Digital marketing director job description.

What does a digital marketing director?

 

A digital marketing director leads the entire digital marketing strategy for a business. The role combines senior-level planning with commercial oversight across paid media, SEO, CRM, content, performance, and digital experience.

 

They manage multi-channel campaigns, own performance targets, oversee marketing teams or department leads, and report directly to the C-suite. In many organisations, the digital marketing director also contributes to revenue planning, investment strategy, and cross-departmental alignment.

 

For employers, hiring a digital marketing director means bringing commercial impact, strategic clarity, and operational accountability to your marketing function. For candidates, it’s an opportunity to own digital performance at scale and contribute to wider business growth.

 

Key responsibilities of a digital marketing director.

 

Responsibilities vary by business model and team structure, but typically include:

• Defining and leading the long-term digital marketing strategy

• Managing departmental performance across paid, organic, CRM, and content channels

• Setting goals and KPIs for acquisition, retention, and ROI

• Managing internal teams or department heads across performance and brand marketing

• Aligning digital marketing strategy with commercial, product, and sales objectives

• Leading the digital budget and forecasting for media, platforms, and talent

• Driving innovation in customer journey optimisation, automation, and analytics

• Presenting insights and performance results to the executive team or board

• Overseeing the rollout of digital campaigns across UK or global markets

• Ensuring data-led decision making across the marketing department

In high-growth or tech-driven companies, the digital marketing director may also work closely with product teams, digital transformation leads, or investor stakeholders.

 

Skills and requirements for a digital marketing director.

 

Businesses typically look for experienced leaders who combine marketing expertise, commercial thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. Core requirements include:

• 8 to 12 years of digital marketing experience, with at least 3 to 5 years in a senior leadership role

• A strong record of delivering growth through multi-channel campaigns

• Experience managing departmental budgets and leading teams

• In-depth understanding of paid media, SEO, CRM, CRO, and digital analytics

• Commercial awareness and the ability to link marketing to revenue outcomes

• Strategic planning capability with operational oversight

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

• Familiarity with enterprise-level platforms (e.g. Salesforce, HubSpot, Adobe, GA4)

• Experience building scalable marketing systems and team structures

Most digital marketing directors have worked across both B2B and B2C brands, often with experience in scaling, restructuring, or transforming digital functions.

 

Average salary for a digital marketing director.

 

In the UK, the average salary for a digital marketing director typically ranges from £90,000 to £130,000, depending on experience, company size, and sector.

• Mid-sized or regional businesses may offer between £90,000 and £105,000

• Larger organisations, global brands, or investor-backed companies may offer £110,000 to £130,000+

• Senior roles often include bonus schemes, equity, or long-term incentive plans

Salaries are highest in London and in performance-focused industries like SaaS, fintech, ecommerce, and tech-enabled B2B.

 

Career progression for a digital marketing director.

 

The digital marketing director role is a senior leadership position that often leads to executive or board-level roles. A typical path includes:

 

Head of digital

 

Owns strategy across performance channels, CRM, and analytics. Manages department operations.

 

Digital marketing director

 

Leads the full digital function, aligns marketing strategy with revenue targets, and contributes to business-wide planning.

 

Chief marketing officer (CMO)

 

Board-level executive responsible for brand, customer, and commercial strategy. Owns multi-department performance.

 

Chief growth officer

 

Takes on broader responsibility across sales, product, and customer lifecycle. Often sits on the leadership team or executive board.

 

Some professionals also move into consultancy, advisory, or non-executive board roles.