At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead brand strategies for iconic music acts and create innovative merchandise experiences.
- Company: Join Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical insurance, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of music brands and connect artists with fans globally.
- Qualifications: Proven brand management experience and a passion for music and creativity.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Music is Universal. It’s the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world’s leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does. Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation. We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles.
The A Side: A Day in The Life
UMUK Merchandise is a fast‑growing music merchandise department and a key, foundational part of the business, connecting artists and fans through innovative products and experiences. The team works closely with both new and established clients to acquire and actively promote merchandise rights for UMUK‑signed music acts, while creating tailored products and marketing plans for each. The business unit oversees the design and ideation of merchandise and manages a portfolio of artists, providing a broad scope of services across eCommerce, tour, VIP, Fan Clubs, licensing, and retail. This is a fast‑paced role overseeing merchandise strategies across UMUK’s label roster.
UMUK is currently looking for a Senior Brand Manager to oversee a number of the UK Label’s music brands. This individual will work with the unique needs and challenges of our clients to deliver full‑service support across a variety of categories, including strategic planning, brand development, consumer marketing and creative development. The successful candidate will act as the central owner of the brands and work cross‑functionally with sales, tour, licensing, direct‑to‑consumer and operations teams to develop creative plans and ensure they are executed flawlessly across the globe.
The B Side: Skills & Experience
- Be Managerial
- Define vision, mission, goals and strategy for each brand
- Develop a global brand building and marketing plan that fits with the client/brand vision
- Work closely with artist and their management to develop merchandising strategies resulting in best revenue opportunities
- Awareness of the brand’s P&L and how your strategy can drive revenue
- Work with label, tour dept, sales and direct-to-consumer teams to develop integrated product/marketing campaigns around artists
- Develop and execute non‑traditional marketing campaigns around artist merchandise
- Monitor and analyse business metrics in order to optimise product line and maximise commercial opportunity
- Work closely with Tour, Sales, Licensing, D2C and touring departments to develop product lines and ensure artist strategy is executed
- Develop artist brand standards and usage guidelines
- Oversee the development of existing and potential client presentation materials
- Regularly present results (both financial and creative) back to Label commercial leads and wider team
- Be Organised
- Ensure campaigns and strategies are executed to the highest standards globally
- Oversee the management of the product portfolio for each brand including product development, creative identity, style guides and internal approvals
- Obtain and expedite all approvals required from artist
- Be Creative
- Oversee development of creative materials for artist roster
- Develop and test new product concepts
- Ensure all materials are consistent with strategy, on time and within budget, legally compliant
Person Specification
- Necessary
- Demonstrate capability driving brand growth and brand equity with smart and creative marketing plans
- Experience working cross functionally to drive brand and product initiatives from concept to execution
- A demonstrable ability of brand management specifically developing always on or evergreen and merchandise ranges
- Proven track record of consumer engagement planning, innovative thinking, program development and execution
- A strategic approach to brand building programs
- Overall leadership and management of brand growth through sound strategic thinking and excellence in execution
- Awareness and interest in current fashion trends and styles
- Interest in music, especially pop/classic rock/urban
- Knowledge of delivering memorable brand experiences, social media campaigns, advertising campaigns, media Planning and brand tracking tools
- Experience in multi‑cultural marketing
- Foster and develop a strong partnership with the client
- Strong experience with brand planning and marketing support
- Experience in managing innovation and new product development
- Experience coaching employees and being coached
- Experience in owning and tracking P&L and budget items with emphasis on ROI
- Independent self‑starter, flexible, comfortable working in unstructured environment, and able to manage multiple priorities effortlessly
- Excellent communication skills verbal/written, meetings and presentations
- Team player with collaborative style and good listening skills
- Proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
About UMG UK
We are Universal Music Group UK – the UK’s leading music‑based entertainment company. We exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. We help UK artists produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to inspire and entertain fans at home and around the world.
Bonus Tracks: Your Benefits
- Group Personal Pension Scheme (between 3% and 9%)
- Private Medical Insurance
- 25 paid days of annual leave
- Interest Free Season Ticket Loan
- Holiday Purchase scheme
- Dental and Travel Insurance options
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Salary Sacrifice Cars
- Subsidised Gym Membership
- Employee Discounts (Reward Gateway)
Just So You Know… The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.
Senior Brand Manager employer: Universal Music Group UK
At Universal Music Group UK, we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and inclusive employer that champions creativity and innovation in the music industry. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and personal growth, offering extensive benefits such as a generous pension scheme, private medical insurance, and opportunities for professional development. Located in the heart of the UK's music scene, we provide our employees with unique experiences and the chance to work with some of the most iconic artists in the world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Brand Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the music industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for music! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your enthusiasm shine through. Share your favourite artists, recent concerts you've attended, or even your thoughts on current trends in the industry. It’ll make you memorable!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its artists. Know their latest releases, marketing strategies, and any unique merchandise they’ve launched. This will show that you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talent that fits our vibe. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. So, what are you waiting for? Get applying!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Brand Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Music:When you're writing your application, let your love for music shine through! Mention specific artists or genres that inspire you and how they relate to your vision for the role. We want to see that you’re not just a fit for the job, but also a fit for our vibrant music culture.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in brand management and marketing. Use examples that showcase your ability to drive brand growth and engage consumers. We’re looking for someone who can connect the dots between strategy and execution, so be clear about your achievements!
Be Creative and Authentic:Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. Share your creative ideas or past campaigns that you’ve worked on. We value innovative thinking, so show us how you can bring fresh perspectives to our team!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Universal Music Group UK
✨Know Your Brands
Before the interview, dive deep into the brands you'll be managing. Understand their history, current market position, and unique selling points. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion for the role and show that you're ready to take on the challenge of driving brand growth.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare examples of innovative marketing campaigns you've developed in the past. Think about how you can apply similar creative strategies to the brands at Universal Music. Being able to articulate your thought process behind these ideas will impress the interviewers.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators relevant to brand management. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to optimise product lines or marketing strategies in previous roles. This shows that you can balance creativity with analytical thinking, which is crucial for a Senior Brand Manager.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working cross-functionally, prepare to discuss your experience collaborating with different teams. Highlight specific projects where you successfully partnered with sales, marketing, or creative departments to achieve a common goal. This will demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
