The role
We are looking for a talented and driven Marketing Manager to lead the marketing delivery for a brand-new design industry event launch – Design at Work: New York.
This is an exciting opportunity to build a marketing strategy from scratch, shaping the brand identity, driving exhibitor demand and visitor registrations, and creating standout market awareness in a competitive sector.
You’ll be responsible for planning and executing high-impact campaigns across digital, partnerships, content, CRM, and PR support, working closely with the commercial team and senior stakeholders to ensure the launch lands with momentum and credibility.
Key responsibilities
Marketing strategy and campaign planning
- Deliver the end-to-end marketing strategy for the launch event, aligned to commercial and audience growth goals
- Build and manage the marketing plan and campaign calendar across key milestones (launch, sales phases, visitor drive, show open)
- Define campaign messaging and positioning in collaboration with leadership, content and design teams
- Support audience segmentation and channel planning to drive high-quality leads and registrations
Visitor marketing and registration growth
- Drive visitor attendance through multi-channel campaigns, with a strong focus on registration volume and quality
- Build targeted messaging for core audience groups (designers, architects, specifiers, buyers, developers, etc.)
- Own the visitor comms journey including sign-up, nurture, and onsite conversion
- Work with internal teams to ensure a smooth registration process and strong visitor experience pre-event
Exhibitor marketing support
- Work closely with the Commercial Manager to support exhibitor pipeline growth and sales conversion
- Create marketing assets and campaign activity that supports exhibitor acquisition (B2B lead gen, launch announcements, sector features)
- Develop exhibitor toolkits and promotional packs to help partners drive their own attendance and ROI
- Ensure marketing activity reflects the premium nature of the proposition and helps support retention into year two
Digital, CRM and performance marketing
- Own campaign performance across email marketing, paid social, organic social, website updates and tracking
- Build and optimise CRM journeys for visitors, exhibitors and partners
- Monitor and report on marketing performance (registrations, CPL, engagement, conversion rates, database growth)
- Collaborate with internal digital teams or agencies to deliver effective paid and retargeting campaigns
Content and social media
- Manage the content plan in collaboration with internal stakeholders to build credibility and excitement
- Deliver engaging social media campaigns that grow awareness, community and registrations
- Work with design and content teams to create high-quality marketing materials and storytelling
- Ensure consistent tone of voice across all outputs, aligned to the new brand
Partnerships, PR and industry positioning
- Support PR activity by supplying marketing messaging, launch content, and campaign assets
- Build relationships with industry partners and associations to extend reach and credibility
- Identify strategic opportunities for cross-promotion and collaboration within the design community
- Support launch moments that build buzz: announcements, key exhibitor reveals, speaker/content drops
Budget and stakeholder management
- Manage the marketing budget and ensure spend is allocated effectively to achieve outcomes
- Work cross-functionally with sales, content, operations, and leadership, to align priorities and delivery
- Maintain clear reporting and communication, ensuring deadlines and outputs are met
Skills & Experience
- Proven marketing experience in events, exhibitions, B2B media or a similar environment
- Strong campaign management skills across email, social, digital and visitor acquisition
- Confident managing multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced launch environment
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Strong copywriting and messaging skills with an audience-first mindset
- Comfortable working with reporting, data, and performance marketing metrics
- A proactive, hands-on approach and willingness to “get stuck in”
- Experience launching a new event, product, or brand
- Familiarity with design, interiors, architecture or the built environment
- Experience working with CRM platforms and marketing automation
- Experience briefing and managing external agencies (creative, paid media, PR)
Personal Attributes
- Energetic and ambitious, thrives in a build phase/start-up
- Creative but commercially aware
- Collaborative and confident working across teams
- Solutions-driven and adaptable
- Passionate about delivering high-quality brand experiences
This role is predominantly based in our head office in Loughton, Essex. The working hours will mostly be in line with New York, typically 12.00hrs to 20.15hrs GMT Monday to Friday. This role requires travel to New York at least 4-5 times per year.