At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead marketing operations strategy and optimise systems for impactful campaigns.
- Company: Join OakNorth, a mission-driven bank empowering businesses and communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, hybrid working, and personalised benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-growth environment with innovative marketing strategies.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in marketing operations, with strong leadership and technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
ABOUT US
At OakNorth, we're on a mission to empower ambitious businesses and the communities they serve. Since 2015, we've lent over $21 billion across the UK and US, helped create more than 58,000 new homes and 36,000 new jobs, and supported hundreds of thousands of personal savers — all while driving economic growth in the markets we serve.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our Marketing team is embedded across Lending, Business Banking and Personal Savings, working closely with commercial and product teams to drive growth across OakNorth's diverse product set. Marketing Operations sits at the centre of that function — owning the systems, data, processes and controls that make marketing effective and scalable. This is a team that operates with the rigour of a regulated firm and the ambition of a high-growth business.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are hiring a Director of Marketing Operations to own the infrastructure, governance and commercial intelligence that powers OakNorth's marketing function. You will serve as the named operational delegate of the SMF holder for financial promotions and customer communications, partnering directly with C-suite and SMF holders. This is a high-impact role combining strategic leadership with hands-on operational excellence across a regulated UK bank.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Set the strategy & plan for marketing operations
- Define and own the long-term MarTech roadmap and execution aligned to OakNorth's commercial objectives.
- Establish a clear operating model across marketing, sales and product handoffs.
- Lead prioritisation of systems investment, tooling decisions and integration strategy.
- Partner with the Design & Brand lead to enforce brand and tone-of-voice at the systems level.
- Own commercial systems architecture
- Oversee the architecture and optimisation of Salesforce, HubSpot, Iterable, Apollo and associated data platforms.
- Drive improvements in attribution, lead routing, lifecycle automation and reporting across BU funnels.
- Ensure systems are integrated, scalable and operationally resilient (PRA SS2/21, FCA/PRA Operational Resilience PS21/3).
- Reduce operational risk and eliminate single points of failure across the stack.
- Own customer communications infrastructure
- Set governance standards across transactional, lifecycle and marketing communications.
- Own the marketing preference centre and suppression infrastructure (UK GDPR, PECR, soft opt-in, cookie consent).
- Build vulnerable-customer routing and Consumer Duty outcomes monitoring into the comms stack.
- Operate the process for handling complaints relating to customer communications in partnership with Customer Operations.
- Lead web and digital operations strategy
- Own CMS strategy, migration and content governance: approval gating, version logs, staged environments, role-based access and rollback.
- Optimise web conversion across PS, BB and Lending pages in close partnership with growth marketers in each Business Unit.
- Own web performance, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA), hosting, incident response, tag governance and analytics.
- Own cookie consent and PECR compliance across the website estate.
- Drive performance insights and commercial intelligence
- Define the commercial reporting framework across marketing and own pipeline design, stage definitions and marketing-to-sales handoffs.
- Improve attribution and revenue visibility across the funnel and ensure leadership has clear, decision-ready performance insight.
- Ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy and rigorous data quality standards across marketing systems.
- Partner with Technology and Product to shape CRM enhancements and roadmap priorities.
- Operate financial promotions and regulated comms governance
- Own the financial promotion approval workflow end-to-end across the Bank.
- Operate as the named operational delegate of the SMF holder, with effective controls and documented procedures.
- Partner with 1LOD & 2LOD risk experts to maintain the Marketing Risk & Controls matrix.
- Own affiliate channel governance: vetting, content pre-approval, ongoing monitoring and contractual conduct standards.
- Champion innovation and automation
- Achieve AI-driven productivity gains across marketing workflows, while maintaining quality guardrails.
- Own and operate the AI-in-marketing policy: pre-publication review on customer-facing content, prohibited use cases, content provenance logging and periodic QA.
YOU'LL BE A GREAT FIT IF YOU HAVE…
8+ years in marketing operations, with 3+ years at Director or Head of level. Deep expertise managing a marketing stack at scale: Salesforce, marketing automation (HubSpot, Iterable or equivalent), CMS, consent management, attribution and analytics. Hands-on experience in a UK FCA/PRA-regulated firm. Strong commercial acumen and experience enabling frontline teams through systems and data. Excellent lateral leadership skills — able to influence without direct authority and drive cross-functional alignment. Comfortable balancing strategic leadership with hands-on ownership when required.
NICE TO HAVE
Experience operationalising AI in customer-facing marketing in a regulated context. Revenue Operations experience in B2B SaaS. Affiliate channel governance and third-party risk management in a regulated firm. US lending or international expansion exposure. Operational Resilience operating experience.
WHAT WE OFFER
Time Off: 25 days holiday plus public holidays. Flexibility: Hybrid working model. Health & Protection: Subsidised Private Medical Insurance with Bupa, enhanced maternity and paternity leave. Wellbeing: Wellbeing and social events, in-house Barista Bar in the London office. Flexible Benefits: Personalised benefits — opt in to what matters to you, including salary sacrifice schemes (cycle to work, nursery, gym, electric car scheme). Growth & Development: Support for causes that matter to you, with paid volunteering time off.
Location: London
Employment Type: Full time
Location Type: Hybrid
Department: Marketing
Director of Marketing Operations in London employer: OakNorth Bank
At OakNorth, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development opportunities and a supportive environment, all while enjoying the benefits of a hybrid working model in the vibrant city of London. Join us to make a meaningful impact as we empower businesses and communities, backed by comprehensive health benefits and a focus on wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Marketing Operations in London
✨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 OakNorth Bank 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 OakNorth Bank 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 OakNorth Bank 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 OakNorth Bank. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Marketing Operations in London
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 OakNorth Bank. 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 OakNorth Bank:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about OakNorth Bank’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 OakNorth Bank
✨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 OakNorth Bank 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 OakNorth Bank, 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.
