Marketing and Communications Manager

The Marketing and Communications Manager leads the development and delivery of all marketing, communications, and branding activity at Northampton Students’ Union. This role is central to ensuring that all campaigns, messaging, and visual content reflect the Union’s strategic priorities and values—Courageous, Empowering, Authentic, Inclusive, and Innovative—while engaging and informing students, stakeholders, and the wider community. The postholder will drive a student-led, insight-informed communications culture that strengthens the SU’s brand, increases participation, and amplifies student voice.

Strategic Marketing & Brand Leadership:

1. Lead the implementation of the Union’s Marketing, Brand and Communications Strategy in alignment with the 2023–2027 Strategic Plan.
2. Create and oversee annual and in-year communications plans, supporting Union services and events with impactful, timely, and coordinated campaigns.
3. Ensure brand consistency and clarity across all physical and digital channels, reinforcing the SU’s reputation and values.
4. Develop and embed a compelling brand identity and tone of voice that reflects the SU’s purpose and is recognisable to students and stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Organisational Collaboration:

1. Manage and mentor a small marketing and design team, fostering innovation, inclusion, and professional growth.
2. Serve as the SU’s lead advisor on marketing and communications, supporting officers and staff with effective messaging and engagement strategies.
3. Represent the marketing function within operational leadership meetings and cross-functional projects.
4. Lead SU activity on University Open Days and Discovery Days, promoting the SU’s offer and student benefits to prospective students.
5. Oversee the relationship with the SU’s CRM provider, ensuring effective system use for campaigns and student engagement.

Campaigns & Content Delivery:

1. Plan and deliver integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns across digital, print, and in-person channels.
2. Align campaign goals with departmental objectives, ensuring relevance to student needs and strategic outcomes.
3. Oversee the development of high-quality, student-relevant content, including social media, video, email, and web.
4. Track and evaluate campaign effectiveness using data and insights to guide future planning.
5. Work closely with Executive Officers to amplify representation priorities through communications.

Student Engagement & Insight:

1. Ensure communications reflect the diversity of the UON student population and are accessible and inclusive.
2. Use data, feedback, and engagement analytics to shape communications that resonate with student experiences and lifecycle moments.
3. Drive student-led storytelling and ensure campaigns visibly reflect student voices, lived experiences, and participation opportunities.