Marketing and Brand Manager

Marketing and Brand Manager

Salary:             Senior Manager Band 5 – £40,775–£52,196, depending on experience
Location:         Central Newcastle (with flexibility to work from home on Fridays)
Hours:             Full-time, 36 hours per week
Holidays:         30 days plus Bank Holidays
Travel:             Some regional and national travel, as required

Closing Date:   5pm Friday 10 April 2026
Interview Date: Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 April 2026

Make a Difference with Schools North East

Schools North East is a purpose-driven charity championing schools and trusts across the region.
Representing a collaborative network of over 1,150 schools, we are recognised nationally as the
Voice for North East education, the Glue that brings schools together, and the Bridge connecting
them to wider policy and practice. As we approach our 20th year, we are entering a new phase,
strengthening our influence, extending our reach, and deepening the value we provide to
members. This reach is further amplified through the National Network of Special Schools for
School Business Professionals (NNoSS), a national community we lead.
As Marketing & Brand Manager, you will lead and deliver a clear, strategic marketing and
communications approach across all core workstreams: Schools North East, NNoSS, Jobs in
Schools | North East (our regional recruitment portal), and our high-profile events programme. You
will also play a central role in amplifying our policy and influencing work, ensuring the voice and
evidence of North East schools is heard nationally. This is a broad, high-impact role spanning
brand, digital, content, campaigns, and stakeholder engagement, requiring both strategic
oversight and hands-on delivery.
You will ensure alignment across marketing, communications, policy, and events, and integrate
activities to strengthen our position as the authoritative voice of North East schools. This role
demands a commercially aware, politically astute leader who can see the bigger picture while
delivering at pace. You will anticipate trends, respond decisively to opportunities and challenges,
and make informed, confident decisions.
We are looking for someone who leads with clarity and purpose, builds strong relationships, and
communicates with impact. You will foster a collaborative, high-performing culture, supporting
the development of others while maintaining high standards of delivery. This is an opportunity to
play a defining role in a respected organisation at a critical stage in its development and to shape
how we engage, influence, and grow in the years ahead.
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Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership
Contribute to the strategic leadership of Schools North East as a senior manager, ensuring
marketing work supports the organisation’s long-term mission and values.

Strategic Marketing Leadership
Develop and deliver a forward-thinking marketing strategy that elevates Schools North East’s
brand regionally and nationally, aligning with organisational goals and values.
Act as the senior lead on all marketing and brand initiatives, embedding marketing thinking
across the organisation.

Brand Development & Management
Strengthen Schools North East as the authoritative voice of education in the region and a
credible influencer on the national stage.
Manage and refresh, as necessary, the brand identity to ensure consistency across all channels,
content, campaigns, and events.

Content & Campaign Strategy
Create and oversee a compelling multi-channel content strategy that delivers high-value
engagement across all audiences, from school leaders and policymakers to media and
potential funders.
Lead integrated marketing campaigns that amplify the impact of events, policy work, and
membership services.

Audience Engagement & Insight
Develop segmented engagement strategies to better serve diverse stakeholder groups,
ensuring messages land with clarity and purpose.
Use audience insight, member feedback, and data analytics to shape messaging, improve
outcomes, and report on ROI.

Media & Public Relations
Act as brand guardian and media lead by proactively shaping public narratives, overseeing
media inquiries, and managing external comms.
Build and manage strategic relationships with regional and national media to drive influence
and awareness.

Digital & Social Media Strategy
Transform Schools North East’s digital presence, particularly on LinkedIn and other platforms,
to increase visibility, engagement, and thought leadership.

Introduce a more dynamic and audience-friendly approach to communications and e-
newsletters, reducing information overload and improving open and engagement rates.

Revenue Generation & Innovation
Drive revenue across the SNE portfolio, including memberships, NNoSS, Jobs in Schools | North
East, partnerships, sponsorships, and events, maximising income, retention, and growth.
Develop new income streams, products, and commercial opportunities through targeted
campaigns and offers aligned to SNE’s mission.
Embed a data-driven, commercial approach to marketing, improving conversion, delegate
acquisition, and ROI while maintaining our charitable ethos.

Systems & Tools
Oversee the development and optimisation of CRM, website, and digital tools to streamline
marketing operations and track impact.
Ensure data compliance and user experience best practices are upheld.

Team Leadership & Collaboration
Lead and mentor direct reports setting clear KPIs and fostering a creative, ambitious, and
collaborative team culture across the organisation.
Work closely with Directors, Business, Events and Policy teams to ensure marketing activity
supports and enhances core functions.

Person Specification
(A – Application, I – Interview, T – Task)
Essential:
Proven experience (5-10 years minimum) in senior marketing, communications, or brand roles,
ideally in complex or mission-led organisations (A, I).
Strategic thinker with a demonstrable track record of delivering marketing plans that grow brand
awareness, reputation, and engagement (A, I, T).
Experience working across digital, PR, content, and campaign planning, with measurable impact
(A, I).
Strong leadership experience, able to inspire a team and embed marketing thinking organisation
wide (A, I).
Expertise in media handling, brand positioning, and stakeholder communications (A, I).
Demonstrable understanding of the role marketing plays in policy influence, membership
retention, and charitable growth (A, I).
Excellent copywriting and messaging skills, with the ability to distill complex information into
clear, compelling content (A, I, T).
Confident using analytics, CRM platforms, email marketing tools, and social media to drive
engagement (A, I).
Highly collaborative, with a can-do attitude and the ability to engage internal and external
stakeholders (A, I).
Ability to innovate within resource constraints and remain calm under pressure (A, I).

Desirable:
Experience in the education, charity, or membership sector (A, I).
Knowledge of the education landscape in the North East or wider national policy context (A, I).