Brand & Marketing Director - Hospitality and Leisure

Brand & Marketing Director - Hospitality and Leisure

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) Home office (partial)
The Growth Foundation

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead brand strategy and marketing for a top UK hospitality brand.
  • Company: Join a well-known, experience-driven hospitality and leisure brand.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and opportunities for travel.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on creativity and commercial growth.
  • Why this job: Shape how millions discover and remember a beloved British brand.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in brand marketing and team leadership.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

About our client

Our client is one of the UK's best-known Hospitality and Leisure brands, operating a national network of experience-led locations. It's a business with strong brand awareness, genuine emotional equity and a product people remember.

The opportunity

This is a senior role with real scope to shape how the brand is seen, talked about and bought. You'll bring together what customers want, what the business can deliver and where the market is heading, and turn that into marketing that drives growth.

What you'll lead

  • Brand strategy & guardianship: Senior custodian of a distinctive, trusted, commercially effective brand. Set the principles for how the brand shows up across every customer touchpoint, from campaigns and CRM through to signage, merchandise and on-site materials.
  • Always-on marketing, campaigns, creative & content: Move the business beyond isolated "summer campaign / autumn campaign" thinking into a year-round rhythm. Build a stronger in-house content and creative engine across social, paid creative, UGC, video, photography and PR. Raise the bar on briefs, output and post-activity learning.
  • Organic social, influencer, PR & partnerships: Own organic social strategy and earned reach. Develop creator, influencer and partnership-led activity that grows relevance and demand without leaning solely on paid. Connect national brand-building to local site-level relevance.
  • Paid acquisition & demand generation: Lead paid acquisition strategy in partnership with internal specialists and selective external partners. Work closely with the Customer & Sales Director, e-commerce, SEO/GEO and data teams to ensure paid activity ladders into conversion and commercial performance.
  • Proposition & experience influence: Bring the brand, customer and market lens into product, proposition and experience decisions. Influence naming, hierarchy, messaging, launch planning and on-site experience so products are not only operationally sound but compelling enough to market and easy enough to choose.
  • Commercial growth & non-ticket revenue: Use brand, content and channel activity to support merchandise, gifting, events, B2B and corporate revenue streams.
  • Team leadership: Lead, focus and develop a 12-person Brand & Marketing team. Build a culture of pace, creativity, accountability and commercial awareness. Use agencies selectively, where they add genuine specialist edge.
  • Executive contribution: Operate as a senior leader, contributing to strategic discussions across brand, customer, product, trading and growth. Provide clear recommendations, not just updates.

What success looks like

  • At 3 months: Trust built with the executive and site leaders, time spent in locations experiencing the product, a clear view of what's working and where the biggest opportunities sit, and a practical plan for the next trading cycle.
  • At 6 months: A more connected brand, content and marketing engine; sharper creative standards; a clearer, more confident in-house team; and a healthier connection between brand activity, demand and trading outcomes.
  • At 12 months: A more distinctive, modern and commercially effective Brand & Marketing function; stronger relevance with growth audiences (young adults, groups, families, gifting, corporate); and a 2027 plan built on brand, product, customer insight and operational delivery working as one.

About you

You're an experienced consumer brand marketing leader who knows how to build distinctive brand energy, create compelling content, grow earned and paid demand, and connect creative work to commercial outcomes. You could be an established Brand & Marketing Director, or a high-performing Head of Brand or Head of Marketing ready for a broader director-level remit.

Essential

  • Senior brand marketing leadership experience in a consumer-facing business
  • Strong track record across always-on marketing, campaigns, creative and content
  • Experience leading or strongly influencing organic social, PR, influencer, partnerships and earned media
  • Solid understanding of paid acquisition, performance marketing, digital, CRM, e-commerce and SEO/GEO, even if you haven't owned every channel directly
  • Experience leading and developing internal teams, and managing external partners without becoming dependent on them
  • Ability to influence product, proposition and customer experience decisions through a brand and customer lens
  • Strong commercial awareness and the confidence to challenge constructively across functions
  • Excellent written, verbal and visual judgement

Helpful

  • Experience in leisure, hospitality, travel, tourism, entertainment, attractions, sports, active lifestyle, retail, subscription, family, youth, outdoor or other experience-led consumer brands.
  • Multi-site or location-led experience.
  • Seasonal trading.
  • Merchandise, branded environments or physical touchpoints.
  • B2B, groups or corporate alongside B2C.
  • Entrepreneurial, founder-led or purpose-driven environments.

