At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop innovative retail experiences that engage customers and drive sales.
- Company: Join a leading global brand focused on creating immersive retail environments.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a fast-paced environment with a focus on creativity and community engagement.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of retail innovation and make a real impact on customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail activation or experiential marketing is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Department: Customer Experience
Reports To: Head of Global Retail Marketing
Location: London
Direct reports: Yes
WHERE YOU CONTRIBUTE
This role is responsible for designing and developing retail activations, services, and experience programmes, with a strong focus on pilot environments and flagship/test-and-learn stores. You translate brand storytelling, product, and cultural insight into innovative, immersive, and commercially effective in-store experiences that drive engagement, participation, and conversion. The role plays a critical part in delivering the Retail Acceleration ambition to create experience-led retail environments that build community, increase loyalty, and drive performance.
Core Accountabilities
- Activation & Programme Ideation
- Lead the creation of global activation and experience concepts, aligned to brand and retail marketing strategy
- Develop innovative, experience-led programmes that drive traffic, engagement, and cultural relevance
- Translate brand narratives into in-store moments, events, and participation experiences
- Create and deliver GWP (Gift With Purchase) programmes that support key launches and commercial moments
- Service Design
- Define and design new in-store services and consumer propositions (e.g. clientelling, personalisation, community-led experiences)
- Ensure services are aligned to consumer needs, behaviours, and expectations
- Embed service design into the overall retail experience ecosystem
- Design services and propositions that can be delivered across digital and physical touchpoints, ensuring a seamless end-to-end consumer experience
- Pilot Doors & Test-and-Learn
- Lead ideation and development of pilot concepts for key flagship and test locations
- Establish a structured test-and-learn approach: Trial new activations and services, Measure impact and engagement, Refine and iterate concepts
- Work closely with flagship teams to deliver high-impact pilot executions
- Concept to Scaled Execution
- Translate successful pilots into scalable programme frameworks and playbooks
- Partner with Retail Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Markets, and Global Supply Chain
- Ensure integration with digital teams to enable cross-pollination of initiatives and amplify activations and services through digital channels
- Consumer Engagement & Community
- Design experiences that drive participation and interaction, community connection and belonging, repeat visitation and advocacy
- Ensure activations go beyond events to create meaningful brand relationships
- Performance & Impact
- Define and track activation and service KPIs, including engagement and participation, conversion uplift, customer capture and retention
- Ensure activations are clearly linked to commercial outcomes and brand impact
- Own budget tracking for Activations & Services, ensuring spend stays on plan
Key Skills & Capabilities
- Strong experience in retail activation, experiential marketing, or service design
- Ability to translate brand strategy into innovative physical experiences
- Strong understanding of omnichannel service delivery
- Proven experience in concept development and pilot delivery
- Strong understanding of consumer behaviour within retail environments
- Experience working across global markets and scaling concepts
- Creative and commercially minded—balancing innovation with performance
- Strong project leadership and stakeholder management
- Comfortable operating in a test-and-learn, fast-moving transformation environment
Decision remit
- Owns concept direction for retail activations, services, and programmes
- Determines priorities for pilot initiatives and experience development
- Recommends which concepts are scaled vs refined or stopped
- Influences investment decisions relating to activation and service innovation
- Escalates decisions relating to brand positioning or major investment trade-offs
What Success Looks Like In Your Role
- Strong pipeline of innovative, high-impact retail activations and service concepts
- Successful delivery of pilot programmes in flagship and test stores
- Clear test-and-learn approach driving continuous improvement
- Scalable activation and service playbooks rolled out across markets
- Increased consumer engagement, participation, and loyalty
- Activations and services driving measurable uplift in traffic, conversion, and revenue
- Retail becoming a destination for experience, community, and connection—not just purchase
How You Work
Our values shape how we show up every day, and the DM way is your compass for how we work and grow together. Dive in, get inspired, and bring these behaviours to life in everything you do – DM Way.
Global Retail Activations & Services Manager in London employer: Dr. Martens plc
As a Global Retail Activations & Services Manager in London, you will thrive in a dynamic and innovative environment that prioritises creativity and collaboration. Our company fosters a culture of growth, offering extensive opportunities for professional development while championing experience-led retail that builds community and loyalty. With a focus on impactful pilot programmes and a commitment to seamless omnichannel experiences, we empower our employees to make meaningful contributions that drive both personal and commercial success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Retail Activations & Services Manager in London
✨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 Dr. Martens plc 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 Dr. Martens plc 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 Dr. Martens plc 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 Dr. Martens plc. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Retail Activations & Services Manager in London
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 Dr. Martens plc. 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 Dr. Martens plc:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Dr. Martens plc’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 Dr. Martens plc
✨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 Dr. Martens plc 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 Dr. Martens plc, 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.