Deputy Marketing Director / Marketing Director (12 month FTC)

Hachette UK; London; Hybrid; CAD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing group is seeking a Deputy Marketing Director for a 12-month FTC position. This role will oversee the Trade Marketing team and devise the marketing strategy for various commercial and literary works. The ideal candidate will have significant marketing experience, excellent team management skills, and a deep understanding of the commercial publishing market. The position offers a flexible working arrangement with both in-office and homeworking options in London or Sheffield.

Benefits

28 annual leave days per year

Private medical insurance

Generous pension schemes

Cycle to Work scheme

Up to 70% off book purchases

Qualifications

• Significant marketing experience at a senior level in publishing.
• Proven team and line-management experience.
• Expert knowledge of target market and industry.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Trade Marketing team.
• Oversee first-class campaign delivery across fiction and non-fiction.
• Manage relationships with media-buying agency.
• Champion the evaluation of marketing efficacy.

Skills

Marketing experience

Team management

Communication skills

Financial understanding

Problem-solving

Job description

Who we are and what we do

The John Murray Group, part of Hachette UK, encompasses John Murray Press, Quercus, John Murray Specialist and Dialogue. We publish best‑selling and award‑winning fiction and non‑fiction across a range of imprints, including Mick Herron, Elly Griffiths, David Attenborough and Trevor Noah. We pride ourselves on being entrepreneurial, curious and excited about discovering and nurturing new voices that can shape and shake our world.

What you’ll be doing

The Deputy Marketing Director (12‑month FTC) will cover a maternity leave and oversee the Trade Marketing team, devising and delivering the marketing strategy across our broad range of commercial and literary fiction and non‑fiction. Reporting into the Creative & Marketing Director, you’ll bring energy, leadership, and outstanding team‑management experience to a role that drives excellence and creative spark.

Who we are looking for

This is a fantastic opportunity for a creative and talented Head of Marketing or Deputy Director equivalent. You are highly organised, proactive, meticulous, and possess a deep sense of the market, excellent communication skills and a love of the commercial publishing sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Creative & Marketing Director to lead and develop the Trade Marketing team, driving excellence across everything we do.
• Line‑management responsibility for approximately four marketers and oversight of a department of ten.
• Oversee first‑class campaign delivery across our fiction and non‑fiction lists, and directly manage key brand and breakout campaigns.
• Lead the marketing strategy for Quercus, maximising value of front‑list and back‑list across all formats, oversee the Quercus marketing budget and be a key voice in acquisitions.
• Champion the importance of evaluating marketing activity efficacy, placing consumer insight and data analysis at the heart of everything the team does.
• Liaise and manage relationships with our media‑buying agency.
• Oversee department strategy across digital promotions, AMS & communities’ growth.
• Manage our proof, Netgalley & sustainability strategy.
• Attend the Hachette Group marketing director meetings.

Requirements

• Significant marketing experience at a senior level in publishing.
• Proven team and line‑management experience; supervising, managing and developing marketers.
• Expert knowledge of target market and industry, with a particular focus on commercial publishing.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; confident chairing meetings and guiding conversation.
• Strong financial understanding and budget management skills.
• Adaptable, organised, collaborative and excellent problem‑solver.

What we offer

• 28 annual leave days per year, increasing to 29 days after 2 years and up to 30 days after 5 years (+ bank holidays).
• Private medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Generous pension schemes.
• Rent deposit loans.
• 2 community days per year.
• Summer hours (finishing 1 pm on Fridays during summer months).
• Retail discounts through Hachette Rewards.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Eye‑care vouchers.
• Wide‑range training library.
• Development programmes (including mentoring).
• Up to 70% off book purchases.
• A charity bookshelf.
• 12 staff‑led employee networks that are voluntary, including AgeWise, Gender Balance, Thrive, Pride, All Together, Wellbeing and religious networks.
• Season ticket loans.
• And much more!

Location

This role can be based at our London or Sheffield office with a blend of in‑office (3 days) and homeworking (2 days) per week.

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio‑economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.