Mayoral Head of Marketing and GLA Brand Strategy in London

This role sits at the intersection of politics, policy and marketing. We're looking for an exceptional marketing leader who has significant experience operating in a political environment and understands how to navigate complex policy issues, stakeholder relationships and media scrutiny.

As Mayoral Head of Marketing and GLA Brand Strategy, you'll lead the campaigns that help shape London's future, working directly with the Mayoral appointees and senior leaders across City Hall to engage millions of Londoners on some of the capital's biggest priorities. One day you could be developing a campaign to support the transformation of Oxford Street. The next, helping Londoners access new youth services, tackling homelessness, improving air quality, promoting major city events, or encouraging public participation in policies that affect communities across the capital.

You'll oversee a talented team with a reputation for delivering award-winning, nationally recognised campaigns. Your client is London itself: its residents, communities, businesses and visitors. The work is high-profile, fast-paced and frequently in the national spotlight, offering a unique opportunity to combine creativity, policy, politics and public service.

This role is perfect for someone who is passionate about London, with deep expertise and experience in how politics and policy-making works, and is excited by the challenge of turning complex issues into campaigns that inform, engage and inspire action. We are looking for a strategic leader who can navigate a complex political environment while championing bold, innovative and effective marketing that reaches London's diverse audiences.

If you want to lead campaigns that genuinely make a difference to the lives of Londoners and help shape one of the world's greatest cities, we'd love to hear from you.

The Mayor’s Office is responsible for supporting the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Supporting the Mayor, Deputy Mayors and lead advisors such as the Chief Digital Officer, the Mayor’s Office is organised into four small units:

• Communications
• Mayoral Operations
• Policy and Delivery
• Political and Public Affairs

About the role:

To direct and have overall responsibility for marketing strategy and delivery, providing high-level strategic marketing, brand and communications advice to the Mayor of London and Mayoral appointees including Deputy Mayors and Mayoral Directors.

The postholder will:

• Lead and be accountable for the delivery of marketing and integrated communications, developing the strategy to support the priorities and objectives of the Mayor and the GLA, in collaboration with senior colleagues at the GLA and functional bodies.
• Direct the GLA marketing campaigns and strategic communications teams, and work across the GLA Group to develop the brand strategy and achieve effective marketing on behalf of the Mayor.

What your day will look like:

• Provide high level strategic advice to the Mayor, mayoral appointees and senior GLA officers on all matters that may have a bearing on the marketing and brand policy and practice of the Mayor, the GLA and mayoral projects.
• Working closely with the Mayoral Director, Communications, direct and be accountable for the strategic development, creative development and implementation of the marketing strategy, advertising strategy and brand strategy across the GLA, ensuring all work delivers on Mayoral priorities and objectives, and ladders up to central strategic messages.
• Direct and devise marketing campaigns to support the Mayor’s policy agenda, working closely with the Mayoral Director, Communications, the Mayor’s Office, senior GLA officers including colleagues from Government Relations, External Relations, the Mayor’s Office and, as required, the functional bodies and London stakeholders.
• Lead on specific high-priority integrated campaigns and communications, working with the Chief Digital and Creative Strategist, the Senior Adviser to the Mayor, News Media and the Head of Strategic Communications.
• Direct marketing and brand evaluation and insights work across the GLA to ensure the GLA pursues the most effective communication strategies and plans, and has a framework to measure overarching success.
• Commission and sign-off Mayoral communications and creative across the GLA to ensure impact, message consistency and alignment with Mayoral priorities.

Skills, knowledge and experience:

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• In-depth knowledge and experience of working at a senior strategic and political level directing marketing, creative and brand strategy in a large, high-profile organisation regularly in the media eye.
• Deep experience working in political, governmental or highly politically sensitive environments with excellent political judgement and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, high-profile environment.
• A track record of developing and leading outstanding marketing campaigns, with significant experience of delivering high-impact integrated media campaigns and advertising across different mediums, including news media, soft media, paid advertising channels, and social media.
• Strong understanding of how policy is developed, communicated and delivered, and evidence of success in promoting policy through a variety of marketing and communications channels, including on complex issues for a range of different audiences.
• The creativity to turn complex policy issues into compelling public engagement campaigns, with significant experience of developing marketing campaigns and overarching brand and communications strategies in a high-profile organisation.
• Evidence you can advise senior political leaders and influence decisions at the highest level.
• Substantial practical experience of working with partner organisations to create and deliver high-profile effective marketing campaigns that deliver to an overarching strategy.

Please note the above post falls under Politically restricted posts (PRPs) at the Greater London Authority (GLA) are job roles covered by the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 that bar holders from engaging in active party-political activities both at work and in their personal time.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework.