Interim Director of Marketing (9-Months Fixed Term Contract)

About us

UCL is a radically different university. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, we were the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and first to welcome women to university education. Today UCL has over 50,000 students and 16,000 staff and is one of the world's top 10 universities.

The department of the Vice President External Engagement (VPEE) coordinates UCL's engagement with a range of audiences, raising the university's profile and influence, and managing its reputation. It promotes the public value of UCL's research and partnerships to the future of Britain and globally. It is a service-driven function made up of communications and marketing professionals who deliver sector-leading media relations, public affairs, institutional communications, brand and integrated marketing, student recruitment, and events.

About the role

The Interim Director of Marketing will provide strategic marketing leadership and direction across UCL, within VPEE and across the faculties with responsibility for delivering the rollout of the refreshed UCL brand and building engagement and advocacy through integrated cross channel marketing activities.

Reporting to the Vice-President (External Engagement), the Interim Director of Marketing will work in partnership with senior colleagues in VPEE and across the university to deliver multi-channel marketing activity, with a focus on attracting the best students across the world to UCL.

They will be responsible for leading, supporting and guiding the Brand and Marcomms teams during an exciting period, including the rollout of a refreshed brand visual identity and narrative, the launch of our bicentenary celebrations, and a number of changes across our digital estate.

Please note, this is a full-time fixed-term role available with an immediate start from mid-September 2025 and is funded until mid-June 2026. The role will be offered on a hybrid working basis, with a minimum of 2-days onsite at our London Kings Cross office and Gower Street campus.

Job Ref: B23-00149

Closing Date: 21/08/2025 - 23:59 (UK time)

About you

You are an experienced marketing professional with a strong track record of leading brand management within complex organisations. You've successfully overseen the implementation of a brand refresh and bring extensive senior-level marketing leadership, particularly within the Higher Education sector.

With a solid understanding of higher education policies, practices, and regulatory frameworks, you are well-informed on the current challenges facing the sector. You are an inspiring and confident communicator - equally adept at developing compelling strategies, business cases, and marketing plans as you are at engaging stakeholders in person, whether in meetings, presentations, or at events.

You will also be able to demonstrate the following:

• Experience of developing and implementing CRM strategies
• Experience leading and managing cross-functional high-performing teams of people
• Expertise in strategic marketing planning with the ability to guide and advise others to translate strategic vision into practical plans

• Experience of working with and project managing external creative agencies.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.