Marketing director job description.
Looking to hire a marketing director or move into an executive leadership role? This page covers everything you need to know. From core responsibilities and essential skills to average salaries and long-term progression, this marketing director job description is designed to support hiring decisions and help senior marketers navigate their next move.
What does a marketing director do?
A marketing director sets the strategic vision for a company’s marketing function and oversees its execution across all channels and teams. The role involves high-level planning, team leadership, performance ownership, and direct collaboration with board-level stakeholders.
Marketing directors lead departments responsible for brand, demand generation, digital, communications, and creative. They ensure that marketing contributes directly to business growth, customer acquisition, and revenue. In many businesses, they are also responsible for aligning marketing with commercial goals, product strategy, and investor expectations.
For employers, hiring a marketing director brings leadership, structure, and accountability to your marketing team. For candidates, it’s an opportunity to shape strategy at the highest level and influence how the business grows.
Key responsibilities of a marketing director.
Responsibilities will vary depending on business size, structure, and sector, but typically include:
- Leading the long-term marketing strategy and positioning of the business
- Managing senior marketers and department heads across digital, brand, content, and CRM
- Working with the board or C-suite to align marketing with company objectives
- Setting KPIs and owning the performance of the marketing department
- Overseeing large-scale marketing budgets, forecasts, and reporting
- Owning brand development, messaging, and market positioning
- Leading demand generation and customer acquisition strategies
- Managing supplier and agency relationships at a senior level
- Supporting international expansion or product launches, where relevant
- Presenting performance updates, market insights, and strategic recommendations at board level
The marketing director may also work closely with sales, operations, finance, and product to ensure marketing drives impact across the business.
Skills and requirements for a marketing director.
Marketing directors need a combination of commercial thinking, leadership, and technical marketing knowledge. Employers typically look for:
- 8 to 15 years of marketing experience, with proven senior leadership roles
- A track record of delivering strategic growth through marketing
- Experience managing cross-functional marketing departments
- Budget and resource ownership at departmental level
- Confident communication and board presentation skills
- Strong understanding of brand, performance, and digital strategy
- The ability to lead teams through change, growth, or transformation
- Commercial awareness and an ability to connect marketing with revenue
- Familiarity with enterprise-level marketing tools, CRM platforms, and analytics systems
Most marketing directors have worked across multiple sectors, led large teams, and have experience reporting directly into the board. A degree or CIM qualification may be expected, but results and leadership usually matter more.
Average salary for a marketing director.
In the UK, the average salary for a marketing director typically ranges from £80,000 to £120,000, depending on business size, sector, and location.
- Mid-sized businesses or regional roles may offer between £80,000 and £95,000
- Larger corporates or high-growth companies may offer £100,000 to £120,000+
- Many roles include bonuses, equity, or performance-related incentives
Salaries are generally higher in London and in sectors such as SaaS, fintech, ecommerce, and private equity-backed businesses.
Career progression for a marketing director.
The marketing director role is typically the final step before board-level appointment. A common career path includes:
Head of marketing
Leads the function day-to-day. Owns strategy, team, and performance reporting. Reports to a director or CMO.
Marketing director
Sets departmental strategy, owns commercial performance, and represents marketing at leadership level. Often reports into the CEO or board.
Chief marketing officer (CMO)
Exec-level leadership role responsible for global strategy, investor alignment, and multi-market planning. Part of the executive board or leadership committee.
Some marketing directors also move into broader commercial or general management roles, depending on their exposure to sales, product, or revenue ownership.
SEO and Content Executive
Senior SEO Consultant
Senior Paid Media Manager
Office & Finance Manager
salary guide
Our UK marketing salary guide.
Hiring a marketing director or exploring your next senior move?
Our 2025 UK salary guide provides detailed benchmarks for marketing director salaries across sectors and regions.
Whether you're preparing to recruit or ready to negotiate your next package, use it to understand current market expectations at this level.
FAQS
Marketing director FAQS.
They lead the overall marketing strategy, manage departments, and align marketing with company-wide commercial goals. They report into the board and influence the direction of the business.
A marketing director leads the department, while a CMO typically holds a board seat and has broader influence across global or multi-functional strategy. In smaller businesses, the titles are sometimes used interchangeably.
Salaries range from £80,000 to £120,000, depending on company size, sector, and location. Bonuses or equity are often included at this level.
Focus on strategy, commercial impact, and leadership. Include budgets managed, team sizes, revenue growth metrics, and platforms or regions you've scaled.
Typically 3 to 5 years, depending on company growth, structural changes, or progression into a CMO or commercial leadership role.
SaaS companies, ecommerce brands, consumer product groups, global agencies, and scale-ups across multiple sectors hire marketing directors to lead growth strategy and performance.
