At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead performance marketing strategy for small businesses, driving customer growth and revenue.
- Company: Join Sage, a leader in tech solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Benefits: Enjoy comprehensive health coverage, flexible work patterns, and paid volunteer days.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional development and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on small businesses while leveraging cutting-edge AI technology.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and deep digital marketing expertise required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Marketing Director, Small Business is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and delivering performance marketing strategy for Sage's Small Business segment across the UK and Ireland. You will own the Winning in Small strategy, driving customer acquisition, lifecycle growth, and Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) through direct digital channels, accountants, and embedded accounting ecosystems. This role combines deep performance marketing expertise with commercial leadership. You will oversee full-funnel acquisition and lifecycle programmes, lead a large multi-disciplinary team, and work cross-functionally with Brand, Web, Product, Sales, Finance, and Technology to ensure marketing investment delivers sustainable growth, strong ROI, and long-term customer value. As a senior leader within the Performance Marketing organisation, you will shape strategy, influence at executive level, and embed a high‑performance, AI‑enabled culture.
Responsibilities
- Owning acquisition strategy across direct digital, accountant‑led, and embedded channels, ensuring sustained customer growth and marketing‑sourced revenue.
- Forecasting, managing, and reporting on acquisition and lifecycle performance, with ownership of large budgets and clear accountability for ROI.
- Leading full‑funnel optimisation across awareness, conversion, retention, cross‑sell, and up‑sell, embedding test‑and‑learn principles throughout planning and execution.
- Owning paid media strategy at scale (PPC, Paid Social, Display, Affiliates, Programmatic), ensuring continual optimisation and commercial impact.
- Running a cross‑functional trading and ecommerce cadence to deliver monthly unit and ARR targets, optimising digital storefronts for conversion and revenue growth.
- Connecting brand and demand investment into a single, unified strategy that maximises impact across channels.
- Leading quarterly and annual performance planning, including scenario modelling, investment recommendations, and growth forecasts.
- Driving lifecycle marketing strategies that maximise customer engagement, retention, and lifetime value across direct and indirect channels.
- Leveraging AI and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, speed, and performance across marketing execution and decision‑making.
- Acting as a senior leader within Performance Marketing, coaching leaders, influencing peers, and embedding a high‑performance culture.
Qualifications
- We are looking for a commercially minded, performance‑driven marketing leader with strong people leadership skills and deep digital expertise.
- Experience in demand generation or performance marketing, ideally within small business, accounting, or SaaS environments.
- Experience leading large, multi‑disciplinary teams and influencing cross‑functional stakeholders toward shared commercial goals.
- Proven experience leading digital acquisition strategies at scale within high‑growth or ecommerce‑led organisations.
- Deep expertise across paid media channels and performance marketing optimisation.
- Strong ecommerce trading experience, with a track record of delivering customer growth, ARR, and ROI.
- Demonstrated ability to forecast, budget, and manage large‑scale marketing investment with commercial rigour.
- Experience driving lifecycle marketing, including retention, cross‑sell, and up‑sell strategies to support ARR objectives.
- Knowledge of indirect models, including accountant and partner‑led growth.
- AI fluency, with practical experience using modern tools to increase speed, efficiency, and performance.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with confidence influencing at senior and executive level.
- A data‑driven mindset, able to translate complex performance data into clear insights and actions.
Working at Sage means you're supporting millions of small and medium‑sized businesses globally with technology to work faster and smarter. We leverage the future of AI, meaning business owners spend less time doing routine tasks, like entering invoices and generating reports, and more time pursuing their ambitions.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage
- Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year
- On‑going training and professional development
- Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation
- Flexible work patterns and hybrid working
Marketing Director, Small Business in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: The Sage Group plc
Sage is an exceptional employer that empowers its employees to drive meaningful impact for small and medium-sized businesses across the UK and Ireland. With a strong focus on professional development, flexible working patterns, and a culture that embraces AI-driven innovation, Sage offers a dynamic environment where marketing leaders can thrive. Employees benefit from comprehensive health coverage, generous volunteer days, and the opportunity to work remotely for up to 10 weeks a year, making it an attractive place for those seeking a rewarding career in performance marketing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Marketing Director, Small Business in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for The Sage Group plc and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like The Sage Group plc are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with The Sage Group plc on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at The Sage Group plc. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Marketing Director, Small Business in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit The Sage Group plc. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of The Sage Group plc:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about The Sage Group plc’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Sage Group plc
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at The Sage Group plc will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At The Sage Group plc, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
