Head of Marketing & Digital FTC (Mat Cover)

A great opportunity has arisen to join our Marketing Dept. as an Interim Head of Marketing & Digital, covering the current position holder's maternity leave. The role is a FTC for 14 months, ideally starting 1st May 2023.

You would report into the CEO and will be engaged to develop the marketing and digital (including communications) strategy and plans for agreement, in line with the overall VDS and VDS Training strategy and plans. You will develop and lead the team to implement the agreed plans, delivering on agreed outcomes and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Primary duties include but not limited to:

• Develop an integrated marketing and digital strategy that support the delivery of the VDS and VDS Training strategy, business plan, purpose, and values.
• Overall brand positioning and fulfilment of brand guardian role.
• Lead the marketing and digital team in the development and delivery of the associated marketing and digital plans, campaigns, and content across the whole marketing mix.
• All internal and external communications, including business critical communications within projects such as policy renewals.
• Development of optimum budgets to achieve outcomes and budget owner.
• Develop and deliver the optimum people and process frameworks, including Risk and Compliance, that support the delivery of the plans, outcomes, and objectives.
• Lead the team to deliver on expected objectives and outcomes.
• Accountable for the outcomes and quality of the VDS and VDS Training marketing plan and outcomes, ensuring overall member value and reach.
• Effective leadership and development of the team with clear objectives, effective coaching, 121s and appraisals.
• Attendance at Performance Executive Meetings as required and reporting to Board and Executive levels.
• External partnership development for key projects, products, and services.
• Segmentation of membership and market for communications, sales, and retention.
• External events, exhibitions, and seminars.
• Internal communications.
• Market research and insights.

Requirements needed for the Head of Marketing and Digital

• Be an excellent communicator
• Possess strong people leadership skills
• Have a solid commercial and financial understanding
• Have experience of developing and delivering comprehensive marketing and digital plans across the full mix of requirements, including communications, website, email, social media and brand
• Lead teams, working and influencing cross–company up to Executive level
• Set clear outcomes and measurements
• Have financial services experience
• Have experience of working within a senior management team environment
• Possess a high degree of integrity and confidentiality

About the Veterinary Defence Society Ltd:

The Veterinary Defence Society Limited (VDS) is a mutual insurance company founded in 1865. We were started by vets to support the veterinary community and the same ethos remains today, one purpose and one family.

Our purpose is to protect and support veterinary professionals, practices and businesses enabling them to focus on animal health and welfare. We provide a range of services that protect members against the increasing range of risks being faced by the profession including professional indemnity insurance alongside professional advice, training and publications.

We are looking to build on our strong foundations to be ever more agile and flexible to adapt and meet the changing needs of our members and the profession and this role will play an important part in developing plans, our team and ways of working to support our strategy. People and culture are fundamental to these plans and will be a key focus in the selection for the role bringing to life our values of Teamwork, Passion, Dependability, Integrity, Excellence and Mutuality.

Location: Office–based (Knutsford. Cheshire, WA16 8XZ), we are all hybrid working, with a requirement to attend the office when needed, or at least once a month.

At The Veterinary Defence Society, we are committed to equality and diversity. We ensure that job standards are relevant to the successful undertaking of the job. We do not indirectly disadvantage any persons on the grounds of gender, age, disability, race, ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual orientation, any other protected characteristic, or social status.

This role is subject to a satisfactory DBS.

No external agencies please – we are already using one.