Automation Manager

Sphere Digital Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sphere Digital Recruitment is seeking an experienced Automation Manager in Manchester. You’ll own strategy and delivery for marketing automation and gamification across a multi-brand portfolio, aligning with Marketing, Product, Data and CX to optimise journeys, boost engagement and improve loyalty.

You’ll lead test-and-learn programmes, manage budgets and collaborate across retention teams to drive KPI improvements while shaping automation adoption across the organisation.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' digital marketing experience with a focus on automation and/or gamification.
• Strong understanding of customer journey optimization, lifecycle marketing and retention.
• Experience managing rewards or customer loyalty programmes.
• Data-driven approach with experience in A/B testing, analytics and digital marketing tools.
• Ability to manage complex projects across multiple teams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop the strategy and roadmap for marketing automation and gamification across the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to improve engagement, retention and loyalty through automation.
• Oversee implementation of new marketing technologies and manage business cases.
• Review the automation stack and identify gaps and enhancement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Product, Data, CX and Retention teams on journey initiatives.
• Develop tactics with Retention Leads to improve KPIs across segments.
• Lead test-and-learn programmes including A/B and multivariate testing.
• Analyse campaign performance and convert data into actionable recommendations.
• Own review and approval processes for automation and gamification solutions.
• Manage campaign budgets and ensure profitability targets are met.
• Share best practices and embed effective automation approaches across teams.

Skills

Marketing automation

Gamification

A/B testing

Analytics

Multi-channel

Excel

Lifecycle marketing

Stakeholder management

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Automation Manager

Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits

Location: Manchester - Hybrid

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced Automation Manager to join the Engagement team, owning the strategy and implementation of marketing automation and gamification across a multi-brand portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of Platform CRM, you'll work across Marketing, Product, Data, Customer Experience and Retention to optimise customer journeys, increase engagement and improve retention and loyalty.

This is a highly collaborative role combining strategy, technology, customer journey optimisation and data-led experimentation, with the opportunity to shape how automation and gamification are used across the wider organisation.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop the strategy and roadmap for marketing automation and gamification across the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to improve customer engagement, retention and loyalty through automation and gamified experiences.
• Manage business cases and oversee the implementation of new marketing technologies.
• Review the existing automation stack, identifying gaps and opportunities for development.
• Partner with Marketing, Product, Data, CX and Retention teams to deliver customer journey initiatives.
• Work with Retention Leads to develop tactics that improve KPIs across key customer segments.
• Lead test-and-learn programmes, including A/B and multivariate testing.
• Analyse campaign performance and work with BI/Performance Insights teams to turn data into actionable recommendations.
• Own review and approval processes for automation and gamification solutions.
• Manage campaign budgets, ensuring activity delivers against profitability targets.
• Share best practice and help embed effective automation and gamification approaches across teams.

What We're Looking For

• 3-5 years' digital marketing experience, with a strong track record in marketing automation and/or gamification.
• Strong understanding of customer journey optimisation, lifecycle marketing and retention.
• Previous experience managing rewards or customer loyalty programmes.
• Strong data-driven approach, with experience across A/B testing, analytics and digital marketing tools.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Experience working within a multi-channel environment.
• Strong Excel and wider MS Office skills.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities within a complex organisation.
• Experience leading, coaching or mobilising teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness to travel 15-20%.

Sphere is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications regardless of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation, and any other protected status as required by applicable law.

If you require any adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process for any reason whatsoever, please let us know.