The Role
The Commercial Operations Marketing Officer will lead the development and delivery of integrated marketing activity across Aberystwyth University's key commercial services, including the Sports Centre, Hospitality Services, Accommodation, and Conferencing.
The postholder will be responsible for creating and implementing marketing campaigns that enhance brand awareness, increase customer engagement, drive revenue growth, and support the achievement of commercial income targets. Working closely with operational teams, the role will ensure consistent and effective promotion of the University's diverse commercial offer to students, staff, local communities, conference organisers, visitors, and external customers.
The role requires a creative, commercially focused marketing professional who can manage a broad portfolio encompassing digital marketing, social media, content creation, campaign management, brand development, customer insight, and performance reporting.
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Kraig Pugh at kkp@aber.ac.uk.
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
Marketing Strategy and Campaign Delivery
- Develop and implement annual marketing plans for the Sports Centre, Hospitality, Accommodation and Conferencing Services.
- Deliver targeted, integrated marketing campaigns designed to increase revenue, customer acquisition, occupancy levels, bookings, memberships and repeat business.
- Work with commercial managers to identify opportunities for growth, diversification and market expansion.
- Support the development and execution of promotional initiatives aligned with commercial objectives and seasonal trading periods.
- Manage campaign timelines, budgets and performance measures to ensure objectives are achieved effectively.
Digital Marketing and Social Media
- Lead the management and development of social media channels across commercial operations.
- Create engaging and audience-focused content including video, photography, graphics, blogs and promotional materials.
- Plan, schedule and evaluate social media campaigns to maximise reach, engagement and conversion.
- Manage digital advertising campaigns using appropriate platforms such as Meta, LinkedIn, Google Ads and other relevant channels.
- Monitor digital trends and emerging technologies to continuously improve marketing effectiveness.
Brand Development and Communications
- Maintain and strengthen the commercial brands within the University framework, ensuring consistency of messaging, visual identity and customer experience.
- Develop compelling brand propositions and marketing messages tailored to different target audiences.
- Produce marketing collateral for print and digital channels, ensuring all materials meet institutional brand standards.
- Work collaboratively with the University's Communications and Marketing teams to align activity with wider institutional objectives where appropriate.
Accommodation and Conferencing Marketing
- Develop marketing initiatives to maximise accommodation occupancy throughout the academic year and during vacation periods.
- Promote conference, events and group accommodation opportunities to external organisations, associations, sporting groups and business clients.
- Support lead generation activities and customer engagement programmes aimed at increasing conference and event bookings.
Sports Centre and Hospitality Marketing
- Develop membership recruitment and retention campaigns for the Sports Centre.
- Promote fitness programmes, courses, events, facilities and services to students, staff and the wider community.
- Support the promotion of hospitality outlets, catering services and special events to increase footfall and revenue.
- Identify opportunities to cross-promote services across the commercial portfolio.
Market Insight and Performance Analysis
- Analyse market trends, competitor activity and customer feedback to identify opportunities for commercial growth.
- Monitor and report on campaign performance using relevant analytics tools.
- Produce regular reports detailing marketing activities, return on investment, lead generation, engagement metrics and revenue impact.
- Make data-driven recommendations for future campaigns and service improvements.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with operational teams to develop marketing solutions that support business objectives.
- Liaise with external agencies, suppliers and media partners where required.
- Represent Commercial Services at relevant meetings, events and promotional activities.
Other Duties
- Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.
- Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager.
- Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work.
- Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
- To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
- Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.
- The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
- Degree, professional qualification, or equivalent experience in Marketing, Communications, Business or a related discipline.
- Experience of delivering successful marketing campaigns across multiple channels including managing social media platforms and digital content strategies.
- Experience creating engaging marketing content for diverse audiences.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously with excellent organisational and project management skills.
- Understanding of branding principles and customer engagement strategies.
- Experience using content management systems and marketing software.
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to build productive working relationships.
- Creative thinking combined with commercial awareness with strong content creation skills including copywriting and visual storytelling.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team with a proactive and self motivated approach.
- High level of digital literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Customer-focused mindset.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C1
Desirable
- Professional marketing qualification (e.g., CIM).
- Experience marketing accommodation, hospitality, sport, leisure, tourism, events or conferencing services.
- Experience of managing paid digital advertising campaigns.
- Experience using CRM, email marketing and marketing automation systems.
- Experience of photography, video creation and graphic design.
- Knowledge of the higher education sector and its commercial environment.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C2
*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- Hybrid Working
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meetthe criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.