At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead marketing strategies to drive growth and enhance passenger experiences.
- Company: Join one of Britain's busiest train operators at Southeastern.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, free rail travel, and 25 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Shape the future of rail travel and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in marketing with a focus on revenue growth.
- Other info: Hybrid working model and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 74000 ÂŁ per year.
Are you motivated by the opportunity to drive commercial growth and bring fresh ideas to one of the busiest rail networks in the country? We are seeking a Head of Marketing to join our team based at our Head Office in London Bridge (hybrid working – 3 days on site). As the first Train Operator to integrate track and train under a single leadership team, there has never been a more exciting time to come aboard and help shape the way passengers experience our railway as we journey together towards Great British Railways. Can you move people? Apply now.
What You’ll Do
In this role, you will lead Southeastern’s Marketing function with a clear purpose: to deliver commercial growth by developing and executing an insight‑driven marketing strategy that brings more people to rail and increases revenue across our network. You will take ownership of our full marketing approach, using data, research and audience insight to promote rail travel, drive demand and create a unified, compelling brand experience for our customers. Working as part of the Commercial Senior Leadership Team, you will play a key role in supporting the wider business plan and shaping the strategies that underpin our commercial ambitions.
- Set the marketing direction for Southeastern, defining an annual strategy aligned with revenue targets and wider business priorities.
- Lead, motivate and develop a high‑performing marketing team, as well as our media and creative agency partners.
- Use the full marketing mix, including digital, CRM, PPC, SEO and multichannel campaigns to unlock commercial growth and maximise ROI.
- Oversee the marketing budget and ensure every activity delivers measurable value.
- Drive innovation across the network, seeking new opportunities with brands, partners and communities.
- Ensure consistent branding, unified messaging and strong collaboration with Communications to maximise reach.
- Represent Southeastern within industry groups and work closely with other train operators and the Department for Transport.
The Experience You’ll Need
To be considered for this role, we recommend you demonstrate the following in your application:
- You lead with inspiration, motivating multi‑discipline teams to deliver great things.
- You are commercially minded with a clear understanding of how marketing drives revenue and ROI.
- You’re a strategic thinker using research, data and insight to create compelling marketing narratives.
- You bring creative judgement with experience delivering standout campaigns.
- You’re digitally fluent with excellent knowledge of multi‑channel, online and CRM activity.
- You’re an effective communicator and persuasive influencer.
- You’re proactive, innovative, and always looking for what‑if? opportunities.
- You have confident project and people leadership skills.
- A degree or qualification in business/marketing (or equivalent experience).
As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role.
Other Things To Know
This vacancy may close early if we receive a large number of applications. So, make sure you get yours in early. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre‑employment medical assessment. Work visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role. If you applied but weren’t successful in getting a similar role at Southeastern, please wait six months before applying again.
What You’ll Get In Return
Along with your salary, the rewards you’ll get include:
- A final salary pension
- 25 days annual leave allowance (plus bank holidays)
- Free rail travel across our networks.
Meaning you can feel secure in your career as well as fulfilled by your work.
A Bit About Southeast
We’re one of Britain’s busiest train operators, serving London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. We run over 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 500,000 passengers and serving 180 stations. However, working on our railway is more than getting passengers from A to B. It’s about all the little moments that make a difference to their journey. It’s also about making our railway a great place to work. With a team that represents the communities we serve, we are fully committed to our people and proud to have been named a Great Place to Work at the 2023 National Rail Awards and endorsed as a WORK180 Employer for Women. Our ways of working are what we expect of everyone at Southeastern. They are powerful. Tiny moments, every day, from every one of us, add up to massive, positive change. Improving how it feels to work here and how it feels to travel with us. At the heart of everything we do, our Safeguarding Team works to keep our customers, colleagues and the public safe by improving safeguarding measures and knowledge, making sure everyone gets home safe, every day.
Head of Marketing employer: The Carp Society
Contact Detail:
The Carp Society Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Marketing
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Southeastern. A friendly chat can open doors!
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for rail! When you get the chance to speak with recruiters or during interviews, share your enthusiasm for the railway industry and how you can contribute to its growth. Let them see that you’re not just looking for a job, but a chance to make a real impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Research common marketing scenarios and think about how you’d tackle them. Use data-driven examples from your past experiences to showcase your strategic thinking and creativity.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to 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 at Southeastern. So, what are you waiting for? Get that application in!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Marketing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how motivated you are to drive commercial growth and bring fresh ideas to our railway. Make it personal and relatable!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in marketing and leadership. We’re looking for someone who can inspire teams and deliver standout campaigns, so be specific about your achievements and how they align with what we do at Southeastern.
Be Data-Driven: Since we value insight-driven strategies, don’t forget to mention your experience with data and research. Show us how you've used these tools to create compelling marketing narratives that drive revenue and ROI.
Apply Early!: We might close the vacancy early if we get a lot of applications, so don’t wait around! Head over to our careers page and submit your application as soon as you can. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Carp Society
✨Know Your Marketing Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the marketing strategies that have worked for Southeastern and similar companies. Be ready to discuss how you would develop an insight-driven marketing strategy that aligns with their revenue targets and business priorities.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led and motivated multi-discipline teams in the past. Highlight specific campaigns where your leadership made a difference, as this role requires inspiring others to deliver great results.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with key metrics that drive marketing success. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data and audience insights to create compelling narratives and campaigns that have unlocked commercial growth.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice articulating your ideas clearly and persuasively. This role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, so demonstrating your effective communication skills will be crucial during the interview.