At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and build a marketing strategy from scratch for a fast-growing health division.
- Company: Join a leading FMCG group with a strong brand presence in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on role, and a chance to shape a new marketing function.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by creating compelling brand stories and driving consumer-first thinking.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG and entrepreneurial environments, strong strategic and leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic Manchester-based role with an informal culture and excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
A leading multi-category FMCG group is hiring its first Marketing Director for its rapidly growing Health, Wellness and Sports Nutrition division. This is a rare opportunity to step into a business that already has huge brand recognition across the UK market, strong retailer penetration, and an entrepreneurial culture that moves at speed, but has never had a dedicated marketing function. The role exists to bring clarity, structure and strategic direction to a division that is scaling quickly.
You will work closely with the Divisional Lead, supporting both senior stakeholders and junior marketers, and will become a key influence on how the business approaches brands, consumers, digital, NPD and retail partnerships. You will own the full marketing strategy, create the frameworks and standards the business has never had, and set clear goals that the senior leadership team can understand and get behind. The role is hands-on, not managerial from a distance: you will roll up your sleeves, work closely with NPD, digital, category and commercial teams, and bring coherence to areas that historically operated in isolation, particularly the digital and ecommerce teams.
Culturally, it’s flat, informal and low-ego. People succeed here by being down-to-earth, resilient, strong-minded and able to create structure in the midst of pace and change.
Responsibilities- Own and build the full marketing strategy for the division
- Create structure, standards and clear goals for a marketing function that currently doesn’t exist
- Work closely with the Divisional Lead, digital team, NPD, category, commercial and junior marketers
- Mentor and develop the Brand Manager, providing guidance, structure and career support
- Bring together historically siloed teams, particularly digital/ecommerce and brand
- Drive consumer-first thinking and create compelling brand stories that cut through
- Lead agency relationships, ensuring strong execution and accountability
- Present confidently to major UK retailers across grocery, high street and discounters
- Improve cross-functional communication and align stakeholders who aren’t used to marketing as a discipline
- Use data and insight to drive decisions, execute the basics brilliantly and deliver commercial results
- Manage spend with a value-driven mindset, making small budgets work effectively
- Be hands-on in delivery, working at pace and supporting teams in a fast-moving environment
- Experience in both big-brand FMCG and fast-paced SME or entrepreneurial environments
- Proven ability to build or transform a marketing function, not just run an inherited one
- Strong strategic capability paired with a willingness to be hands-on
- Highly organised, structured and able to cut through chaos with clarity
- Confidently influencing senior stakeholders and winning buy-in from sceptical audiences
- Strong cross-functional leadership skills, particularly in bringing digital, brand and NPD teams together
- Ability to present to major UK retailers and understand category and commercial levers
- Consumer-led mindset with a track record of building brands and delivering results
- Down-to-earth, low-ego personality with resilience and a “treat it like your business” mentality
- Comfortable operating without big budgets and able to make smart, efficient decisions
- Strong communication skills and the ability to create alignment and momentum across teams
If you want to shape a division’s direction, build a marketing capability from the ground up and make a visible difference to a fast-growing business, this role offers the chance to do exactly that. The position is Manchester-based with an in-person culture, and is ideal for someone who thrives in an environment where autonomy, pace and ownership are the norm.
Marketing Director in Manchester employer: Signature Career Management
Contact Detail:
Signature Career Management Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Marketing Director in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your marketing achievements and projects. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can bring clarity and structure to a marketing function, just like the role requires.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s current marketing strategies. Think about how you can improve their approach and be ready to share your ideas. Remember, they’re looking for someone who can roll up their sleeves and make a real impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the opportunity. Don’t forget to follow up after applying; a little persistence can go a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Marketing Director in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Marketing Director. Highlight your experience in building marketing functions and working in fast-paced environments, just like we need for our Health, Wellness and Sports Nutrition division.
Showcase Your Hands-On Experience: We want to see that you’re not just a strategist but also someone who rolls up their sleeves. Include examples of how you've been hands-on in previous roles, especially in transforming marketing strategies or leading cross-functional teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your vision for the marketing strategy and how you plan to bring structure and clarity to our division.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Signature Career Management
✨Know Your Marketing Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of marketing strategies, especially in the FMCG sector. Be ready to discuss how you would build a marketing function from scratch and what frameworks you would implement to ensure success.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
This role is all about being hands-on, so come prepared with examples of when you've rolled up your sleeves to get things done. Highlight specific projects where you’ve worked closely with cross-functional teams, particularly in digital and NPD.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
You’ll need to influence senior stakeholders, so practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Think of ways to present your vision for the marketing strategy that will resonate with sceptical audiences and align them with your goals.
✨Emphasise Your Consumer-First Mindset
Be ready to discuss how you’ve used consumer insights to drive marketing decisions in the past. Prepare examples of compelling brand stories you’ve created that cut through the noise and how they delivered commercial results.
