Marketing Director

The Candidate Ltd; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Senior leadership position

Direct access to Founder/CEO

Ownership of marketing function

Job summary

The Candidate Ltd in Manchester is seeking a Marketing Director to own the brand and communications strategy across investment, property and related interests. You will shape the organisation's profile for PE audiences, borrowers and investors, working with senior stakeholders and external agencies to deliver a credible, high-impact narrative.

This senior role offers board-level influence, direct access to the Founder/CEO, and genuine ownership of the marketing function within a growing

Qualifications

• Private Equity experience is essential.
• Approximately 10 years in marketing, communications or brand leadership, incl. director level.
• Experience in senior marketing leadership or standalone roles.
• Strong agency and supplier management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and direct the overarching marketing and communications strategy.
• Shape and protect the organisation’s brand and reputation.
• Lead the positioning and market profile to PE audiences and borrowers.
• Develop messaging frameworks and brand guidelines across the organisation.
• Advise the Founder/CEO on corporate profile and thought leadership.
• Develop annual marketing plan aligned to commercial objectives.
• Direct CRM and digital channels including website and external agencies.
• Measure reputation, awareness, engagement and contribution to business.

Skills

Brand leadership

Strategic marketing

Corporate communications

Stakeholder management

Job description

Salary £100K

Manchester - 4 days office

Lead the Brand, Reputation & Communications Strategy for a Growing Investment Business

We're working exclusively with a privately owned investment and property business to appoint a Marketing Director.

This is a senior leadership appointment, reporting directly to the Founder/CEO, with ultimate ownership of how the organisation is positioned, perceived and represented across its investment, property and wider business interests.

It's a rare opportunity for a highly experienced marketing leader who wants genuine, board-level ownership. You'll be accountable for the brand and communications strategy, strengthening corporate reputation, directing agency partners and working directly with senior stakeholders and investors to build the organisation's profile.

This is not a broad, hands‑on marketing role. Instead, you'll be the senior strategic voice for marketing, bringing together brand, communications, PR, digital and content activity and ensuring everything works towards a clear commercial and reputational objective.

The Role

You’ll take full ownership of the organisation’s marketing and communications function, building a consistent and credible brand across a number of business interests.

The central priority is strengthening the profile and positioning of the investment business within the Private Equity community. While healthcare, wellbeing and property are relevant sectors, you must be able to demonstrate real credibility in speaking to potential borrowers, investors and other PE‑focused audiences — this is the most important part of the brief.

You’ll develop the narrative, identify opportunities to build awareness and credibility, and establish stronger relationships with borrowers, founders, advisers and other key investment audiences.

You’ll also work closely with the Founder/CEO on corporate profile and thought leadership, while directing a network of specialist external agencies across PR, branding, digital, content, web and creative.

Alongside the investment proposition, you’ll ensure the wider property and hospitality interests maintain a high‑quality and consistent brand presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and direct the overarching marketing and communications strategy.
• Shape and protect the organisation’s brand and reputation.
• Lead the positioning and market profile of the investment business, with a particular focus on Private Equity audiences and potential borrowers.
• Develop messaging frameworks and brand guidelines across the organisation.
• Act as a trusted adviser to the Founder/CEO on corporate profile, thought leadership and strategic communications.
• Develop an annual marketing plan aligned to wider commercial objectives.
• Identify opportunities to increase awareness, strengthen reputation and support growth.
• Direct corporate communications across digital and offline channels.
• Oversee website strategy, content and external digital partners.
• Direct the wider content strategy, including LinkedIn, founder insight, investment activity, portfolio stories and market commentary.
• Oversee PR, branding, content, photography, videography and digital agencies.
• Manage agency performance, budgets and project delivery.
• Ensure external partners receive clear briefs and deliver against agreed objectives.
• Establish meaningful measures around reputation, awareness, engagement and commercial contribution.
• Lead events, partnerships and relationship‑building initiatives.
• Provide strategic direction across major marketing projects and campaigns.
• Design a scalable marketing operating model to support future growth.
• Provide clear, concise reporting to the Founder/CEO and senior stakeholders.

What We’re Looking For

You’re a highly experienced marketing and communications leader who is comfortable operating at the most senior level and taking full ownership of a brand and reputation agenda.#

We’re looking for:

• Private Equity experience is essential — you must be able to demonstrate credibility engaging with potential borrowers and PE‑focused audiences.
• c.10 years’ experience in marketing, communications or brand leadership, including significant time at Director level.
• Experience working in a senior marketing leadership or standalone role.
• Strong agency and supplier management experience.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• A proven track record developing brand, reputation and communications strategies.
• Strong corporate communications and content experience.
• Total confidence working directly with Founders, CEOs, investors and senior leadership teams.
• Experience creating high‑quality presentations, reports and executive communications.
• Strong digital and website understanding.
• Awareness of AI‑enabled content creation and modern marketing technology.
• Excellent organisation and project management skills.
• The discretion, judgement and gravitas required to work within a privately owned investment environment.

Experience across healthcare, property, hospitality, luxury or founder‑led businesses is relevant, but Private Equity experience is the priority requirement for this role.

What’s on Offer?

• c.£100,000 salary + benefits
• Hybrid working, four days a week in the office
• A highly influential, senior leadership position
• Direct access to the Founder/CEO
• Genuine ownership of the marketing and communications agenda
• The opportunity to shape a growing and evolving brand
• Significant autonomy and scope to build the function
• The opportunity to work across investment, property and other interesting business interests

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity for a senior marketer who wants a genuine voice at leadership level.

You’ll have the freedom to shape the strategy, influence the organisation’s reputation and build the marketing infrastructure around a growing privately owned business.

Rather than inheriting a large established function, you’ll have the opportunity to define what great marketing and communications looks like, build the right external network and become a trusted adviser to the Founder and senior leadership team.

Please note due to high volumes of applications unfortunately we are not always able to respond to all unsuccessful applicants. However we wish everyone who applies the very best with their job search.