Job Description
Full Time, Permanent
The closing date for applications is 23.59 on 21st September 2025
Join Us as Head of Marketing and Campaigns
University of Reading – Sustainable University of the Year 2025
2026 marks the University of Reading’s Centenary Year – a celebration of 100 years of innovation, academic excellence, and global impact. We’re proud to be a university that pushes boundaries and leads positive change, both locally and internationally.
Our strategy is built on four core values:
A love of learning
Creating new knowledge
Embracing diversity in people and ideas
Caring for our environment
We’re ranked among the top 30 UK universities globally, with over 27,000 students from 160+ countries. Our award-winning green campuses, including Whiteknights with its 15th consecutive Green Flag Award, reflect our deep commitment to sustainability. In 2025, we were named Sustainable University of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times, and ranked in the top 50 globally for our impact on sustainable development (THE Impact Rankings). 
About the role:
The Brand and Marketing Department is one of four professional service departments within the External Relations Directorate. It leads the University's strategic, insight-driven marketing and brand-building efforts. The team delivers consistent, high-quality campaigns across all audiences, channels, and markets—both in the UK and internationally.
As Head of Marketing and Campaigns, you’ll play a key leadership role in our Brand and Marketing Department, helping shape and deliver strategic, insight-led marketing across all audiences and markets.
You’ll lead two core areas:
Student Recruitment Marketing – guiding academic Schools and Departments through a team of Marketing Business Partners and Officers.
Campaign Planning and Delivery – overseeing global brand campaigns, undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment, and clearing, supported by a dedicated campaigns team.
You’ll collaborate with colleagues across the External Relations directorate:
With Future Students to develop integrated marketing strategies and support portfolio review.
With the Global Engagement Team to drive international marketing initiatives.
With Market Research and Engagement Services to ensure campaigns are data-driven and measurable.
With the Director of Brand and Marketing on innovative brand activation projects.
And also across the wider university - building trust, sharing expertise and being an ambassador for innovative, best practice marketing.
About you:
We’re looking for a values-driven leader with:
A degree or equivalent experience in marketing and campaigns
Strong stakeholder and team management skills
Proven experience in student recruitment or customer acquisition
Expertise in integrated marketing across digital, CRM, and content
A data-informed approach to campaign planning
Experience working with agencies and in-house teams
A passion for innovation and best practice in marketing
Please see the job description and personal specification for further details.
Interview date - 16th and 17th October
Contact Name: Simon Pride
Contact Job Title: Director of Brand and Marketing
Contact Email address s.pride@reading.ac.uk
Alternative Contact Name Fi Blair
Alternative Contact Job Title: Director of External Relations
Alternative Contact Email address: f.blair@reading.ac.uk
The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.
