branding support and high‑quality marketing materials to ensure consistency and strengthen the school’s overall identity

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience in a marketing leadership role, ideally within education, membership organisations, charities or similarly relationship‑driven sectors
• Proven track record of delivering successful, integrated marketing and communications strategies that support customer acquisition and retention
• Demonstrable experience in digital marketing, including website management, SEO, analytics, social media strategy and content optimisation
• Significant experience either managing the production of, or creating, digital content including photography, videography, short‑form video production and editing
• Experience managing external agencies (e.g., designers, photographers, videographers, web developers) to ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective delivery
• Experience managing budgets and monitoring spend against strategic priorities
• Experience leading and developing team members, with the ability to inspire, support and hold others to high standards

Desirable

• CIM Level 6 or above Diploma in Professional Marketing; AMCIS Diploma in Marketing or relevant certificates in digital marketing (i.e. Google analytics certification or Meta Blueprint)
• Experience working within an independent school or education setting
• Familiarity with school MIS/CRM systems, admissions pipelines or customer‑journey mapping
• Understanding of parent engagement, customer experience design or community‑based marketing

Personal Qualities

• Warm, approachable and confident, with a genuine interest in people and community
• Proactive, solutions‑focused and able to work independently while knowing when to seek guidance
• Resilient and calm under pressure, particularly during busy admissions cycles
• Enthusiastic about school life, with a willingness to be visible, engaged and present across the community

Application procedure:

The recruitment process will require all applicants to complete an application form, accompanied by a letter of application, current CV and details of two referees, who will be contacted prior to interview, in accordance with the School’s Safer Recruitment procedures. The application should be submitted electronically via the button below. Applications should be sent by 12noon on Friday 12th June. Colfe’s reserves the right to appoint to this post before the closing date if necessary. Colfe’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.