Marketing Director

Marketing Director

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
The Times

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic marketing team to drive subscriber growth for iconic news brands.
  • Company: Join News UK, a leading media business with a passion for storytelling.
  • Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, gym discounts, generous leave, and training opportunities.
  • Other info: Embrace a hybrid work model and be part of a diverse, inclusive culture.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of journalism while making a real impact on audience engagement.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in growth marketing and strong analytical skills required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Your team: Lead the marketing team behind one of the world’s most iconic and trusted news brands, The Times and The Sunday Times. At a pivotal moment in the evolution of subscription media, marketing sits at the heart of our commercial strategy and long-term growth ambition. You’ll lead a high-performing, collaborative team operating in a fast-paced publishing environment where data, storytelling, audience insight and creativity come together to drive meaningful subscriber growth. Working closely with product, editorial, data and commercial teams, you’ll help shape how millions of readers discover, engage with and subscribe to some of the most influential journalism in the world.

Your role: We’re looking for a senior growth marketer to lead audience and subscriber growth across our digital portfolio. This is a high-impact role for an ambitious, commercially-minded marketer who thrives on combining analytical thinking with creative execution. You will own the brand marketing, performance marketing and lifecycle and engagement strategy, ensuring investment is optimised against subscriber growth, retention and revenue targets. You’ll play a critical role in scaling our subscriber base through sophisticated audience segmentation, customer messaging and performance optimisation.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future growth of an iconic media brand - balancing commercial performance with the responsibility that comes from growing a trusted journalism business with national influence. Reporting into the General Manager, you’ll have visibility across the organisation and the autonomy to influence strategy at scale.

Day to day you will:

  • Develop and execute growth strategies that scale subscriber acquisition while strengthening long-term customer value and engagement.
  • Lead brand marketing initiatives that strengthen awareness, consideration and affinity for one of the world’s most iconic news brands, ensuring performance activity and long-term brand building work together to drive sustainable subscriber growth.
  • Own and manage marketing budget allocation across acquisition, retention and audience growth channels, maximising efficiency and return on investment.
  • Lead audience segmentation and targeting strategies using behavioural, demographic and first-party data insights.
  • Identify opportunities for base growth across digital channels, partnerships, content distribution and lifecycle marketing.
  • Drive channel performance across paid social, search, display, affiliates, CRM and emerging acquisition platforms.
  • Build rigorous testing and optimisation frameworks to improve conversion, engagement and retention across the subscriber journey.
  • Translate marketing performance data into clear commercial recommendations and actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
  • Partner closely with editorial, product and analytics teams to align audience growth opportunities with content strategy and reader experience.
  • Monitor attribution, incrementality and marketing effectiveness to ensure investment decisions are commercially sound and data-led.
  • Champion a culture of experimentation, continuous learning and growth-focused decision making across the wider business.

What we’re looking for from you:

  • Significant experience in a growth marketing leadership role within a subscription, digital consumer or media business.
  • Proven ownership of sizeable marketing budgets and multi-channel investment strategies.
  • Strong understanding of audience segmentation, customer lifecycle management and subscriber growth dynamics.
  • A data-driven mindset with the ability to turn complex performance insights into clear strategic action.
  • Experience driving measurable acquisition and retention growth through testing, optimisation and experimentation.
  • Commercial acumen combined with creative thinking and strong consumer intuition.
  • Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and collaborating cross-functionally across editorial, product and commercial teams.
  • A passion for journalism, storytelling and building meaningful relationships with audiences at scale.

At News UK, we embrace a hybrid work model, currently requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. This approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and team spirit within our workspace.

We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know. You can contact us at careers@news.co.uk to discuss how we can support you to perform at your best.

Marketing Director employer: The Times

At News UK, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is reflected in our extensive training opportunities, vibrant employee-led networks, and a hybrid work model that fosters innovation and teamwork. With competitive benefits such as private medical insurance, generous leave policies, and access to exclusive events, we empower our employees to thrive while contributing to the future of trusted journalism.

The Times

Contact Details:

The Times Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Marketing Director

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 Times 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 Times 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 Times 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 Times. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!

We think you need these skills to ace Marketing Director

Growth Marketing
Audience Segmentation
Subscriber Acquisition
Customer Lifecycle Management
Data-Driven Decision Making
Performance Optimisation
Budget Management

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 Times. 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 Times:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about The Times’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 Times

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 Times 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 Times, 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.