Deputy Head of Marketing (Maternity Cover) in Paignton

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title Deputy Head of Marketing (Maternity Cover) Job reference REQ003306 Date posted 17/09/2026 Application closing date 11/10/2026 Location Paignton Salary £30,770 - £35,338per annum Package Plus Excellent Benefits Contractual hours 37 Basis Full Time Job category/type Support Attachments Blank Job description

Salary: £30,770 - £35,338per annum. Plus excellent benefits.

Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed term maternity cover up to12 months.37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Location: Paignton, Devon.

South Devon College is looking for a confident, organised and experienced Deputy Head of Marketing – Events, Schools & Community Lead to join our Marketing team on a maternity cover basis.

About the role

In this role, you will lead our schools engagement and community outreach activity, oversee key College events, and support the Head of Marketing with day-to-day decision making and representation across the College. You will also be responsible for the following:

• Lead the College’s schools engagement programme and wider community outreach, building strong relationships with schools, community partners and key stakeholders.
• Own and deliver business and stakeholder events, ensuring activity is well planned, professionally delivered and aligned to the College’s strategic priorities.
• Manage key cross-college events, including open events, Graduation, Student Awards, Staff Awards and Apprenticeship Awards, with support from the Events Coordinator.
• Line manage and coach colleagues within the schools and community engagement function, supporting them to deliver high-quality work.
• Act as a business partner for specified departments, understanding their priorities and translating them into clear marketing activity.
• Deputise for the Head of Marketing when required, representing the team in meetings and supporting day-to-day decisions.
• Contribute to post-event evaluation, including customer experience, conversion activity and feedback to inform future planning.

To be successful in this role, you will:

• Have experience of schools liaison, community engagement or stakeholder event delivery, ideally within a busy organisation or education setting.
• Be confident building relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Have experience of managing, coaching or supporting colleagues to deliver effective work.
• Be organised, calm under pressure and able to manage competing deadlines while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Be a clear and confident communicator, able to represent a team’s priorities in meetings and discussions.
• Be able to translate departmental needs into practical marketing activity that supports wider goals.
• Have experience of business partnering, CRM systems, digital or social media activity, or education sector marketing would be an advantage.

In return, you can expect access to an exciting range of training, apprenticeship and opportunities for degree level study alongside your work to keep you at the top of your game, as well as generous holiday allowance of 27 days pro rata and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

The staff at South Devon College are truly inspirational and this is a reflection on the whole College culture of continuous improvement and support for all of our students and communities. We hold the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Platinum accreditation, the highest level awarded by the people management standard. This prominent distinction confirms the College’s status as not just a leading Further Education College, but also as a top employer in the country, as it joins the top 7% of accredited organisations across the UK.

We aim to provide our learners with excellent teaching and learning. Our staff are highly adept at working with and developing skills and knowledge in learners from different backgrounds. Our staff have consistently high expectations of all students and generate high levels of enthusiasm for participation in, and commitment to learning.

Our staff are integral to maintaining our passion and high-performance levels, and we reward our staff for this. Our benefits are designed to encourage a healthy work-life balance, and include:

• 27 daysannual leave (pro-rata of fractional) including the option to purchase additional holiday days;
• Christmas Closure of up to 2 weeks in addition to annual leave entitlement;
• Access to a wealth of training, apprenticeships and funded higher education opportunities as well as dedicated training days;
• Local Government Pension Scheme Employer pension contributions of 15.1%;
• Hybrid and flexible working patterns: (further details below)
• Subsidised fitness suite facility, onsite hair and beauty salon, access to a wide range of catering facilities, outdoor gym and free eyesight tests;
• Major supermarket and high street employee discount schemes;
• Life Assurance (if member of pension scheme);
• On Site Nursery (Mama Bears);
• Employee Assistance Programmes;
• Access to Blue Light Card membership;
• Discounted travel schemes.

A hybrid working arrangement may be offered to the successful candidate, allowing for up to one day per week working from home. Additional flexibility is available during non-term time, when more homeworking is possible. Please note that flexibility around hybrid working will be required, as attendance at in-person events is an essential part of the role.

Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 11 th October 2026

Interview Date: Tuesday 20 th October 2026

Having read the job description, should you have any questions relating to the role prior to applying, please contact Laura Chatterton, Head of Marketing via email at laurachatterton@southdevon.ac.uk .

We offer hybrid and flexible working patterns and welcome applications from people who wish to apply using these options.

Please note that you will be required to be in possession of an Enhanced DBS Certificate or be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as a condition of employment at the College.

This College is committed to Safeguarding/Prevent and promoting the welfare of students, including children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The College is committed to applying its Single Equality Scheme at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, transgender status, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion/belief, age, pregnancy or maternity leave, or union membership.

Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate the particular needs of any candidate who has notified us of a disability. This may include changing the timing or location of any interview to enable the candidate to attend, providing information in different formats or larger type, etc.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare any cautions, convictions, reprimands and final warnings that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).