You as a person

Creative but commercially grounded. High energy, positive and collaborative. A genuine people leader. Strong enough to challenge Operations, Customer & Sales and Trading without creating friction. Customer-obsessed and brand-sensitive. Comfortable moving between annual brand strategy and the detail of merchandise, signage or campaign copy. Pragmatic, hands-on, non-corporate, and genuinely energised by the outdoors and adventure. Willing to get out into the business, experience the product and spend real time with site teams and customers.

Why this role

A rare chance to lead the brand marketing agenda for a loved British brand. You'll shape how millions of customers discover and remember the experience, lead a talented in-house team, and play a central role in the business's next phase of growth.

Our client is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Applications are welcomed from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair and accessible to all, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every applicant individually. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of submitting your application, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. We appreciate the time and effort taken to apply and wish you every success in your search.

Remote with regular UK travel to sites

Reports to: Managing Director

Compensation: Competitive base + performance bonus (LTIP planned launch Jan 2027)

Brand & Marketing Director - Hospitality and Leisure employer: The Growth Foundation

Our client is a leading name in the UK's Hospitality and Leisure sector, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and innovation. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have the opportunity to lead a talented team while shaping a beloved brand that resonates with millions. The company promotes a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, making it an exceptional place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.

The Growth Foundation

Contact Detail:

The Growth Foundation Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Brand & Marketing Director - Hospitality and Leisure

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the hospitality and leisure 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 your dream job!

Tip Number 2

Show off your personality! When you get the chance to meet hiring managers or team members, let your passion for brand marketing shine through. Share your ideas and experiences that align with their vision. Remember, they’re looking for someone who fits into their culture as much as their skill set.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s brand and marketing strategies. Know their campaigns, understand their audience, and think about how you can contribute to their growth. This will not only impress them but also help you feel more confident during the conversation.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up! After an interview or networking event, shoot a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It’s a simple gesture that keeps you on their radar and shows you’re genuinely interested in the role. Plus, it’s a great way to reiterate your enthusiasm for the position!

We think you need these skills to ace Brand & Marketing Director - Hospitality and Leisure

Brand Strategy
Marketing Leadership
Campaign Management
Content Creation
Organic Social Strategy
Public Relations
Influencer Marketing

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Brand Passion:When you're writing your application, let your love for brand marketing shine through! Share specific examples of how you've shaped brand strategies in the past and how you can bring that energy to our client’s hospitality and leisure brand.

Tailor Your Content:Make sure your application speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience with always-on marketing, campaigns, and content creation. We want to see how your skills align with what our client is looking for!

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who follow the process!

How to prepare for a job interview at The Growth Foundation

Know the Brand Inside Out

Before your interview, dive deep into the brand's history, values, and current marketing strategies. Understand what makes it tick and how it connects with its audience. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how you can enhance its presence.

Prepare Your Success Stories

Think of specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your leadership in brand strategy, campaign execution, and team development. Be ready to discuss how these experiences can translate into success for the company, especially in driving growth and enhancing customer engagement.

Showcase Your Creative Thinking

This role requires a blend of creativity and commercial awareness. Prepare to share innovative ideas for year-round marketing campaigns or content strategies that could elevate the brand. Think about how you can leverage organic social and partnerships to create buzz without solely relying on paid media.

Ask Insightful Questions

Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the brand's challenges and opportunities. Inquire about their vision for the future, how they measure success, and what they see as the biggest hurdles in connecting with their target audiences.