Salary Circa £54,000 per annum

Contract type Fixed Term

Location Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AD (Agile; approximately 2 days a week from our office)

Published

21 hours ago

Closing

in 19 days

This is a Fixed Term, 12-months, Full Time vacancy that will close in 19 days at 23:59 GMT.

The Vacancy

The Senior Direct Marketing Manager (Acquisition) – FTC, will lead on the planning, development and delivery of the Direct Marketing strategy and plan. You will play a key role in the delivery of our Fundraising & Marketing strategy; particularly in the area of growing our base through effective acquisition and activation of new supporters. You will also be accountable for high quality, compliance and standard in all activity.

You will work effectively across the organisation, collaborating with various teams and stakeholders, as well as managing a number of significant third-party relationships.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract to cover a period of maternity.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and planning

• Responsibility for delivery of the Direct Marketing Acquisition programme, team and all relevant plans.
• Play a key role in the development and application of the charities emerging Fundraising & Marketing Strategy, including driving growth and diversification in Individual Giving programmes.
• Lead the development of an Acquisition Direct Marketing strategy and principles to inform the future of cash, gaming and regular giving products and growth plans.
• Lead acquisition in the development of the Direct Marketing annual Operational Plans; consulting to ensure consistency and collaboration across principal organisational themes and the plans of other related teams across the organisation.
• Maintain a flexible approach to investment and plans to optimise in-year results, progression and returns on investment.
• Ensure integration of strategies and plans across the charity, most notably across relevant Programme Boards/Project Groups and in key, relevant organisational priority areas, for example, under our strategic pillar of growing our base.

Budgeting and reporting

• Compile long-term forecasts, and annual budgets in line with the annual operational planning cycle, across all acquisition; considering links and integration with the engagement and retention programmes and including scenario planning as required.
• Manage the team to deliver quarterly reforecasts in line with the annual cycle, making recommendations around budget allocation and managing expectations throughout.
• Regular financial performance reporting.
• Ensure end of campaign reporting, learnings and indicated actions are routinely delivered by the team, with the Data, Digital and Marketing planning teams (among others) and agency partners playing an active role.
• Compile updates and monthly reports for senior management, as well as inputting to quarterly trustees reports.
• Detailed reporting geared towards a longer-term view of performance; covering long-term & ROI modelling, lifetime value and onward support.

Team and agency management

• Management and development of a team of individual giving fundraising specialists.
• Empowering team members to succeed and grow with clear, SMART objectives and development plans in place.
• Complete routine 1-1 meetings and annual appraisals with direct reports.
• Ensure the Acquisition team are involved in, engaged with and can contribute to ongoing and annual plans.
• Develop a high performing team who work collaboratively across the charity. Consider team structure and propose recommendations to any required change to support future growth and diversification.
• Consider team structure and propose recommendations to any required change to support future growth and diversification.
• Manage all Direct Marketing Acquisition agency relationships, from recommendations around partners to due diligence around procurement and contracts, and routine performance reviews and contract renewals.

Programme and campaign management

• Lead the development and delivery of the direct marketing acquisition programme and strategy.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of all direct marketing acquisition activity; ensuring the plan and campaigns are in market on time, on budget and on brand, with ongoing test and learn to drive continuous improvement. And quality and compliance are considered and applied throughout.
• Primary lead for individual giving acquisition/activation in charity-wide projects and groups; putting supporters at the heart of what we do as well as feeding into integrated ‘top of the funnel’ projects, groups and plans.
• Annual planning of acquisition direct marketing; including operational planning and the development of any other relevant marketing plans.
• Ensure the campaign planning and delivery cycle is adhered to across the team, and all stakeholders are well managed.
• Ensure routine end of campaign reviews and analysis (with suppliers’ as well as your own), with proactive adaptation of plans to optimise results.
• Ensure contingency plans and activities are in place to close any expected income gaps.
• Programme optimisation to ensure contribution targets are met and contingency planning as required to close any anticipated income gaps.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Budget management experience – preferably across expenditure and income
• Campaign management – specifically direct marketing campaigns
• Media planning experience – across a range of media types
• Agency management – including creative and professional acquisition fundraising agencies as well as others such as printers and market researchers
• Demonstrable people management experience
• Ability to understand complex data sets and compile meaningful reports and analysis
• Excellent attention to detail
• Effective in collaboration and cross-team working
• Strategic and critical thinking
• Getting the best out of people and partner agencies
• Understanding of compliance in direct marketing

The closing date for applications is the 7th December 2025, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country. Recently, the company has won multiple workplace environment awards and has an outstanding record of employee satisfaction.

The Benefits

Benefit 1

Benefit 2

Benefit 3

Benefit 4

The Values

• Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

• Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

• Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

The Charity

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

The Benefits

It is important to offer a range of benefits which are designed to meet both the organisational and individual needs, are market competitive and designed to attract and retain employees.

For more details on working for Alzheimer's Research UK click here.

Holiday entitlement

Healthcare

Sick pay

Pension

Cycle to work scheme

Family friendly policies

Learning & development

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