Marketing Business Partner

Oxford Brookes University; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted gym rates

Brookes on-site Nursery

Discounted travel options

TOTUM card discount

Job summary

Oxford Brookes University invites applications for a Marketing Business Partner. Based at the John Payne Building with hybrid working scope, this role drives income growth and occupancy across Residential Life, Halls, and campus services.

It bridges marketing strategy with student experience, delivering data-led, multi-channel campaigns to support financial goals. The role requires a marketing degree or equivalent, strong ROI focus, and the ability to influence across levels.

Qualifications

• Significant strategic marketing experience across digital, web and social channels.
• Ability to apply data insights to set KPIs and ROI.
• Strong commercial acumen with budgets or growth strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead data-informed marketing strategies for Halls, Venues, Summer Schools, Catering and Print Services.
• Elevate the venues brand for corporate and conference markets.
• Oversee third-party catering marketing activities to hit revenue targets.
• Articulate the Commercial and Campus Services proposition across touchpoints.
• Manage web pages to improve conversion and position Brookes Living shopfront.
• Align Resi Life marketing with student recruitment and retention goals.
• Benchmark residential pricing and offerings to stay competitive.
• Analyse analytics to inform Resi Life programming and expansion.
• Create business cases for investments in university spaces.

Skills

Strategic marketing

Data-driven marketing

Budget & growth

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Education

Marketing degree or equivalent

Higher degree desirable

Tools

Web analytics

CRM systems

Job description

Marketing Business Partner

£36,636 rising annually to £39,906

Full Time, Fixed Term - Professional Ser

Oxford Brookes University is distinctive in nature. We are a modern and forward thinking institution rooted in, and connected to a city with a rich history of culture and learning. We are a globally recognised University focused on providing high-quality teaching, delivering impactful research and an excellent student experience. Our vision is simple: "shape tomorrow through our unique blend of the modern and the traditional, by embracing diversity, seeking out the new and excelling in education and research."

Our people are at the heart of the University - our excellence in teaching, research and knowledge exchange depends on the engagement, capability and wellbeing of our people. We strive to create and encourage an environment where people have the opportunity to develop, progress and thrive.

In acknowledgment of our commitment to gender equality and progression, we proudly hold the Athena SWAN Bronze award, a testament to our unwavering dedication to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all. Join us at Oxford Brookes University, where every step forward is a leap toward a brighter tomorrow.

The role

Based at our John Payne Building, Gipsy Lane (with scope for hybrid working) and reporting within the Strategic Marketing & Communications team, the Marketing Business Partner will provide dedicated commercial marketing expertise within Marketing, Recruitment and Engagement (MRE) to drive income growth, occupancy, and retention across Commercial and Campus Services (Halls, Brookes Lettings, Venues, Summer Schools, Catering, and Print). This role bridges commercial objectives with the student experience, embedding the Resi Life strategy and developing data-led multi-channel growth plans to support the university's financial goals.

This is a full time, fixed term role for 1 year.

About the team

The role sits within Marketing, Recruitment and Engagement (MRE) in collaboration with Estates and Campus Services (ECS) and Commercial and Campus Services. MRE is a confident and ambitious group of colleagues dedicated to applying professional skills and expertise to make every contact count and contribute to the University’s objectives.

What will I be doing?

• Lead and execute data-informed marketing strategies across Halls, Brookes Lettings, Venues, Summer Schools, Catering, and Print Services to directly drive income growth and achieve institutional financial targets.
• Elevate the Venues brand across corporate and conference markets, utilising targeted sector campaigns and digital channel optimisations to drive external bookings and year-round short-stay business.
• Provide strategic oversight for third-party catering marketing activities (e.g., Gather & Gather) to ensure agreed revenue targets and income contributions to the University are met.
• Articulate and safeguard the Commercial and Campus Services proposition across all internal and external touchpoints, ensuring high-converting digital experiences and consistent brand messaging.
• Manage web pages to improve conversion rates and oversee the physical positioning of the new Brookes Living shopfront in the Colonnade as a single gateway for accommodation and Resi Life.
• Align the Resi Life marketing strategy with university goals around student recruitment, belonging, and retention, ensuring messaging highlights inclusive provisions such as Halal and Kosher offerings.
• Conduct competitor benchmarking on residential pricing, incentive structures, Resi Life offerings, and digital presence to ensure competitiveness.
• Analyse commuting behaviors, web analytics, and enquiry data to evaluate customer demand and inform Resi Life programming, venue operations, and summer school expansion.
• Translate complex performance metrics and demand analysis into robust business cases to justify investments in new or repurposed university spaces (e.g., Meetings at Brookes).
• Utilise systems data (e.g., Kinetics) to deliver structured pipeline reporting and provide market context for strategic papers submitted to Senior Leadership and Finance Committees.

What skills do I need?

• An appropriate degree or equivalent qualification in a marketing subject, or substantial practical experience of marketing (higher degree/professional qualification in marketing desirable).
• Proven experience in strategic marketing, integrated campaign delivery across digital, web, and social channels, and applying data insight to set KPIs and demonstrate ROI.
• Strong commercial acumen and demonstrable experience managing budgets or commercial growth strategies.
• Experience leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams and working across organisational boundaries to deliver institutional objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence at all levels and present reports/business cases.
• Experience of working in the Higher Education sector, B2B operations, or commercial sectors (food and beverage, accommodation, conferencing) is desirable.
• A valid driving licence and ability to travel between various University sites.

About the location

Based primarily at our John Payne Building, Gipsy Lane, you’ll experience the vibrant campus atmosphere and benefit from our modern office environment. We encourage flexible and hybrid working where the role allows.

Benefits

As an Oxford Brookes employee, you will enjoy a total of a minimum of 25 days holiday, rising with your service, plus 8 Bank Holidays and additional University concessionary Days (approx 5 per year).

We encourage and support hybrid working where the role allows and ensure that you have the necessary equipment to allow you to work flexibly.

We have an extremely competitive Local Government pension scheme with a generous employer contribution rate, as well as providing all staff with financial education, a comprehensive employee assistance helpline.

We prioritise the well-being of our employees-both physically and mentally, as well as financially. That’s why we provide a diverse and comprehensive benefits package to support our team.

In addition, all employees have access to:

• Discounted rates for the University sports & gym facilities
• Brookes on-site Nursery
• Discounted travel options
• TOTUM card discount scheme
• Relocation scheme (for moves over 30 miles)
• Training and development opportunities
• Connected community - Brookes have a wide variety of staff networks which instil a sense of community offering employees a space for support, guidance and friendship making it a vibrant and inclusive place to work

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At Oxford Brookes, inclusivity is one of our five guiding principles: we take positive steps to create an environment in which we celebrate, value and provide equal opportunity to all. We are committed to recruiting from the widest possible pool and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who embrace our values, regardless of their background.

As a Disability Confident Employer we guarantee to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential selection criteria.