Head of Performance Marketing

<p>This is a rare opportunity to own the full performance marketing function at one of the most culturally relevant consumer brands in the UK, a business with north of £200m in turnover, a multi-million pound paid media budget, and serious ambitions to grow across UK and European markets. </p> <p>The brand has a strong, loyal community, an entrepreneurial culture, and a leadership team that genuinely cares about where digital marketing is heading. They're not looking for someone to maintain the status quo. They want someone who's thinking about what's next, across channels, measurement, and the evolving media landscape. </p> <p>If you're the type of person who introduced TikTok Shop into your strategy, has a point of view on AEO before anyone asked you, and can explain incrementality to a finance director without losing the room - read on! </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Role </strong></p> <p>Reporting to the Ecommerce Director, you'll take full ownership of the paid marketing budget (c.£8m) across a full channel mix, paid search, paid social, affiliates, influencer, and emerging platforms. You'll lead a team of four and be responsible for driving sustainable customer acquisition across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. </p> <p>This isn't a head-down, channel-by-channel execution role. It's a genuinely strategic position that requires someone who can set the vision, bring the business on the journey, and build the culture of testing and learning that keeps a brand this size at the cutting edge. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What You'll Be Doing </strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Own the end-to-end performance marketing strategy across paid search, paid social (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest, YouTube, Reddit, Substack), affiliates, and influencer, with paid social as the primary growth lever. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Manage and optimise the c.£8m paid media budget, ensuring channel spend is allocated intelligently and ROI is maximised across all five European markets. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Lead, mentor, and develop a team of four, setting a high bar, but creating the conditions for people to thrive and grow. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Build strong cross-functional relationships across product, trade, and finance, translating performance data into clear, compelling narratives that influence decision-making at senior level. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Instil a rigorous test-and-learn culture, using statistical analysis and measurement frameworks (including incrementality) to drive every strategic decision. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Identify and trial emerging channels and formats, bringing fresh thinking to the media mix before the rest of the market catches up. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Oversee external agency partners across markets and channels, holding them accountable to KPIs and aligning them to the broader brand strategy. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Develop a nuanced understanding of performance by market, recognising where channel behaviour differs and adapting accordingly without over-complicating a relatively lean team structure. </p> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>What We're Looking For </strong></p> <p>This is a deliberately high bar. You'll need to be both technically exceptional and genuinely people-smart, someone who can drive growth through data but also take a room full of non-digital stakeholders and get them excited about Reddit advertising. </p> <ul> <li> <p>A strong track record in performance marketing at a senior level, ideally within a high-growth, digitally-native consumer brand. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Deep channel expertise across paid social and paid search, with a genuine curiosity about where the landscape is heading (AEO, Reddit, Substack, TikTok Shop, these should mean something to you). </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>A rigorous, analytical mindset, comfortable with measurement frameworks, attribution modelling, and using data to make fast, high-impact decisions. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>The communication skills to demystify performance marketing for non-digital audiences and influence at senior level without resorting to jargon. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Experience managing meaningful budgets across multiple channels and markets. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>A collaborative, relationship-first working style, someone who understands that taking people on a journey is as important as being right. </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Entrepreneurial energy and genuine inquisitiveness, you're not waiting to be told what to explore next. </p> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Location & Workplace Policy </strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>Central London </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>Hybrid working, 3 days office </p> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Salary & Benefits </strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>£100,000 - £120,000 plus performance-related bonus (up to 40%) </p> </ul> <ul> <li> <p>25 days holiday, pension, private medical, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loans, generous staff and F&F discounts, gym membership discounts and free on-site equipment and wellness space </p> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>If you would like a confidential chat about this role or your next career move, then please send your CV to <a href="mailto:jodie.clayton@majorplayers.co.uk" target="_blank">jodie.clayton@majorplayers.co.uk</a> or connect via LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodieclayton/" target="_blank">Jodie Clayton</a> </p> <p>Major Players are the UK’s leading digital, marketing, and creative talent agency, and over the last 30 years we’ve consistently championed our people and communities. As a proud B Corp™, we are committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the industries we service, creating impactful and sustainable change for our partners, candidates and employees.  </p> <p>We offer equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, age, and other protected status as required by applicable law. For further information about our DE&I commitments, please visit: <a href="http://www.majorplayers.co.uk/diversity-equity-inclusion/" target="_blank">www.majorplayers.co.uk/diversity-equity-inclusion/</a>  </p> <p> </p>