Marketing Manager in Retford

Drone Defence is looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Marketing Manager to take ownership of our marketing activity and help build the function required by the next phase of our growth. We develop drone detection, tracking, airspace intelligence and counter drone technology for customers across defence, security, critical infrastructure, aviation, public safety and international markets. Our products combine radio frequency sensing, computer vision, data fusion and cloud software.

This is not a narrow social media or communications role. You will work directly with the Chief Executive Officer, technical teams, sales colleagues, customers and partners to turn complex capability into clear propositions, effective campaigns, persuasive sales material and measurable commercial results. Initially, this will be a hands-on role. You will personally deliver much of the work while establishing the plans, systems and standards needed by a larger marketing team as the company expands.

The Opportunity

The role would suit either an established Marketing Manager seeking greater ownership or a strong Senior Marketing Executive who is ready to step up. More important than job title is evidence that you can understand a complex business, make sound commercial judgements and consistently deliver useful work. For the right person, the role offers a clear route towards Head of Marketing.

What You Will Do

• Own the marketing plan: Develop and deliver a focused plan aligned with our commercial priorities, target markets and product roadmap.
• Position complex technology: Create clear propositions, messages and value arguments for our products, capabilities, customer segments and use cases.
• Support sales: Produce presentations, product briefs, brochures, case studies, demonstration narratives and comparison material that help opportunities progress.
• Deliver campaigns: Plan and run coordinated activity across the website, email, LinkedIn, public relations, events, exhibitions and partner channels.
• Create strong content: Write and produce accurate, persuasive material for technical, commercial and senior audiences, including articles, customer stories, product content, photography and video.
• Own the website and digital presence: Improve content, customer journeys, search performance and conversion, using data to determine what is working and where effort should change.
• Develop market insight: Build our understanding of customer needs, competitors, buying behaviour, market structure and emerging opportunities.
• Measure and build: Establish practical performance measures and define the specialist capabilities, processes and resources required as the marketing function grows.

What We Are Looking For

We want a marketing builder who distinguishes activity from outcomes and is prepared to take responsibility for both the thinking and the delivery. You should be equally comfortable refining the position of a new technology, writing a customer case study, improving a sales presentation, preparing for an exhibition and reviewing campaign data. You must be curious enough to understand technical products and confident enough to challenge vague claims or unsupported assumptions.

Essential Experience and Capability

• Relevant experience: Around five years or more in marketing, with evidence of increasing responsibility and commercially useful delivery.
• B2B marketing: Experience marketing products or services to business, government or institutional customers through a considered sales process.
• Technical or complex markets: Experience in technology, software, security, aerospace, engineering, industrial systems or another sector where products require explanation and evidence.
• Product and campaign marketing: Evidence of developing propositions, messaging, sales enablement and coordinated campaigns with clear objectives and measures of success.
• Outstanding communication: The ability to turn technical information into accurate, concise and persuasive content in excellent written English.
• Digital capability: Practical experience of website management, content systems, email marketing, search optimisation, social channels and analytics.
• Commercial judgement and ownership: An understanding of sales pipelines and opportunity progression, combined with a record of completing work to a high standard without waiting for detailed instruction.

Useful Additional Experience

• Marketing to defence, security, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, aviation or public sector customers.
• International B2B marketing or support for distributors, resellers and strategic partners.
• Supporting bids, tenders, proposals or account based marketing for high value opportunities.
• Managing agencies, freelancers, events, product launches or a small internal team.

Location and Working Pattern

The role is based at our headquarters in Retford, Nottinghamshire, with direct access from the A1 and rail connections to London and the North. We believe we are better together, so this is a predominantly office based role, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Limited flexible working may be available once the successful candidate is established and consistently delivering against agreed objectives.

Further Information and Application

Occasional UK and overseas travel will be required for customer meetings, demonstrations, exhibitions and partner events. An SC level security clearance may be required, so candidates should already hold, or be capable of obtaining, UK security clearance. To apply, please send us your CV.

Recommended Updates: This is a genuinely hands-on role. Alongside shaping strategy, you will personally produce brochures, presentations, website content, photography and video. You should be comfortable using Adobe Creative Cloud (particularly InDesign, Photoshop and Premiere Pro, or equivalent), maintaining WordPress websites and managing measurable multichannel campaigns.