This is a brand new opportunity due to NEXT’s massive ecommerce growth. You will be responsible for the strategic management of NEXT’s social media channels, from both a content and a paid activation perspective across all relevant social media platforms across the world, and be responsible for a budget in excess of £10million. You will create best in class strategies that deliver commercial results, engage new and prospective customers in a creative and inspirational way. You will have exceptional understanding of the social media platforms, how paid activations can leverage the platforms algorithms, AI and advancements to provide the highest return on investment for NEXT.

As the Head of Social Media you will also be a key member of the digital marketing leadership team, acting as the glue between digital marketing, the broader ecommerce team, Product, Creative, Retail and PR teams to ensure alignment of key messaging for our customers . You must be able to work collaboratively with internal teams at NEXT and establish strong relationships with our key external partners, such as our media agency, influencer/talent agencies and the social media platforms themselves .

You will build, develop, manage and lead a team of social media professionals including paid performance marketing specialists, content creators and social channel leads and you will have a team of 4 direct reports with a wider team of 12+ staff.

NEXT plc offers a highly competitive salary, bonus scheme and benefits, flexible working and location for the right candidate. Our HQ is in Leicestershire, regular travel there is essential (Post Covid min once per week). Our satellite office in London combined with home/remote working is an option too

About the Role:

Deliver

• Deliver an integrated social media strategy for NEXT
• Deliver content and campaigns within agreed budgets.
• Create exciting and interesting content for our most loyal followers via organic activity; we want creative innovation at its best.
• Deliver commercial content and creative for paid activation.? Robust reporting on performance on social media platforms and activations using tools such as Google Analytics and Facebook insights
• To the targets set, such as return on investment (ROAS), reach and positive customer engagement.

Enhance

• Make recommendations on how to NEXT can enhance their approach to social marketing – from operational enhancements to new propositions
• Keep up to date with latest innovations in social media marketing in order to enable NEXT to develop a market leading position in retail.
• Operate an agile constant test and learn strategy

Communicate

• Work extremely closely and collaboratively with the team that manages cross channel paid media activations and technical management of activity to support performance marketing
• Work closely and build relationships with your NEXT Product colleagues.
   

About you:

• Degree in relevant discipline
• 7+ years in social media marketing, including substantial paid activity and creative development
• Unique blend of creative instincts, social media marketing experience, measurement and management skills
• Proven ability on how to use social media to strategically build brands, create attention and build brand salience.
• A thorough understanding of the capabilities of social media and its ability to connect with audiences via owned and paid activity.
• Proven ability to manage large budgets..
• Experience in performance marketing via social media platforms.
• Proven ability to inspire, build and develop teams in a large organisation
• Provide inspirational and creative thought leadership on social media marketing.
• A creative individual who is highly numerate
• Proven ability to build excellent relationships.
• Proven ability to effectively operationally / project manage teams to deliver campaigns
• Good knowledge of retailer e-commerce objectives and ways of working

Benefits

• Company Car
• Management Share Options
• Bonus Scheme
• Pension Scheme
• ShareSave Scheme
• Private Medical Cover
• Life Assurance
• Staff Discount
• Possible Relocation Package
• Accommodation or Transport costs
• On-site Nursery

About Next

You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 43,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 540 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 70 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!