I am delighted that you are considering applying for the role of Director of Marketing at Imperial College London.
We are one of the world’s leading universities for science, engineering, medicine and business, founded in 1907 and long recognised for the excellence of our research, education and innovation. Throughout our history, we have sought not only to be a world-leading university, but a world-changing one, combining discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship to create real-world impact and tackle the greatest challenges facing humanity.
This is an exciting and important moment for Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment and Admissions (MORA) at Imperial. Our Science for Humanity strategy sets out how we will shape the future for our students, our community and the wider world, and how we will attract, nurture and champion the best local, national and global talent wherever it is found. Within that, Marketing has a central role to play.
As we look ahead, we are ambitious not only about growth, but about the kind of growth we deliver: broadening access to opportunity, breaking down barriers to entry, and ensuring that the brightest minds can see Imperial as a place where they belong and can thrive, regardless of their background.
The Director of Marketing will provide leadership across our Campaigns, Digital and Creative Services and Faculty Marketing teams, helping us deliver an integrated, insight-led and globally ambitious approach to marketing, brand and candidate engagement. Working collaboratively across the university, the role will help ensure that Imperial continues to attract the most talented students from across the UK and around the world, while delivering a welcoming, inclusive and digitally enabled candidate journey from first awareness through to enrolment.
This role also comes at a significant moment of transformation and opportunity. From the continued development of Imperial 360 and our wider pre-enrolment digital strategy, to the evolving ways in which students engage with institutions globally, there is tremendous scope to collaboratively shape the future direction of marketing at Imperial in line with our wider strategic ambition; working with colleagues from across the institution.
We are looking for an experienced, collaborative and innovative leader who brings both strategic perspective and operational excellence, alongside a genuine enthusiasm for the power of marketing, storytelling and digital engagement in a world-leading university environment.
As part of the wider Professional Services leadership community, you will join an ambitious, supportive and highly committed group of colleagues who are passionate about delivering exceptional experiences for our students and community.
I wish you the very best of luck in your application.
Our strategy, Science for Humanity, is unashamedly ambitious in seeking to maximise Imperial’s potential as a force for good in the world. It builds on the university’s strong disciplinary foundations, highly collaborative and collegial culture, passion for innovation, proven convening power, extensive global partnerships, incredible network of alumni, friends and supporters and world top ten ranking.
Our strategy highlights a number of cross-institutional initiatives that will consolidate our position among the world’s leading institutions tackling global grand challenges. The Imperial Class of 2030 is an ambitious multi-pronged programme to nurture the most talented, the most enterprising and the most diverse graduating class we have ever had the privilege to serve. This will be in part driven by new investments in our Imperial Inspires Scholarship Programme, our digital and virtual learning environment and our campuses, including the next phase of our White City Deep Tech Campus.
We will be launching a major recruitment drive, the Imperial Future Leaders Campaign and we are investing in leadership development and skills for our diverse community, including the new Imperial Leadership Academy. We will shortly launch Imperial Lifelong Learning, which will help future-proof careers, businesses and communities by providing the advanced skills training and values-driven leadership needed to thrive in a tech-enabled world.
We have created a new cross-institutional School of Convergence Science to bring intense focus, interrogation and research impact to the emergent forces shaping our future at unprecedented scale:
And through our new Imperial Global network we are achieving greater global collaboration to meet global grand challenges. To further energise our vibrant enterprise ecosystem, we are creating a new venture fund, Science Capital. And we will deepen our partnerships with government, industry, our NHS partners, local communities and other stakeholders to establish WestTech London, to maximise our collective potential as a powerful engine for innovation, job creation and inclusive growth.
And underpinning everything that we do is Sustainable Imperial – our university-wide commitment to play a leading role in the global fight against climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Our founding mission was ‘to be useful’; an understated precis of all that our exceptional teaching, research and innovation have made and continue to make possible.
But before we can usefully change the world, we must first seek to understand it. Our strategy engages with, and animates, this foundational idea: that Imperial’s shared purpose is one of inquiry and action. A scientific mindset that encourages imagination, celebrates precision, demands patience, insists on humility, rewards accidents, steels our backs and makes us brave.
In science, as in strategy, there is no easy prophecy and no shortcut to progress. An understanding – sharpened, deepened, or totally new – is the first and only precondition.
Leading science
We are a science-based university with a difference. Our enduring STEMB focus, and the exceptional disciplinary foundations that underpin it, are the reason for our continued high-impact trajectory and
place among the top ten universities in the world.
Interdisciplinary research
We are an ecosystem that thrives on connection and collaboration. The complexity of the challenges before us demands a truly integrated interdisciplinary approach. At Imperial, we forge links between faculties, departments, disciplines, industries, governments and more because we know that greater possibility for advancement is found at those intersections.
Inspiring students
We are a welcoming home for scientific imagination; a place where exceptional minds are enabled with inspiration, resource and freedom so that they might look deeper, dream further and ask bigger questions.
