Reporting To:

Jim Walker

Head of Client Services

Department:

Client Services

Hybrid (UK-based) | Full-Time | £55,000.00 – £60,000 per annum

We’re looking for a strategic, results-driven Senior Digital Marketing Lead to join our performance marketing agency — but here’s the twist: you’ll be fully embedded within one of our flagship client’s internal teams.
Acting as a trusted extension of the client — a leading retail and eCommerce brand — you’ll take ownership of their owned, earned and paid media strategy across PPC, Paid Social, Affiliates and Organic, while also helping the brand stay agile during peak trading periods and commercial events. You’ll bridge the gap between client departments and our agency teams, helping deliver best-in-class digital performance with a strong eye on profitability, adaptability, and strategic growth.

Duties and responsibilities

Be the client’s go-to digital lead: translating their goals, priorities and internal insights into actionable plans for the agency team
Manage performance across key KPIs (ROAS, CPA, spend & revenue growth), ensuring campaigns are data-led and constantly optimised
Act as the strategic point of contact between agency and client: overseeing campaign performance, reporting insights, and driving alignment
Demonstrate strong commercial awareness of key trading periods (e.g. sales, seasonal peaks), adapting activity, budgets, and strategy in response to performance challenges to maintain profitability and growth
Actively participate in trade meetings and key commercial discussions, ensuring full engagement with trading plans and marketing campaigns for the CDS group.
Ensure marketing budgets align with cost-to-serve and profitability targets by working closely with CDS Finance and Performance Managers to maintain financial governance.
Collaborate with internal Email Marketing and Social Media teams to optimise the effectiveness of key campaigns and promotions across all relevant channels.
Own and manage the budgeting process and in-year forecasting for revenue and expenditure related to all paid marketing activities. Liaise with CDS suppliers to maximise return on investment from advertising income, ensuring value for both suppliers and CDS.
You will be expected to travel to the client’s headquarters and spend a minimum of 1 working week on site in Plymouth per month. The remaining time will be spent hybrid in our Manchester office.

We’re looking for someone who

Has 5+ years’ experience in digital marketing, ideally client-side, or agency-side with time spent on a major retail or eCommerce account (essential)
Brings deep expertise in paid media — particularly PPC (Google Ads), Meta, and Affiliate Marketing
Has a strong understanding of other digital channels like SEO to ensure cross-channel strategies are aligned and commercially sound
Understands the fast-moving nature of retail and can pivot quickly based on trading performance, stock, or commercial shifts
Is confident directing strategy but also happy getting into the detail when needed
Can lead conversations with client stakeholders at all levels — from marketing to commercial and tech
Is proactive, structured, and great at managing multiple inputs and moving parts
Thrives in hybrid/remote working environments and is comfortable being “client-side” as their embedded digital expert

Why this role?

Lead the digital strategy for a high-profile retail/eCommerce brand with strong growth ambitions
Play a critical role in balancing strategy, budget, and performance across peak trading periods and campaign launches
Enjoy the best of both worlds: the energy and pace of agency life, with the strategic depth of an in-house role
Get support from a highly skilled internal agency team across SEO, paid media, content, and more
Clear opportunity to grow into a broader leadership position as the account and relationship evolve