Senior Retail Marketing Manager - #1720347

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth. That’s why our Marketing team is passionate about creating an environment where people can be creative and trailblazing in order to do their best work.

We are looking for a Retail Senior Marketing Manager, to join our Marketing team at our Travel Retail Head Office in Aldgate East, central London. The main purpose of this role is managing the day-to-day delivery of printed POS and digital advertising screen materials to WHSmith Travel stores.

What you will be doing:

• Marketing Operational Leadership: Lead the planning and execution of all in-store marketing campaigns, including print POS, digital screen content, and flagship window takeovers across our UK and international retail estate.
• Cross-Brand Management: Deliver campaigns across a diverse brand portfolio (WHSmith, InMotion, Curi.o.city), ensuring each maintains its unique identity while aligning to central business, brand and operational excellence.
• Agency & Supplier Management: Own relationships with print suppliers to ensure timely, cost-effective deliver of all point-of-sale materials. Manage digital content production through our digital screen agency, ensuring all content aligns with brand guidelines and our content framework, delivered with industry leading animation.
• Retail Media & External Brand Collaboration: Partner with our retail media agency and external brand partners to deliver standout media campaigns in high-visibility retail locations, including window activations and LED screen placements.
• Budget Ownership: Own the end-to-end marketing budget which is 90% retail marketing, maintaining rigorous tracking and forecasting, identifying risks early, and taking corrective action to stay within budget.
• Team Leadership: Lead and develop a team of 6 Marketing Executives, setting clear priorities, holding daily team check-ins and regular 1:1s to manage workflow, remove blockers, and ensure delivery against tight deadlines.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with the Brand & Marketing Director to align on campaign milestones, trading actions, and risk mitigation. Ensure clear and timely communication of progress and performance across the business.
• Marketing Leadership Team – Play a key role within the Marketing Leadership Team, driving engagement, ensuring alignment to critical paths, fostering innovation, and consistently championing a positive brand culture.

What we are looking for:

• You have solid experience in retail marketing in a fast pace environment
• You are confident in POS, or in-store activation within a multi-site or consumer-facing environment
• Skilled in project management, you’ve led promotional cycles and campaigns across print and digital, from concept to in-store execution.
• Highly proficient in Excel, able to manage complex distribution and artworking briefs with accuracy.
• You combine strong attention to detail with a solution-oriented mindset, ensuring high-quality output under pressure.
• Comfortable working at pace and meeting tight deadlines, you naturally manage multiple priorities, including direct reports.
• An excellent communicator, you work confidently across all levels and functions.
• Experienced in agency and supplier management, with a strong grasp of brand consistency and operational delivery.
• Budget ownership and commercial awareness are second nature to you.
• Experience with digital signage or screen content is a strong plus.
• You’re looking to join a growing, ambitious team where you can make an impact and progress your career.

How we reward our teams:

• Competitive salary and car allowance
• Annual bonus based on company and personal performance
• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 25 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Finish at 4pm on a Friday
• Competitive pension contribution
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About us:

Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 11,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

For UK and International Travel our mission is simple - to create value for our stakeholders by providing a platform for global brands responsible for essentials and technology in airports (including our InMotion stores), hospitals, rail stations and other markets. Our office is based in a buzzing part of central London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture at all levels. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone.

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!