Meaningful impact
We have the spirit of a 117-year-old startup with an agility and orientation to the future that belies our age and heritage. Here you will find a culture of discovery, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, where breakthrough science is chased, translated and applied at incredible speed and with transformative impact.
A trusted partner
We are an ally of progress, seen by many of the world’s leading knowledge and technology-driven organisations as a cultivator of exceptional talent and future leaders, and trusted as the partner of choice for research, innovation and impact.
The legacy of London
We are a global hub in a global city. Our work shapes the world and our community reflects it, brought together by the undeniable gravitational pull of London’s energy, creativity, diversity, economy and opportunity.
This strategy imagines a path through an unpredictable world that is facing unprecedented challenges. It is a blueprint to ensure we continue to maximise our potential as a force for good in the world, to deepen our rare and specific competencies, and to serve students and society in the uncertainty of tomorrow.
After all, as one of the world’s leading research universities, we are purpose-built to engage with uncertainty, and to summon our strengths against it. This is how we prepare for the expected and the unexpected. This is how we rigorously fulfil our educational mission and our research potential.
It is how we shape the future. And it begins with three core aims.
To ensure our strategy will have a meaningful and enduring impact, we know we must create opportunities for everyone in our community to fulfil their potential – always guided by our values and behaviours: Respect, Collaboration, Excellence, Innovation and Integrity.
Great people
We will continue to attract, nurture and support world-class talent from everywhere. Our strength comes from celebrating and harnessing the diversity of our community where everyone contributes their own perspective, experience and skills so that together we can excel in the delivery of our shared mission.
We will champion an inclusive culture and invest in people so that they are inspired and equipped tounleash their potential. We will build and maintain a culture centred on the wellbeing, growth and belonging of our community. We will create a diverse and vibrant community where our values are evident to all, and we are recognised as innovators in every aspect of our work.
Great environment
We will create an integrated human, physical and digital ecosystem that fosters and facilitates collaboration and community and promotes discovery, learning and innovation. And we will deliver sustainable campuses to meet our 2040 Net Zero Carbon commitments.
The pace of technological change has never been faster. We will leverage the digital landscape and increased digital innovation to grasp new opportunities that are essential to the achievement of our world-class
research and education. We will create a world-class digital experience for students. Our staff will have the tools and facilities they need to undertake world-changing research.
Great support
A world-leading academic endeavour must provide everyone with the opportunities and tools they need to thrive. We will support our staff to deliver an inspirational education and to take the inception of a research idea through to publication and translation into real-world application.
We will give our students a consistently inspiring, tailored and supportive experience from application through to their lifelong interactions with Imperial as part of our alumni community. We will foster a culture of innovation and practice of continuous improvement where colleagues are empowered to combine their strengths collectively to turn great ideas into an even better service.
At Imperial, we believe that excellence thrives in an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to succeed. Located in the heart of one of the world’s most diverse cities, we are proud to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as a core pillar of our institutional strategy.
We are committed to embedding EDI into everything we do – from our research and teaching to our clinical practice, entrepreneurship, and public engagement. Our mission is clear: to achieve enduring excellence in science, engineering, medicine, and business for the benefit of society. To do this, we must reflect the richness of the world around us and ensure that all voices are heard and valued.
Imperial is more than a university – it’s a community. And our success depends on creating a culture where everyone, regardless of background or identity, can thrive. We aim to foster a workplace and learning environment that celebrates difference, encourages collaboration, and enables all individuals to reach their full potential.
Why EDI Matters
We know that the best ideas come from diverse perspectives. To ask the right questions and find meaningful answers, we need to bring together people from all walks of life. Embracing equality, diversity, and inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s essential to achieving true excellence.
Our commitment goes beyond legal compliance or social responsibility. It’s about recognising that excellence comes in many forms, and that a truly inclusive culture drives innovation, creativity, and progress.
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/strategy/
Foreword from Professor Hugh Brady, President
Since our founding in 1907, Imperial has sought to be not only a world-leading university, but a world-changing one. We have combined our tremendous strength in science, engineering, medicine and business (STEMB) with scientific discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship, to create real-world impact.
Every day our students, staff and partners come together to interrogate the forces that shape our world. We do it so we can use that understanding to tackle the biggest challenges facing humanity and shape a better future. Sometimes, and this is one of those times, this means interrogating the forces that shape the future of our own university.
That is why, one year ago, we came together to ask ourselves a question: “How do we maximise our potential as a force for good in the world?” This document addresses that question; an actionable plan that unlocks more of the power of science to serve humanity. This is how we shape the future – for our students, our community, our planet and everyone who calls it home.
The strategy reflects the purpose and priorities of our staff, students and global Imperial community. It is the result of an engaging and inspiring consultation both within and outside Imperial. We thank everyone who contributed their big ideas and bold ambition to this process.
I hope you will be as inspired as I am by what we have achieved so far and all we will achieve together.
