Associate Director - Marketing and Communications
| Company: | British Universities and Colleges Sports |
|---|---|
| Salary: | -Pension Scheme -3 volunteer days -Christmas Closure -CPD opportunities -Healthcare |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | London, SE1 0QX |
| Working pattern: | Hybrid - 4 days remote |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 19 Nov 2026 |
Summary
MAIN PURPOSE
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications is responsible for providing leadership & strategic direction for BUCS’ marketing & communications in line with our strategic objectives. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will contribute to the collective leadership & strategic development of BUCS, whilst retaining specific delegated responsibility for the organisation’s marketing & communications agenda.
As a leader in an ambitious & transforming organisation, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will be responsible for shaping & driving a contemporary marketing & communications approach that increases the profile, reach & reputation of BUCS, supports organisational strategy outcomes & strengthens the value we provide to students, member institutions & partners.
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will use professional marketing expertise to build commercial potential & support the effective servicing of commercial partners, whilst ensuring that the marketing & communications needs of members remain central to BUCS’ approach. This will include developing creative & effective approaches to marketing with & to students, supporting increased entries to BUCS sport events & programmes & delegates at member events, increasing BUCS’ profile in sport & in Higher Education, & ensuring that BUCS’ broadcast profile supports organisational strategy outcomes.
Reporting to the CEO, the Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will provide strategic leadership for the effective development & delivery of BUCS’ activity in this area, ensuring that content, campaigns, channels & platforms are aligned to organisational priorities & the needs of our audiences.
The Associate Director - Marketing & Communications will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Management Team, members, participants, partners & wider stakeholders to ensure that BUCS’ marketing & communications activity is creative, contemporary, inclusive & impactful.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide strategic leadership to BUCS’ marketing & communications functions, ensuring activity is innovative, contemporary, dynamic & aligned to organisational strategy.
Develop & deliver a strategic marketing & communications programme that increases the reach, reputation & influence of BUCS across higher education, sport & wider stakeholder audiences, whilst creating value for members, participants & partners.
Work as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to collective organisational leadership, strategic decision-making & the delivery of BUCS’ wider strategic priorities, with appropriate budget management & responsibilities.
Develop creative & contemporary approaches to marketing with & to students, using insight to increase engagement, support entries to BUCS sport events & generate excitement & momentum with students for BUCS sporting offer & partner activations.
Lead high-quality corporate & member communications, ensuring BUCS’ voice is active on key issues & milestones & that members receive the information they need & drive attendance at member events.
Drive respectful & fruitful member relationships, securing member & participant voice & ensuring marketing, communications & content reflect the diverse range of students & members we serve, including developing BUCS’ platforming of students as authentic voices & creators.
Work collaboratively with the Director of Sport & relevant colleagues to promote the BUCS sport portfolio & maximise opportunities through events, broadcast, storytelling & social media.
Ensure that BUCS’ broadcast & content profile supports organisational strategy outcomes, using key moments in the BUCS programme to extend reach, reputation & impact.
Use research, insight & performance data to inform marketing & communications activity, evaluate impact & support key messaging, audience development, partner reporting & the BUCS annual Impact Report.
Lead the evolution, development & application of BUCS’ brand & visual identity, ensuring consistently high standards of graphic design & creative presentation organisation wide.
Work with commercial colleagues to use marketing expertise to build BUCS’ commercial potential, develop effective propositions & provide high-quality marketing & communications support to commercial partners & contributing to commercial stakeholder engagement.
Support the effective design, development & use of BUCS’ digital platforms & tools, maximising their contribution to marketing, communications & audience engagement.
Optimise marketing & communications policies, systems & processes, overseeing relevant suppliers & resources & providing effective management information to support decision-making.
STAFF
Ensure that BUCS has an exceptional staffing experience within the marketing & communications function by establishing cultural & management practices that enable staff to thrive.
Drive an organisational culture within the marketing & communications function that is founded on the BUCS values of respectfulness, inclusiveness, dynamism & innovation, measuring the impact of this with colleagues & stakeholders, including the Head of Belonging.
Lead the development of initiatives that encourage creativity, collaboration & open communication, building confidence & trust as a platform for exceptional organisational performance.
Lead the professional development of colleagues in the team, ensuring access to appropriate training, development & professional support that enables staff & the organisation to thrive.
Design, deliver training & support, monitor & evaluate relevant staff performance review processes ensuring that they drive a transparent, fair & equitable basis for the assessment of staff performance, enabling BUCS & its people to thrive, driving personal & organisational success.
Provide support to colleagues as required, including one-to-one, mentoring & access to specialists.
Ensure that team members understand the strategic priorities of BUCS & can translate these into creative, effective & measurable activity.
Support a culture in which staff are encouraged to innovate, test new approaches, learn from activity & respond dynamically to changing audience & organisational needs.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
