Xtra Mile Events, the mass participation events firm behind the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon and a raft of high profile triathlons, duathlons and running events across the North West of England, Yorkshire and Wales, is seeking a Marketing Manager to support its next phase of growth.
Reporting to Xtra Mile’s Director of Marketing and HR, the Marketing Manager role is based at the Xtra Mile Events office in Hale, South Manchester. The permanent full-time role role will require attendance at some of the company’s events – currently located across northern Wales and the north of England.
The company philosophy of going ‘the xtra mile’ has resulted in thousands of loyal and highly engaged athletes; and the company is now looking to take this to the next level via increasing the marketing support in the organisation.
A Marketing Manager is sought to improve the breadth, quality and effectiveness of marketing and communications, both internally and externally. The role-holder will assess the marketing needs of the company, and then devise and implement relevant campaigns, initiatives and ongoing activities within a strategic framework.
Key responsibilities: Working within the philosophy of Xtra Mile Events, the Marketing Manager role will address:
Marketing strategy
- Formulate a new marketing strategy, to be regularly reviewed and reported on. This is likely to include:
- Gaining an understanding of requirements of staff, stakeholders and customers; e.g. via use of surveys, focus groups, and survey analysis (building customer profiles, highlighting target markets, etc)
- Use of statistical info (e.g. Google Analytics, online advertising data, internal records) to measure and assess current marketing channels
- Recommendations for improving marketing prior, during and post-events
- Recommendations for campaigns, initiatives, and even events for existing and new markets
Implementation of marketing strategy
- The role-holder will action the Marketing Strategy, including:
- Overseeing production and distribution of marketing materials, all social media mediums, communications with customers, brand management, target marketing, etc
- Implement the advertising strategy across multiple channels
- Conception and production of initiatives which build brand-loyalty
- Increasing Xtra Mile’s customer base in existing markets, and exploring opportunities for attracting new and emerging audiences to the company’s portfolio
- Finding and developing relationships with new marketing partners
- Management of social media channels
- Completing and submitting entries for relevant industry awards
Reports
- The Marketing Manager will regularly monitor and report on mar-coms activity, and the stakeholder reaction to this activity i.e. what impact it has had.
- Working within the company values, the Marketing Manager will aim to meet or exceed key performance indicators (KPIs). The role holder will report progress against these KPIs.
Press relations
- Negotiate and maintain relations with relevant press; and liaison with PR agency.
Website and social media
- Ensure all online content and communications are fresh, of interest and up to date.
Surveys
- Working with the lead member of staff, assist with the regular customer surveys; and provide analysis of the results of these (in relation to marketing).
Meetings
- Attend regular team meetings
- Attend meetings with relevant partners and other stakeholders
- Continuous improvement
- Highlight areas for improvement, and action these where possible
Team member
- Act as member of the Xtra Mile Events team, for example, answering the office phone, and attending some events.
Any other duties
- Carry out any other duties, as required.
Skills and experience sought:
Skills
- Ability to manage marketing campaigns from planning through to delivery and reporting
- Self-sufficient with the ability to manage upwards
- Creative thinking
- Strong relationship development and management skills
- A passion for analytical and statistical reporting and utilising learnings to inform decisions
- Good planning and organisation skills with an efficient work speed
- Ability to plan, implement and analyse online advertising
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral
- Customer service approach
- Team player
Desirable experience
- Ticket / event / sport related marketing experience
- Planning and activating marketing campaigns
- Devising / implementing pricing & sales strategies
- Compiling marketing campaign reports
- Experience across a broad spectrum of marketing channels / platforms (Advertising/Online/Partnerships etc)
- Delivering partnership led marketing initiatives
- Deployment and management of marketing budgets
- Exposure / input to marketing creative design
- Use of social media for marketing
Objectives:
- Increase the number of annual participants in Xtra Mile Events (by annually agreed %)
- Production of an overall marketing strategy, including plans for marketing individual events, (delivered two months after start date)
- Provide regular progress reports, and facts and figures at team meetings throughout the year
- Provide reports for company management/board, as required
- Input into regular surveys, and produce relevant recommendations from the results of these
- Enter the company into at least three relevant industry awards per year; with the aim of winning (or at least being short-listed for) these
- Work within the ethos of the company’s strategy; and be able to recite and explain the company’s key values
Start date: July 2013 (or ASAP)
Salary: £23,000 – £28,000 (commensurate with experience)
Xtra Mile Events is an award-winning professional sports events management company, which organises a range of high quality triathlons, duathlons, runs, and other endurance sports events across Wales, the North West of England and Yorkshire. Their company includes the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, Ffit Conwy Llandudno Sea Triathlon and Buxton Triathlon, amongst others. To date, over 50,000 people have taken part in the company’s events since 2007, when Xtra Mile Events was established.
Application
In the first instance, interested parties should email a CV and covering letter to Gemma Herbertson at gemma[at]xtramileevents.com by 1 July 2014. For any queries, please contact the company on 0161 928 6795.
www.XtraMileEvents.com
www.GreaterManchesterMarathon.com
