Digital Marketing Lead in Sawbridgeworth

The funeral sector is a unique special services profession that blends caring with commercial realities in a fiercely competitive environment. The profession is going through seismic changes in regulation, consumer digital engagement and professionalisation.

SAIF is a professional association established in 1989 to promote and protect independent funeral directors across the UK. Many members are long-standing family businesses, rooted in their communities, conducting as many as 60% of at-need funerals in the UK. It is an exciting time to join the SAIF family network as the largest association of funeral director member firms and make a lasting difference for families across the United Kingdom.

SAIF’s values: We aspire to be:

• Professional, serving with excellence, because people matter!
• Highly motivated to serve those facing life’s difficult time.
• A great employer, working together to enjoy making a positive difference.

SAIF’s service to members includes business support, advice, education and marketing, government liaison and professional development. SAIF is led by a CEO and the President working with a National Executive Committee, in partnership with SAIF Scotland’s Executive Committee.

Role Purpose

As SAIF's Digital Marketing Lead, you will elevate the voice and value of independent funeral directors by transforming rigorous industry research into empathetic, data-driven digital campaigns that build public trust and professional authority.

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home and office-based in Sawbridgeworth, Herts. (Office presence to be negotiated)

Specific Areas of Responsibility

• Commission the annual Cost of Funerals survey.
• Manage the delivery of high-quality research and insight projects within the UK funeral sector — acting as the bridge between external research partners, sector representatives and communications teams.
• Develop research briefs, define objectives, timelines and deliverables with external research agencies (e.g. FSE, Trajectory Partnership).
• Ensure research outputs, including regular surveys with partners, are methodologically robust, strategically relevant and accurately reflect the views, costs and realities of independent funeral directors across the UK.
• Determine research questions, methodology and sampling approach. Track progress and accuracy. Ensure data governance, neutrality and validity.
• Assist in data cleansing, validation and cross-analysis for deeper insight, producing internal summaries and visual reports.
• Work with PR and communications teams on key messages, draft press releases and stakeholder briefings.
• Prepare audio-video resources for social media marketing; summaries for presentations at education events, AGMs, webinars, regional meetings and board meetings.
• Support additional digital marketing campaigns and an annual plan of resourcing SAIF members.
• Contribute to continuing professional development modules in marketing disciplines for members.
• Oversee the ongoing deployment of social media and website content and support the CEO and SAIF Business Centre with marketing activities during the annual business cycle of events.
• Liaise with the CEO and Chair of the Marketing sub-committee in the promotion of SAIF members to the consumer, the development and fulfilment of a communications plan, including informing members of what SAIF is achieving in promoting independent funeral directors across the UK.

Person Specification

SAIF values its staff, consultants and governing body members. We are held in high regard by government and related associations. We seek a person who aspires to be their best and to serve what we consider are leaders in the funeral sector - independent funeral directors.

You will be expected to attend events including the annual general meeting weekend, regional meetings, education days and the National Funeral Exhibition which will require some evening and weekend working and overnight stays. You will be comfortable liaising with SAIF regional representatives and member firms, developing survey tools, monitoring regional participation and chasing low response regions.

You will need to be able to represent the profession’s perspective in methodological discussions so it will be an advantage if you have a strong understanding of funeral operations, pricing and regulation. You will be able to translate business questions into research frameworks, be competent in reviewing and interpreting data sets and skilled at translating this information into marketing campaigns that build trust, engagement, authority and follower numbers.

A true technophile, you will not only embrace modern tools such as AI and collaboration tools; you will also have exceptional written and verbal communication skills, analytical thinking and be professionally credible within the sector. Prior experience with funeral-sector organisations. Understanding of media handling and publication standards. Proficiency with common AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. Familiarity with quantitative surveying tools and Excel-based analysis. Experience in supporting reporting and benchmarking projects. Background in research co-ordination or communications.

Personal Attributes

• Empathetic, methodical and discreet.
• Highly organised and deadline-driven.
• Professionally curious and insightful.
• Collaborative, with excellent interpersonal skills.
• A team player, who respects senior management, works collaboratively and flourishes using one’s own initiative in professional delivery.

Qualifications

• Preferably holds a postgraduate qualification in marketing and/or business management.
• A member of one of the marketing professional bodies.
• At least five years' post-qualification experience, ideally ten years in digital marketing.
• Aspires to learn and develop through ongoing CPD and adaptive training.

To apply

In your application, if possible, please evidence:

• Proven experience of managing marketing campaigns across multiple platforms.
• Strong knowledge of key digital marketing metrics (CPC, CTR, ROAS, CPM, etc.).
• Confidence using digital tools such as Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager and Google Analytics.
• Attention to detail and ability to write engaging, persuasive copy.
• Understanding of conversion tracking and landing page optimisation.
• Hands-on design skills with speedy turnaround times.
• Engagement with the media, press and members.
• Collaboration with senior leadership teams, contractors and partners working in a complex work environment.
• Experience with email marketing platforms and CRM tools.
• Knowledge of SEO principles.
• Competence using tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Basic video editing for social platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

This role content has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of the work within the post. It is not designed to cover all duties, responsibilities and experience which may be required in this role.

We would be pleased to hear from you.

How to apply for the role?

Please submit no more than three pages of your CV. A supporting statement of no more than two pages explaining why you will be suited to this role. It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with SAIF. Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity and employment referencing checks.

SAIF kindly asks that recruitment agencies refrain from submitting CVs to our employees or associates without explicit invitation from our HR Team. CVs sent on a speculative basis will not be acknowledged and SAIF will not assume any responsibility for fees or commissions in the event that we hire a candidate who applied directly or subsequently introduced by an instructed agency.

Should you wish to have an informal discussion, please speak with Terry Tennens, CEO of SAIF: terry@saif.org.uk

In return we offer:

• A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and expertise.
• Full-time or minimum four day week.
• Employer contribution to pension scheme.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum.
• Wellbeing-related benefits.

The post will be open until Monday 2 February 2026. Informal interviews will be held week commencing 9 February, and shortlisted interviews will be held on week commencing 16 February.