Science for humanity: How we shape the future – for our students, our community, our planet and everyone who calls it home. View our strategy here.
Our strategy will develop the people and skills the world needs now and into the future. We will work to attract, nurture and champion the best local, national and global talent wherever they are, and to empower them with everything they need to make a meaningful difference.
Our strategy is a plan to strengthen Imperial’s enabling environment for discovery, innovation and impact. We will create an even more deeply connected knowledge community and interdisciplinary research powerhouse that will meet the scale and urgency of the moment and respond with intelligence, responsibility and agility to everything that comes next.
Our strategy will help to accelerate Imperial towards, and scale the impact of, new discoveries, inventions and ideas, and position us as a trusted convenor and partner for knowledge and tech organisations across the globe. We will look beyond our London campuses to our wider network and wider responsibility, honouring our social and civic purpose, in London for the world.
Department/Division/Faculty: MORA (Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment and Admissions)
Campus/Location: White City and South Kensington
Job Family/Level: Professional Services Level 6 (Salary scales)
Responsible to: Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer
Line management for: Head of Digital and Creative Services, Head of Campaign Management, Head of Faculty Marketing
Key working Relationships (Internal): Senior members of Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment and Admissions and across Academic Services, Provost, University Secretary, Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience), Vice-President Communications and Strategic Engagement, Faculty Deans, Vice-Deans, Faculty Chief Operating Officers, Academic and Professional Services staff in Faculties, ICT, Planning, International Relations Office, Campus Services, Communications, academic staff with lead roles in pre-enrolment, Imperial College Students’ Union Officers, Advancement
Key Working Relationships (External): Prospective students and their influencers, UCAS, Media agencies (e.g., Hunterlodge), Global Organisations, Universities, Schools, Press, Corporate Partners, Alumni, networking groups, media representatives, professional bodies, and other marketing, recruitment, and admissions services
Contract type: Full time, Permanent
The Director of Marketing provides leadership to Imperial’s central Marketing, faculty marketing, and creative services teams.
Working closely with the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, the role will develop and deliver a global, integrated programme of Marketing, Digital and Creative strategies in collaboration with our faculties, to support Imperial’s ambitious quantitative and qualitative targets for student recruitment, in addition to supporting university-wide objectives such as the Imperial Brand (strategic direction within Communications Division).
As one of the world’s leading universities, this role is crucial in accelerating Imperial’s ambition to further increase its global impact and reputation. The Director (working closely with colleagues in the Communications Division) plays a key role in contributing to the development and amplification of the Imperial College London brand; telling our story with clarity, confidence, and impact.
With a particular focus on pre-enrolment, the Director of Marketing will help define and lead the development and execution of the Imperial marketing strategy and output, working closely with related functions across Imperial to bring strategic leadership to the University’s engagement with its core audiences.
Passionate about the power of brand, they will proactively lead the way to shape innovative ways of positioning Imperial as a destination of choice for the most capable students worldwide, generating high quality, diverse and segmented leads to a welcoming and inclusive institution.
MORA aims to deliver an exceptional and seamless candidate focused journey across all study levels that welcomes the brightest students from around the world, regardless of background. This requires a trusted leadership on applicant experience, global diversification, and technological innovations, in collaboration with our faculties and departments, ensuring alignment with Imperial’s overarching objectives. Data driven, the role will champion delivery of seamless processes, and transparent reporting, evaluation, and return on investment.
The Director will have considerable budget responsibility and autonomy, and will act as a trusted, authoritative source of professional knowledge and advice in these areas and will collaborate actively with the four faculties. Supporting the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, they will work with colleagues across Imperial, with the shared vision of redesigning and maintaining an outstanding candidate journey that reflects Imperial’s values and vision.
As a highly motivated global expert in marketing creative and digital, this will involve championing digital solutions (including the use of AI) to enhance the candidate journey to senior stakeholders. This includes co-chairing the Pre-enrolment stream, which oversees the strategic roadmap of digital investment in this area, including our university-wide CRM, Imperial 360.
Strategic leadership and planning:
Working with the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, the Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach and the Director of Admissions and Data respectively:
Management:
Finance:
Candidate and pipeline management:
Analysis and reports:
Working with the Director of Admissions and Data:
Continuous Improvement:
Working with the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, the Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach and the Director of Admissions and Data respectively:
External Activities:
Other:
Candidates/post holders will be expected to demonstrate the following criteria, all of which is considered essential unless otherwise noted.
Education
Experience
Skills & Abilities
Further Information
Please note that job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate Imperial:
Employees are also required to comply with all Imperial policies and regulations. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.
Our benefits include:
See our full benefits here and learn more about our health and wellbeing here.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Imperial. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on 29 June 2026.
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss further details about the role in strict confidence, please get in touch with Kiersten Avery at kiersten.avery@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7510 384 735 or Sophie Rees at +44 (0)7719 313 982 or sophie.rees@andersonquigley.com
www.imperial.ac.uk 