Interim Head of CRM - Subscriptions

3Search; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 83,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

3Search is seeking an Interim Head of CRM for subscriptions in London, with a hybrid work model. The role focuses on strategic leadership and hands-on delivery within a fast-growing subscription business, driving acquisition, onboarding, engagement and retention across a large portfolio.

The ideal candidate will lead a small CRM team, influence senior stakeholders, and apply data-driven insights to improve commercial performance while adapting quickly to changing priorities.

Qualifications

• Strong CRM and customer lifecycle experience in subscription/recurring-revenue or consumer-led business.
• Experience in a start-up/scale-up or agile environment, balancing strategy with hands-on delivery.
• Proven people leadership experience, ideally managing managers.
• Strong commercial and analytical judgement; ability to turn data into action.
• Familiarity presenting to senior stakeholders; knowledge of CRM/data platforms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead CRM strategy across acquisition, onboarding, engagement and retention with segmentation and offers.
• Manage up to three CRM Managers, guiding execution on urgent campaigns.
• Participate in weekly trading discussions and explain decisions using performance data.
• Balance multiple projects in a fast-changing environment while maintaining strategy.
• Collaborate with marketing, data, tech and external stakeholders to present results.

Skills

CRM strategy

Customer lifecycle

People leadership

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Tools

Optimove

Airship

Snowflake

Job description

Interim Head of CRM, Subscriptions - Up to £522 per day (Umbrella) - Contract until Mid Feb - Immediate Start - London | Hybrid

*Please note, you must have experience in a start-up, scale-up or similarly agile S subscriptions environment where you have had to be both strategic and hands-on, moving quickly from planning into delivery.

Our client is a fast-growing, commercially focused subscription business where CRM has a highly visible role in driving acquisition, engagement and retention. With relatively few layers between teams and senior decision-makers, you’ll have genuine scope to influence strategy, make decisions quickly and see the impact of your work. This is an environment suited to someone who can operate strategically while staying close to execution - adapting quickly when priorities change, managing multiple workstreams and making commercially informed decisions without relying on lengthy approval processes.

The Interim Head of CRM will lead a key area of the CRM function during a period of parental leave, managing a team of up to three CRM Managers and taking ownership of customer lifecycle performance across a significant subscription portfolio.

The Interim Head of CRM will:

• Lead CRM strategy across acquisition, onboarding, engagement and retention, using segmentation, customer insight and targeted offers to improve commercial performance.
• Manage up to three CRM Managers, providing clear direction while remaining close enough to execution to support urgent campaigns and operational priorities when required.
• Take an active role in weekly trading discussions, using performance data to explain decisions, identify opportunities and recommend actions to senior stakeholders.
• Balance multiple concurrent projects in an environment where commercial priorities can change quickly, responding decisively without losing sight of the wider CRM strategy.
• Work across marketing, data, technology and external stakeholders, presenting CRM performance and recommendations confidently at senior level.

You Will Need

• Strong CRM and customer lifecycle experience, ideally gained within a subscription, recurring-revenue or consumer-led business covering acquisition, retention, segmentation and offers.
• Experience in a start-up, scale-up or similarly agile environment where you have had to be both strategic and hands-on, moving quickly from planning into delivery.
• Proven people leadership experience, ideally managing managers, with the confidence to give direction, challenge decisions and support a capable team.
• Strong commercial and analytical judgement, with the ability to interpret performance data, contribute to trading conversations and turn insight into action.
• Confidence operating with senior stakeholders, including presenting clear recommendations to leadership; experience with Optimove, Airship, Snowflake or equivalent CRM/data platforms would be useful.

Why You’ll Love It

• A highly visible interim leadership position within a global subscription business.
• Genuine influence over CRM strategy with relatively few layers of decision-making.
• The opportunity to lead and develop a team of experienced CRM professionals.
• Exposure to complex lifecycle, retention and customer value challenges at significant scale.
• A role where commercial decisions, experimentation and customer insight are valued over lengthy planning cycles.
• Support and visibility from senior CRM leadership throughout the assignment.
• A fast-moving environment where you can make an immediate impact rather than spending months navigating process.
• The opportunity to step into a Head of CRM remit if you are a strong Senior CRM Manager ready for your next level of leadership.
• Experience across a major international consumer subscription environment that will add meaningful scale to your career.
• Flexible engagement options may be available, subject to internal approval.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees and job applicants. In line with the Equality Act 2010, we strive to create and maintain a working environment in which everyone is able to make the best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.

Due to a high number of applicants, we are only able to respond to successful candidates