Deputy Marketing Director / Marketing Director (12 month FTC) in England

Join to apply for the Deputy Marketing Director / Marketing Director (12 month FTC) role at John Murray. The John Murray Group—which includes John Murray Press, Quercus, John Murray specialist and Dialogue—emerges as one of the fastest growing and most profitable divisions of Hachette UK. From best‑selling literary fiction to thoughtful non‑fiction, the group represents icons such as Mick Herron, Elly Griffiths, Beth O’Leary, David Attenborough, Trevor Noah and Miriam Margolyes. We pride ourselves on being entrepreneurial, curious and keen to nurture new voices that shape our world.

What you’ll be doing

The Deputy/Marketing Director (12‑month FTC) will cover a colleague’s maternity leave and help oversee the trade marketing department, implementing and delivering the marketing strategy across our broad range of commercial and literary fiction and non‑fiction. Reporting to the Creative & Marketing Director, you’ll bring high energy, thrive in an engaged team, and apply strong leadership and team‑management skills to drive excellence. Your role will focus on leading and developing the John Murray Group Trade Marketing team, managing a cohort of about 4 marketers (and a department of 10), and ensuring top‑quality campaign execution across all titles.

Who we are looking for

We seek a creative and capable Head of Marketing or Deputy Director with extensive line‑management experience, commercial expertise and a creative spark. You should be highly organised, proactive, meticulous in detail, market‑savvy and a persuasive communicator who can champion the department’s needs while aligning with wider business goals. Experience in commercial publishing is desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Creative and Marketing Director to lead and develop the John Murray Group Trade Marketing team, driving excellence across all activities.
• Line‑manage approximately 4 marketers and oversee a department of 10.
• Oversee high‑quality campaign delivery across fiction and non‑fiction lists, managing key brand and breakout campaigns.
• Lead the marketing strategy for our commercial publishing (Quercus), maximise front‑list and back‑list value across all formats, manage the Quercus marketing budget, and serve as a key voice in acquisitions.
• Champion data‑driven evaluation of marketing activity, placing consumer insight and analysis at the heart of the team’s work.
• Maintain liaison and relationship management with our media‑buying agency.
• Oversee department strategy across digital promotions, AMS & online community growth.
• Manage our proof, Netgalley and sustainability strategy.
• Attend Hachette Group marketing director meetings.

Requirements

• Significant senior‑level marketing experience in publishing.
• Proven team and line‑management experience, developing and supervising marketers.
• Expert knowledge of target market and industry, with a particular focus on commercial publishing.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; confident chairing meetings and guiding discussion.
• Strong financial understanding and budget‑management skills.
• Adaptable, organised, collaborative and an excellent problem‑solver.

What we offer

• 28 annual leave days per year (29 after 2 years, 30 after 5 years + bank holidays).
• Private medical insurance.
• 2 community days per year.
• Summer hours (ending at 1 pm on Fridays during the summer months).
• Retail discounts through the Hachette rewards programme.
• Cycle‑to‑Work scheme.
• Wide‑ranging training library.
• Development programmes (including mentoring).
• Up to 70 % off book purchases.
• A charity bookshelf.
• 12 staff‑led employee networks, voluntary, including AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks.
• Season ticket loans and more.

This role can be based at our London or Sheffield office with a blend of in‑office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a wide and representative range of backgrounds—age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality, socio‑economic, regional and cultural. If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend an interview, please let us know.

The Book Trade Charity offers financial support to people looking to enter the book trade but who may struggle to afford the costs of attending interviews and undertaking junior roles.