Marketing Director (Interim - Maternity Cover)

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced interim or fractional marketing leader to step in and lead our marketing function for nine months whilst our Marketing Director is on maternity leave. This is a rare chance to take on a senior marketing leadership role within a genuinely premium luxury travel brand - with an engaged, talented team already in place. The role is fractional at three days per week, which suits a senior marketing professional who works on a portfolio or interim basis, or who is looking for a substantive part-time commitment alongside other work. You will step into an established team with clear structure and strong capability, and your job is to lead, maintain momentum, progress the strategy already underway and lead any changes or pivots necessary to track towards commercial and brand targets.

Role Context & Scope

Compared to a Marketing Director at a larger or standalone organisation, this role has some deliberate differences in scope: Budget authority is shared with Group EXCO — the postholder proposes and manages the marketing budget, but final sign‑off sits with the Wilderness Group Executive Committee. This is by design within the group structure and is not unusual for brands operating within a larger parent company. This role focuses on Jacada's brand‑specific digital activity and works collaboratively with the Group Digital Director on anything that extends to the wider group digital ecosystem. The team is well‑established, with experienced heads leading each sub‑team. This is a leadership and oversight role; the expectation is to guide and develop the team rather than rebuild it. At three days per week over nine months, this is a focused, delivery‑oriented engagement. The right candidate will be comfortable moving quickly, building trust with a team they are stepping into, and handing back smoothly at the end of the contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Brand Strategy & Stewardship: Oversee the execution of and protection of Jacada's brand identity across all channels and touchpoints for the duration of the contract. Ensure all marketing output is consistent with the strategy already in place, evolving it where required with the Managing Director's input. Partner with the Sales and Operations Director to keep marketing activity aligned with commercial objectives and the client journey. Work closely with the Client Experience Director to ensure that USPs are aligned with on‑the‑ground delivery.
• Content & Editorial: Act as final editorial oversight of the Jacada Explorer magazine, ensuring that goals are met and the timeline through commissioning, production, design, print and distribution is followed. This is a flagship brand asset and a visible responsibility of the role. Oversee Jacada's wider content output – website, blog, email, and social media – ensuring it is on‑brand, high quality, and audience‑relevant. Work closely with the Head of Brand & Content to maintain content momentum and quality throughout the contract period.
• Digital Marketing Oversight: Provide strategic oversight of Jacada's digital marketing activity through the Senior Digital Marketing Manager and their team. Own the Jacada website and its development, ensuring that performance is prioritised, the site is appropriately maintained, updated and evolved. Own brand‑specific digital activity including social media strategy, website content, email marketing, and content‑led SEO strategy, including AI optimisation. Liaise with the Group Digital Director on digital matters that sit at group level or involve cross‑brand infrastructure – ensuring Jacada's voice and brand needs are represented effectively. Monitor digital performance, using data to inform decisions and keep activity on track.
• Performance Marketing: Oversee and be accountable for the optimisation of the performance marketing budget. The day‑to‑day management of paid channels sits within the shared Group function, however responsibility for direction and management of the overall strategy and budget sits within Jacada. Work closely with the Managing Director and Sales and Operations Director to ensure that lead generation aligns with internal capacity and priorities. Develop the diversification strategy alongside the Group performance marketing delivery team to ensure targets are met in a way aligned with the long‑term vision of client acquisition and retention.
• Team Leadership: Lead a marketing team of approximately 17 people across two sub‑teams, providing clear direction and consistent management throughout the contract. Manage and support the two direct reports – Head of Brand & Content and Senior Digital Marketing Manager – maintaining team stability and performance during the cover period. Act as a visible and engaged leader for the team, building trust quickly and ensuring continuity of culture and direction. Support team wellbeing and development during a period of senior leadership transition.
• Agency & Supplier Management: Take over and maintain existing agency relationships, ensuring continuity of briefing, delivery, and performance management. Manage agency spend within the approved marketing budget. Flag any agency performance concerns or contract considerations to the Managing Director in a timely manner.
• Budget Management: Manage the approved marketing budget responsibly across brand, content, digital, and agency activity. Provide regular financial reporting to the Managing Director, and liaise with Group EXCO as required on budget matters. Where the contract spans a budget planning period, support or lead the budget proposal process for the following year as required.
• Positive Impact Communications: Collaborate with the Head of Positive Impact on Jacada's sustainability and responsible travel communications, ensuring these are authentically integrated into the brand narrative and content calendar. Support the creation of any impact‑related communications materials as needed during the contract period.
• Reporting & Handover: Track and report on key marketing performance metrics throughout the contract, providing regular updates to the Managing Director. Maintain clear documentation of strategy, decisions, and work in progress to facilitate a smooth handover at the end of the contract. Ideally participate in a structured handover period with the returning Marketing Director at the end of the engagement.

Person Specification

Essential: Proven experience as a senior marketing leader – Director or equivalent – ideally within luxury, travel, premium lifestyle, or a similarly brand‑led service sector. Comfortable operating on a fractional or interim basis – able to build trust quickly, integrate into an existing team, and deliver effectively without a lengthy ramp‑up period. Strong brand and creative instincts with experience upholding a premium brand identity. Experienced in leading, managing and nurturing marketing teams, including editorial/content and digital sub‑teams. Confident agency manager – able to brief, hold, and evaluate creative, PR, and digital agency partners. Confident manager of digital marketing strategy and channels with a strong ability to interrogate data and reporting. Commercially aware with the ability to connect marketing activity to business growth objectives. Strong editorial judgement – comfortable overseeing a flagship content product such as a magazine or similar. Experienced in working within matrix or group company structures, including upward stakeholder management. Self‑sufficient and organised – able to work remotely and manage time effectively across a three‑day week.

Desirable: Background in luxury travel, tour operations, or hospitality. Experience overseeing a print or digital editorial publication. Familiarity with sustainability or responsible business communications. Previous maternity or interim cover experience – understanding the dynamics of stepping into an established team and stepping back cleanly.