At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead advertising strategy, connect teams, and drive operational excellence for impactful ad campaigns.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company focused on innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, work-from-abroad options, and generous learning budgets.
- Other info: Embrace a hybrid work model with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of advertising while making a real difference in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in ad tech, team leadership, and commercial strategy required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
As Head of Ads Strategy & Operations you will help connect ad sales, product development, operations and client delivery to ensure Trainline Advertising scales with clarity, consistency and commercial impact. You will shape go‑to‑market plans, support the development and commercialisation of new ad propositions, lead operational excellence, and build high‑performing teams across Ads Strategy, Account Management and Operations.
Responsibilities
- Support the Ads Proposition Strategy Lead in shaping go‑to‑market strategy, helping ensure Trainline Advertising develops compelling propositions that meet advertiser needs and create differentiation in the market.
- Develop sales enablement materials, including narratives, playbooks, training decks and communication plans, to equip Ad Sales teams with clear and commercially effective messaging.
- Partner closely with sales leadership to strengthen pipeline visibility, forecast accuracy and conversion, helping unblock demand and support delivery against commercial targets.
- Set and evolve operational standards for ad delivery, measurement, quality, reliability and service levels across direct and programmatic campaigns.
- Lead and develop the Operations and Client Success teams, setting clear priorities, ways of working and development plans that enable the function to scale sustainably.
- Shape the strategy for the ad tech stack, including Google Ad Manager, SSPs, DSPs, consent frameworks and measurement tools, ensuring the platform remains resilient and fit for future growth.
- Own key ad tech partner relationships, including performance, costs and commercial negotiations, while working with teams to maintain a privacy‑first approach across GDPR, TCF v2.0 and evolving frameworks.
- Drive client retention and growth by ensuring strong post‑sale delivery, proactive account management, campaign optimisation, reporting, renewals and insight‑led client conversations.
Qualifications
- Significant experience in retail media, digital publishing, ad tech or platform advertising, with a track record of helping scale a business beyond its early stage.
- Experience leading teams across a broad remit, ideally including commercial strategy, account management, client success and ad operations.
- Strong commercial judgement, with experience supporting revenue growth, margin improvement, pricing, yield, pipeline discipline and senior leadership reporting.
- A strong understanding of the ad tech ecosystem, including Google Ad Manager, SSPs, DSPs and programmatic delivery models, with the confidence to set direction and challenge detail.
- Good knowledge of privacy‑first advertising, consent management and relevant frameworks such as GDPR and TCF v2.0.
- Experience building operational rigour, scalable processes, documentation and resilience into a growing business.
- Confidence operating in ambiguity, creating clarity for others and influencing outcomes across teams where you may not hold direct authority.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate between technical and commercial audiences and influence product, sales and operational priorities.
Benefits and Working Arrangements
Enjoy private healthcare and dental insurance, a generous work‑from‑abroad policy, share purchase plans, an electric vehicle scheme, extra festive time off, and family‑friendly benefits. We prioritise career growth with clear career paths, transparent pay bands, personal learning budgets, and regular learning days. We operate a hybrid model and ask that employees work from the office at least 60 % of the time over a 12‑week period, and we also have a 28‑day work‑from‑abroad policy.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We know that having a diverse team makes us better and helps us succeed. We include all forms of diversity—gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, nationality, and diversity of thought—and we are committed to creating inclusive places to work where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated.
Head of Advertising Strategy & Operations in London employer: Trainline plc
Trainline Advertising is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, prioritising employee growth through clear career paths and personal learning budgets. With benefits like private healthcare, a generous work-from-abroad policy, and a commitment to diversity, we empower our teams to thrive while making a significant impact in the advertising landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Advertising Strategy & Operations in London
✨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 Trainline 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 Trainline plc are looking for.
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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 Trainline 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 Trainline plc. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Advertising Strategy & Operations in London
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 Trainline 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 Trainline plc:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Trainline 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 Trainline 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 Trainline 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 Trainline 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.
