Digital Communications Manager

Background:

We’re here to help people in horticulture create better futures.

Perennial has been helping people in horticulture for over 180 years. We are the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture, and their families.

At Perennial we have a real focus on improving the quality of life for people working in horticulture and have ambitious strategies to build better futures for people working in horticulture and their families.

The Digital Communications Manager role will be responsible for developing and delivering the company’s digital marketing strategy in line with Perennial’s mission and objectives.

The role combines the optimisation and growth of activity across digital channels as well as hands-on execution and supporting delivery across channels for strategic campaigns.

About you

As a key member of the marketing team you will report into the Head of Marketing, working closely with colleagues across the marketing and fundraising teams to build awareness, drive web traffic and ensure an engaging presence across digital channels including SEO, PPC, social media and email marketing. 

You will be a marketing manager with working experience of digital communications. You will have experience in third sector marketing with a knowledge of how to engage sensitively but effectively with stakeholders and the general public alike.

Duties and Responsibilities

Digital Strategy:

• Develop and delivery digital marketing plans aligned with Perennial’s mission and objectives
• Develop integrated digital communications campaigns – working with the marketing team to develop and deliver campaigns and content to support our marketing goals, customer journeys and online experience
• Test, review and optimise digital campaign activity to increase effectiveness, producing regular reports for senior management to evaluate performance
• Take an innovative and proactive approach in recommending opportunities to enhance our marketing, visitor experiences, services and commercial operations.

Website Management:

• Manage the organisation website to ensure content is current, engaging and compliant
• Track website performance via Google Analytics and use insight to enhance experience and engagement
• Manage digital agency relationships to deliver SEO and PPC activity to support charity objectives
• Work with marketing team to develop communications calendar, optimising content for digital channels including SEO to maximise reach and visibility

Social Media Management:

• Oversee social media platforms working with the freelance social media executive to monitor trends, analyse data and make data-driven recommendations to improve reach and impact

Email Marketing:

• Oversee email marketing campaigns including creation and implementation of monthly e-news/welcome emails
• Develop marketing automation to enhance customer journey and increase engagement and support

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in or a formal qualification in marketing or similar discipline and a good understanding of marketing principles
• Confident digital native – identifying opportunities and emerging digital marketing techniques and sharing digital best practices
• Proven experience of digital campaign management with proficiency in CMS platforms, GA4, SEO tools, social media platforms and email marketing platforms such as MailChimp
• Strong project management skills and ability to balance multiple priorities
• Comfortable working autonomously whilst collaborating with stakeholders from across the organisation and a strong team player
• Natural storyteller with excellent written and verbal communication with strong attention to detail and the ability to turn their hand to a range of tasks
• Fundraising experience desirable

Key Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions are provided for information only and in no way represent a contract. In the event of an appointment if there is an anomaly between the contract and these terms, the contract is deemed to be the correct version.

Full information on terms and conditions are contained within a Staff Handbook, issues upon appointment. Enquiries on specific matters are welcomed – the following are the key issues.

Hours of work: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm with an unpaid lunch break

Salary: c.£38,000 per annum

Holidays: 25 days holiday per annum plus normal bank holidays. Increases with service

Pension: Perennial operates an auto-enrolment pension scheme and will match employee contributions up to the statutory amount. Details of the scheme will be available following a formal offer of employment.

Other: Sick Pay, Death in Service Benefit (3x salary), Private Healthcare Cover. Perennial has a number of well-established, family-friendly policies, including ‘buying’ extra (unpaid) leave, time off for dependents, variations to normal working hours. Further details available on request.

General Considerations: All Perennial jobs are subject to a probationary period (6 months) and a periodic review.

Smoking: In the interests of health and safety, Perennial operates a non-smoking policy on its premises and expects staff not to smoke in company vehicles.

Applications close at midnight on 29 June 2025. Interviews will take place at Leatherhead on 9 July 2025.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier should we receive a sufficient number of suitable candidates.

Should you require this application in a different format, please contact aroutley@perennial.org.uk