Growth-Driven Digital Marketing Lead (Hybrid – Leeds)

Drive growth. Own performance. Shape the future of digital acquisition. If you're a performance-driven digital marketer who thrives on owning results, scaling channels, and making a measurable commercial impact, this is your opportunity to step into a high-visibility role at the heart of an ambitious growth journey. At Markel, we’re not just building marketing campaigns, we’re fuelling the success of over 70,000 small businesses across the UK. And with plans to more than double our Direct business by 2030, digital acquisition is central to that journey.

Why this role stands out:

• True ownership – Lead search strategy end-to-end across PPC and SEO
• Serious investment – Manage and optimise significant paid media budgets
• Commercial impact – Directly influence lead generation, revenue, and Return On Investment
• Growth opportunity – Ideal step-up role or chance to scale at a larger level
• High visibility – Work closely with senior partners in a business-critical role

What you’ll be doing:

• You’ll take full ownership of digital acquisition performance across our Direct brands (Markel Direct and Caunce O’Hara), leading strategy and execution across paid and organic search.
• Performance & Paid Search:
• Lead and evolve PPC strategy across high-spend accounts
• Optimise campaigns to improve Return On Investment, ROAS, and cost per lead
• Manage and challenge agency performance to deliver results
• Forecast lead volumes and performance with a commercial lens
• Drive organic traffic growth in highly competitive markets:
• Deliver technical SEO, on-page optimisation, and digital PR initiatives
• Build authority through backlink strategies and content optimisation
• Stay ahead of evolving search trends (including generative search)
• Strategy, Insight & Collaboration:
• Own performance reporting using tools like Google Analytics & Tag Manager
• Partner with UX/CRO, campaigns, and content teams to optimise journeys
• Manage website content and ensure compliance in all communications
• Balance critical thinking with hands‑on delivery

What you’ll bring:

• You’re a commercially minded digital marketer who thrives in performance-led environments.
• Essential experience:
• Strong background in PPC / performance marketing
• Proven success managing large media budgets
• Experience delivering against lead or revenue targets
• Solid understanding of SEO strategy and execution
• Data-driven attitude with strong analytical skills
• Experience working with agencies and holding them accountable
• Nice to have:
• Financial services or regulated industry experience
• Technical SEO knowledge (e.g. schema, tagging, tracking)
• Experience forecasting and planning performance outcomes

The team & environment:

You’ll join a dedicated Direct Marketing team focused purely on acquisition and growth, working alongside specialists in CRO, campaigns, and content across Leeds and Manchester. This is a fast-paced, collaborative environment where you’ll need to juggle priorities, think commercially, and deliver results but you’ll also have the support, tools, and investment to succeed.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive salary + 20% bonus plan
• Hybrid working (3 days in Leeds)
• 25 days holiday + option to buy/sell
• Private medical & dental cover
• Excellent pension, life assurance & income protection
• Genuine career development opportunities in a growing business

Why Markel?

We’re a global Fortune 500 business, but we pride ourselves on maintaining a people‑first culture where ideas are valued and individuals make a real difference. Our values guide everything we do:

• We’re all about people
• We win together
• We strive for better

And right now, we’re investing heavily in digital making this the perfect time to join and shape what comes next. Ready to make your impact? If you’re excited by the idea of owning performance, scaling acquisition, and playing a key role in a high-growth business, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us build something special.

Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at rec@markel.com or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.