Head of Marketing

Role: Head of Marketing Location: Brighton / Sheffield / Remote (hybrid working) Remit: Group Hours of work: 35 hours per week Reports to: CMO Remuneration: £45,000 - £50,000 p.a. About WaterBear - The College of Music WaterBear is a college of music with campuses in Sheffield and Brighton, and a thriving online provision. The college is an innovator in the sector, with a unique approach to brand, collaborations and a flexible course delivery model. We are a College of Falmouth University and benefit from a close strategic relationship with our university partner. All courses at WaterBear have music at their heart. The student demographic includes a number of mature professionals with established careers, as well as younger, highly motivated degree and master’s students. Our on-board student population numbers approximately 1,000 (as at September 2025), and is set to grow to around 1200 from September 2026. Appointment to this post is an opportunity for the successful applicant to become an integral part of this exciting team, and fundamental to the WaterBear story. Job Role and Purpose The Head of Marketing will play a central role in shaping the profile, reputation and continued growth of the WaterBear. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, the postholder will lead the development and delivery of ambitious, insight-led marketing activity that drives student recruitment, strengthens brand awareness and positions the College as the leading voice within UK music higher education. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, requiring a commercially minded and creatively driven marketer who can translate institutional priorities into compelling campaigns and meaningful audience engagement. The successful candidate will oversee the full marketing function and team, leading multi-channel campaigns that connect with prospective students, parents and industry partners across the UK and internationally. They will ensure all activity is aligned to recruitment objectives, measurable through clear performance metrics, and reflective of WaterBear’s distinctive identity, values and student experience. The role also carries significant responsibility for brand leadership and storytelling. The Head of Marketing will champion a bold, authentic and consistent voice for the College across digital, print, social and experiential channels, ensuring the institution continues to stand out in an increasingly competitive higher education landscape. Working closely with the Recruitment, Admissions and Education teams, they will develop integrated campaigns and communications that support recruitment, retention, engagement and reputation-building objectives. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced marketing leader to make a meaningful impact within a dynamic and values-driven institution, helping to inspire and attract the next generation of artists, creators and music industry professionals. Key Tasks and Responsibilities Marketing Delivery and Performance Execute the marketing strategy as set by the CMO, ensuring campaigns are delivered on time and to budget Own and manage the marketing activity plan across digital and traditional channels Oversee paid media activity including PPC, paid social and other digital acquisition channels Monitor KPIs weekly and monthly, taking decisive corrective action where performance falls short. Leadership and Team Management Provide strong and supportive day-to-day leadership of the wider Marketing team Set clear objectives, manage workloads and hold team members accountable for delivery of KPIs. Lead performance reviews, developmental conversations and team training activities Manage HR matters confidently and professionally, escalating appropriately where required with the support of the wider college HR function Foster a culture of professionalism, pace and accountability within the Marketing team. Brand and Content Oversight Ensure all marketing communications are reflective of WaterBear’s distinctive brand values and tone of voice Oversee the production of high-quality content across web, email, social and print Maintain full oversight of the WaterBear website, ensuring accuracy, optimisation and continuous improvement. Budget and Operational Control Manage the marketing budget in collaboration with the CFO and CMO Ensure disciplined spend management and clear ROI accountability Oversee agency relationships and external partners to ensure performance standards are met. Recruitment and Engagement Activity Work closely with the Head of Student Recruitment to oversee and manage recruitment events such as Open Days, UCAS events, careers fairs and school visits Work closely with the Recruitment and Admissions teams to ensure marketing activity supports conversion and enrolment targets. Reporting and Data Provide regular reports as required by the executive team Provide activity updates against KPIs at regular SMT meetings Use data and insight to inform enhancement priorities and decision-making Track impact of enhancement and innovation initiatives over time Support senior leadership with evidence-based recommendations. Qualifications, Skills and Experience At least 5 years’ experience in operational marketing leadership High-level skills in people management, including performance and HR-related matters Experience delivering measurable recruitment or lead-generation campaigns Solid understanding of digital acquisition (SEO, PPC, paid social) Strong analytical capability and confidence working with performance data Experience of UK Higher Education (creative arts sector) Ability to work from own initiative, with decision-making and problem-solving approach Highly organised and able to implement processes and procedures Excellent attention to detail Experience in developing and executing successful growth strategies Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisation skills Willingness to adopt a flexible approach to working Reliable with excellent time keeping and time management Accuracy and efficiency in data capture and reporting. Desirable: Demonstrable music industry experience WordPress knowledge Content production (photo/video) capability Degree-level qualification. WaterBear is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities. Please apply in writing with a cover letter and CV to jobs@waterbear.org.uk Application deadline: Sunday 31st May, 2026 Interviews: June 2026.