At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead growth strategies and drive digital marketing for a top automotive retailer.
- Company: Join one of the UK's leading automotive retailers with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, health perks, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace culture that values your contributions and supports your growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic industry while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in performance marketing and managing significant budgets.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland. We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That’s why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.
The Head of Growth & Acquisition owns Lookers' paid and organic acquisition strategy, driving qualified demand into new car, used car and aftersales channels at the right cost and volume. This role is responsible for the full digital acquisition mix: paid search, paid social, display, automotive marketplaces, partnerships and SEO. This is a performance marketing leadership role with genuine commercial accountability. The person in it must be obsessed with what works, and able to connect channel performance to ROI, not just traffic or leads. This role will transform Lookers approach to digital marketing capability and execution.
You’ll develop a team that helps trade the business, working with operations teams on days in stock metrics, margin, offers and pricing adherence to drive conversion across your channels. Critically, this role must balance Lookers' acquisition investment carefully amidst OEM-driven new car commitments, and the more ownable and dynamic used cars and aftersales propositions.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Paid Media Strategy & Execution
- Own paid search (Google/Bing) strategy across new car, used car and aftersales.
- Lead paid social strategy, with audience segmentation matched to commercial priorities.
- Manage any display, programmatic and video investment with clear attribution to commercial outcomes.
- Oversee remarketing and audience strategy, particularly for high-intent used car and aftersales audiences.
- Manage agency relationships for paid media, setting the brief and holding performance accountability.
- Understand the dynamic between national demand and local conversion and set appropriate channel strategies.
- Automotive Marketplace Strategy
- Own Lookers' presence and performance on Autotrader and other lead-gen platforms.
- Manage listing quality, pricing strategy visibility and communications with operational stakeholders.
- Build the business case for marketplace investment/package strategies based on cost-per-sale and margin retention.
- Monitor and respond to competitive marketplace dynamics.
- SEO & Content Acquisition
- Own keyword strategy and content SEO, building organic authority in used car, aftersales and EV search.
- Collaborate with Head of CX on technical SEO.
- Build a content acquisition strategy that earns trust with research-phase customers.
- Budget Management & ROI
- Own the acquisition budget, developing an increasingly commercially accountable channel mix.
- Work closely with data team to develop and own channel level attribution and ROI.
- Report performance in commercial terms, maturing the operation.
- OEM Co-operative & Mandated Fund Management
- Partner with OEM/Divisional marketing managers to manage and deliver manufacturer co-operative and mandated fund activity.
- Maximise utilisation where it serves Lookers' commercial interests.
- Ensure OEM-funded activity is measured and reported consistently.
- Emerging Channels & Innovation
- Monitor and test emerging acquisition channels relevant to automotive.
- Build a test-and-learn culture in acquisition.
- Stay ahead of shifts in search behaviour and adapt strategy accordingly.
- Build a suite of commercial partnerships to support effective segment targeting.
- Team and Leadership
- Lead a small team across paid digital, supported by agencies, alongside SEO, Partnerships and lead-generation.
- Support the divisional marketing teams in delivering their marketing plans.
- Your team will lead the critical Autotrader relationship.
What We're Looking For!
Essential
- Senior performance marketing leadership experience with a proven track record managing significant paid media budgets.
- Deep technical knowledge of Google Ads, Meta Ads and programmatic channels.
- Strong SEO knowledge spanning both technical and content dimensions.
- Commercially driven and able to speak in cost-per-sale and gross profit.
- Experience with attribution modelling and connecting digital spend to offline commercial outcomes.
- Strong agency management skills.
- Experience in an omni channel retail business.
- Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence effectively.
- Experience with marketplace platforms (Autotrader etc.).
Desirable
- Familiarity with automotive retail commercial model.
- Experience marketing EV products or operating in categories with high research intensity.
Core Benefits:
- Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression.
- Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service.
- Enhanced family leave.
- Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases.
- Health & Wellbeing benefits including eyecare vouchers and dental insurance.
- Financial Wellbeing options including access to a portion of your pay as you earn.
- Leisure & Lifestyle benefits including discounted gym memberships and travel insurance.
We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels. Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.
If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us.
Head of Growth & Acquisition in Chelmsford employer: Lookers
Lookers is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises employee growth and wellbeing. With a competitive salary structure, generous benefits including enhanced family leave and health support, and a commitment to professional development through manufacturer brand training, Lookers fosters a culture of inclusivity and recognition. Located across the UK and Ireland, employees enjoy the opportunity to make a significant impact in the automotive retail sector while being part of a supportive team that celebrates success at all levels.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Growth & Acquisition in Chelmsford
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Lookers and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Lookers are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Lookers on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Lookers. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Growth & Acquisition in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Lookers. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Lookers:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Lookers’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lookers
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Lookers will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Lookers, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
