At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Starling's social media strategy and build vibrant online communities.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Starling Bank during an exciting growth phase.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and wellness perks.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace that values your unique perspective.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social media in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading social teams and understanding audience needs.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We’re hiring a Head of Social Media to join our Marketing team during a pivotal new phase of growth. You’ll shape Starling’s social strategy across multiple platforms as we launch our new brand platform with major above and below-the-line advertising.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Oversight & Channel Ownership: Own overarching strategy for Starling’s social presence, defining role of each channel, ensuring cohesive visual and tonal “umbrella” across digital footprint.
- Own Content Output: Build and scale “Content Franchises” and solid talent/creator strategy in high-value formats across TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn to achieve funnel objectives.
- Optimise for GEO & AI Discoverability: Structure content to win in Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), making Starling primary source for AI-driven financial queries and social search.
- Community Architecture: Move from “managing comments” to building communities by empowering advocates within Reddit, Discord, and niche financial circles.
- Lead & Inspire: Mentor a high-octane team of creators and platform specialists, fostering a social-first culture.
- Cultural Reactivity: Lead proactive influencer partnerships and high-speed reactive content, inserting Starling into cultural conversation with wit, empathy, and flair.
- Cross-Functional Synergy: Work with Product, Brand, Data teams to ensure social strategy feeds into feature development and customer communication.
- Paid Social Extensions: Collaborate with growth team to adapt and scale organic social assets into high-performing paid social assets.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with customer service, product marketing and corporate affairs to spot opportunities and react with proactive cut‑through ideas.
Qualifications
- Modern Track Record: Proven experience leading social teams in high-growth, community-first environments.
- Audience Understanding: Ability to identify audience needs/interests and source talent/creators aligned with tone of voice and brand narrative.
- Algorithm & AI Literacy: Intuitive understanding of platform algorithms, GEO, and LLMs for content surface.
- Creative Intuition: Ability to brief/green‑light native content, moving beyond memes and reactive trends.
- Risk & Compliance: Appetite to learn and ensure approvals and audit trails honour compliance, avoiding financial promotions risks.
- Data-Driven Rigor: Expert use of Sprout, native analytics, social listening tools to prove ROI and pivot strategy in real-time.
- Niche Navigator: Experience identifying and accessing fragmented audiences, treating the mass market as numerous specific niches.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday (plus public holiday allowance).
- Extra day for your birthday.
- Annual leave increases with length of service; buy/sell up to five extra days.
- 16 hours paid volunteering time a year.
- Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme.
- Life insurance at 4× your salary.
- Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care; partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton.
- Generous family-friendly policies.
- Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks.
- Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work and Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Head of Social Media in England employer: Starling Bank
Starling Bank is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where creativity and innovation thrive. As the Head of Social Media, you'll be at the forefront of shaping our brand's digital presence, supported by a culture that values collaboration and community-building. With generous benefits including 25 days of holiday, private medical insurance, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Starling provides ample opportunities for personal and professional growth in a rapidly evolving industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Social Media in England
✨Tip Number 1
Get your social media game on point! Before you even step into an interview, make sure your own social profiles reflect the skills and creativity you’d bring to the Head of Social Media role. Show us how you can engage and grow a community!
✨Tip Number 2
Do your homework on Starling! Familiarise yourself with our brand voice and recent campaigns. When you know what we’re about, you can tailor your ideas to fit seamlessly into our strategy, making it clear you’re the perfect fit for the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn, and don’t hesitate to reach out for insights about the company culture. This can give you a leg up in understanding how to position yourself during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and ready to dive into the Starling experience.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Social Media in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Media:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for social media shine through! We want to see how you can bring your unique voice and creativity to our team. Share examples of your past work that demonstrate your love for building communities and engaging audiences.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to fit the Head of Social Media role. Highlight your experience with different platforms and how you've successfully shaped social strategies in the past. We’re looking for someone who understands our brand and can align their vision with ours!
Be Data-Driven:We love numbers! In your application, mention any tools or analytics you've used to measure success in your previous roles. Show us how you've used data to inform your strategies and drive results. This will help us see your analytical side and how you can contribute to our growth.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we appreciate a professional tone, don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your writing. We want to get to know the real you! Share your thoughts on current trends or cultural moments that resonate with you, and how you would leverage them for Starling's social presence.
How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank
✨Know Your Platforms
Before the interview, dive deep into the social media platforms relevant to the role. Understand their unique features, audience demographics, and how they can be leveraged for Starling’s brand strategy. This knowledge will show your passion and readiness to take ownership of the social presence.
✨Showcase Your Creative Strategy
Prepare to discuss specific content franchises you've built or scaled in previous roles. Bring examples that highlight your ability to create engaging content tailored for TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. This will demonstrate your creative intuition and understanding of high-value formats.
✨Emphasise Community Building
Be ready to talk about your experience in building communities rather than just managing comments. Share strategies you've used to empower advocates on platforms like Reddit and Discord, showcasing your ability to foster a social-first culture.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Highlight your expertise in using analytics tools like Sprout and native insights to drive social strategy. Prepare to discuss how you've used data to prove ROI and pivot strategies in real-time, aligning with Starling's focus on data-driven rigor.
