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 team committed to inclusion and community.
- Why this job: Shape the future of social media in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in social media leadership and audience engagement.
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 Whitehall 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 Whitehall
✨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 engage with audiences and create compelling content.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees or industry peers on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences at Starling and share your passion for social media. This can give you insider knowledge and might just help you stand out in the hiring process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your strategic thinking! Be ready to discuss how you would approach building communities and optimising content for different platforms. We want to see your vision for Starling’s social strategy and how you’d lead our team to success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our exciting growth phase.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Social Media in Whitehall
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 with 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 the nuances of each channel, so don’t hold back on those details!
Be Data-Driven:We love a good story, but we also want to see the numbers behind your successes. Include metrics and data that showcase your impact in previous roles. Whether it’s engagement rates or community growth, show us how you’ve used data to inform your strategies and drive results.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we appreciate a friendly tone, remember to keep your application professional. Use clear language and structure your thoughts well. We want to get to know you, so feel free to inject some personality, but make sure it aligns with our brand's voice and values. And don’t forget to apply through our website!
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 Content Strategy
Prepare examples of successful content franchises you've built or scaled in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you optimised content for different platforms and audiences, especially focusing on high-value formats like TikTok and YouTube. This will demonstrate your ability to drive engagement and achieve funnel objectives.
✨Emphasise Community Building
Think about how you've previously moved beyond just managing comments to actually building communities. Share specific strategies you've used to empower advocates and foster engagement within niche circles, such as Reddit or Discord. This will highlight your understanding of community architecture and cultural reactivity.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Be prepared to discuss how you've used analytics tools to inform your social strategy. Bring examples of how you've proven ROI and pivoted strategies based on data insights. This will showcase your data-driven rigor and ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.
