At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and optimise Meta and LinkedIn Ads campaigns to drive student enrolments.
- Company: Join Higher Education Partners, a leading online education business in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, collaborative environment, and direct impact on campaign performance.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic, data-driven marketing environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of paid social marketing in a growing team.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of experience with Meta Ads and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
Higher Education Partners (HEP) is one of the UK’s leading online education businesses, delivering white-label Master’s and PhD programmes across 200 courses in partnership with 12 universities. We are expanding our in-house performance marketing team and are looking for a Paid Social Manager to take ownership of our Meta and LinkedIn advertising activity, with a particular focus on performance, audience strategy, and creative optimisation.
This is a hands-on role where you will not only manage and optimise campaigns, but also help shape how we use paid social more effectively — including exploring and scaling underutilised channels, testing new creative approaches, and helping build a stronger cross-channel acquisition strategy alongside Google Ads.
Location: Onsite St Albans
Salary: £60,000
Experience: 5+ years paid social experience
Core Channels: Meta Ads (essential), LinkedIn Ads (desirable)
Reports To: Growth Marketing Director
Start Date: As soon as possible
Paid social is a key growth channel for us, but still an area of significant opportunity. We are looking for someone who can both optimise existing performance and help expand our creative and channel strategy — particularly across Meta and LinkedIn — to drive higher quality enrolment outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Campaign Ownership & Optimisation
- Manage Meta Ads campaigns across Facebook and Instagram (prospecting, retargeting, lead generation)
- Manage LinkedIn Ads campaigns targeting professionals by role, seniority, and industry
- Optimise budgets, audiences, and creatives to improve CPL and lead quality
- Own end-to-end campaign delivery: briefing, build, launch, optimisation, reporting
- Creative & Channel Development
- Work closely with creative teams to develop high-performing ad concepts, messaging, and formats
- Test and iterate across static, video, carousel, and lead form campaigns
- Identify opportunities to improve creative performance and reduce fatigue
- Help shape how we use paid social more strategically — including testing new approaches and expanding underutilised channels
- Audience Strategy
- Build and refine audiences using CRM data, pixel events, and engagement signals
- Develop segmented funnel strategies (prospecting vs retargeting)
- Work with analytics teams to identify high-performing audience profiles
- Manage exclusions and refinement strategies to improve efficiency and conversion rates
- Tracking & Performance
- Manage Meta Pixel and Conversions API setup and optimisation
- Maintain LinkedIn Insight Tag and conversion tracking
- Report on CPL, CTR, engagement, lead quality, and conversion performance
- Build clear, actionable performance reporting for stakeholders
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with Google Ads team to ensure paid social and paid search work in alignment
- Collaborate with content, CRM, and university partners on intake planning and campaign alignment
- Feed insights into wider cross-channel marketing strategy discussions
- Work with contact centre teams to understand lead quality and optimise targeting accordingly
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- 5+ years’ experience managing Meta Ads campaigns with meaningful budgets
- Strong hands-on knowledge of Meta Ads Manager and campaign optimisation
- Experience managing paid social performance end-to-end
- Understanding of creative performance and what drives engagement and conversion
- Strong analytical skills with ability to diagnose and improve performance
- Confident communicator able to present insights to non-technical stakeholders
Desirable
- Experience with LinkedIn Ads (Campaign Manager, Lead Gen Forms, Sponsored Content)
- Background in lead generation, education, or professional services marketing
- Experience working with CRM audiences and data-driven targeting
- Exposure to Google Ads or multi-channel paid media environments
- Experience with GA4, Looker Studio, or Power BI
What We Offer
- Opportunity to own and shape paid social within a growing in-house team
- Direct impact on student enrolments and campaign performance
- Access to strong first-party data and clear conversion signals
- Collaborative, data-driven marketing environment
- Competitive salary and benefits package
Ready to take ownership of a large-scale paid search portfolio and make a direct impact within a growing higher education business? Apply now to be part of HEP’s evolving performance marketing function. HEP is a Disability Confident and equal opportunity employer. HEP evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability status or any other legally protected characteristic.
Social Media Ads Manager in St Albans employer: Higher Ed Partners
Higher Education Partners (HEP) is an exceptional employer located in St Albans, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a focus on employee growth, HEP provides opportunities to shape innovative marketing strategies while directly impacting student enrolments. The company values diversity and inclusivity, ensuring a supportive environment for all team members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Media Ads Manager in St Albans
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn and let them know you're on the hunt for a Social Media Ads Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best Meta and LinkedIn ad campaigns. This will not only demonstrate your expertise but also give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of audience strategy and creative optimisation. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed campaigns in the past and how you can apply that experience to HEP's goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at HEP.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Media Ads Manager in St Albans
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with Meta Ads and LinkedIn Ads. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Creativity:As a Social Media Ads Manager, creativity is key! Include examples of successful campaigns you've managed, especially those that involved innovative strategies or creative approaches. We love seeing what you can bring to the table!
Be Data-Driven:We’re all about performance here at HEP, so make sure to include any metrics or data that demonstrate your success in previous roles. Highlighting your analytical skills will definitely catch our eye!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Higher Ed Partners
✨Know Your Meta Ads Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Meta Ads Manager. Be prepared to discuss specific campaigns you've managed, the strategies you employed, and the results you achieved. This will show that you not only understand the platform but can also leverage it effectively.
✨Showcase Your Creative Side
Since this role involves creative optimisation, come armed with examples of successful ad concepts you've developed. Discuss how you tested different formats and what insights you gained from those experiments. This will demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and drive engagement.
✨Be Data-Driven
Prepare to talk about your analytical skills and how you've used data to improve campaign performance. Bring examples of how you've diagnosed issues in past campaigns and the steps you took to enhance lead quality and conversion rates. This will highlight your strategic mindset.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with how paid social fits into a broader marketing strategy. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with other teams, like Google Ads or content, to create cohesive campaigns. This shows that you can work well in a team and understand cross-channel dynamics.
