Interim Deputy Head of Marketing and Comms

Who we are?

Raymond James is a wealth management firm focused on providing trusted advice and tailored, personalised investment services. We believe if we do what’s right for clients, we’ll help them achieve success while also realising our own. Our parent company, Raymond James Financial, has been doing the same in the US for over six decades.

Who we are looking for?

We are looking for someone to develop and execute Marketing and Communications strategy and manage all Marketing and Communications activities for Raymond James Investment Services in the UK. The priority is to help drive the growth of the firm by generating leads and engagement tools for Business Development to assist them in the recruiting process and to support our proposition.

Also key is the provision of support and resources for RJ UK branches, to help them acquire new clients and engage with clients, producing organic growth and client retention for Raymond James. To a lesser extent, we also provide marketing materials for firms using our platform, to support use of our platform for their clients.

This role also oversees all corporate Marketing and Communications activities and deliverables, with responsibility for leading a cross-functional team to deliver on all initiatives, promoting the Raymond James brand, mitigating reputational risk, and representing the Marketing department with all levels of leadership.

This role is responsible for leading the team and ensuring appropriate management structure across the team, as well as oversight of the external contractors, agencies and service providers we use, for example, for PR, event production, market research, video creation and website builds and maintenance.

This role considers the needs of clients, wealth managers and the firm when planning for the future, always taking Consumer Duty responsibilities into consideration.

This role is a Maternity Cover

Responsibilities

Principal Duties:

• Leads the marketing team responsible for the conception of all tactical/creative executions, development and implementation of effective promotional campaigns, and ensures all communication efforts work toward supporting Raymond James’ mission, objectives and brand
• Develops methodologies that provide the firm, its business units and wealth managers with a competitive marketing edge
• Develops, manages and oversees marketing and communications strategies to support and grow business opportunities. Ensures plan is in alignment with and supports firms’ overall mission.

Ensures the team:

• Manages brand enhancements to our digital properties on an ongoing basis
• Through collaboration with key stakeholders, manages digital marketing projects from initiation through design, content development, staging, approval, production and reporting metrics
• Updates content on client-facing public sites, social channels and other properties on a timely basis
• Oversees execution, implementation and evaluation of creative initiatives that support marketing and corporate objectives.
• Advises branches on marketing strategies in support of their growth
• Facilitates effective corporate communications through liaison efforts between key stakeholders and the marketing team
• Meets with business units, senior stakeholders and wealth managers to provide marketing assistance and to promote the strategic services of the Marketing Department
• Provides research, demographics and in-depth analysis to support strategic plans and their execution
• Interprets market research data and makes actionable business decisions
• Provides recommendations to branches on brand and business objectives

The team generate leads and prospect engagement tools for Business Development Team

• Marketing is a key resource to help generate leads and provide sales engagement tools for the BD team.
• Marketing tools – The team develops, writes and oversees design of marketing materials for use by BD team to generate leads and engage with target wealth managers in both the securities and financial advice sectors.
• Financial Planning – The team supports the in-house Financial Planning offering through comms, website messaging and marketing materials
• PR – The team manages PR efforts working with our external PR firm to raise Raymond James’ profile within our target markets in both the securities and financial advice sectors. Secondarily, we are also leveraging opportunities to increase brand awareness amongst UK high net worth consumers with increasing success, supporting branches’ client acquisition efforts.
• Social Media – continue to develop our social presence across our corporate social media profiles; plan and execute engagement and communications plan for social media as another way to increase Raymond James’ profile amongst target wealth managers
• Surveys and Awards – Actively seek participation with surveys and awards that have meaningful impact on our target market.
• Messaging – Continue to refine and hone the Raymond James message so the market knows who we are and what makes us different. Ensure our clear message is consistent throughout all mediums and is updated and maintained on a regular basis.
• Brand recall – increase the number of wealth managers in our target market who have heard of Raymond James and have a positive impression of us.

The team supports current Wealth Managers to help them grow their businesses

• Support new branch principals as they develop their suite of marketing materials by working with them to create their marketing plan, and provide support with development of their marketing properties, including websites, brochures, PR plans, etc.
• Client approved marketing materials – develop, write and oversee design of marketing materials for use by wealth managers with clients and prospective clients.
• Introducer marketing materials – develop, write and oversee design of marketing materials for use by wealth managers with introducers such as solicitors, accountants and financial advisers.
• Social media – help wealth managers use social media, in particular LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to engage with centres of influence, clients and prospective clients.
• Wealth manager PR – Work with our PR firm and new branch principals to manage press around the opening of a new branch, and on an ongoing basis. Provide guidance and tips to wealth managers so they can effectively manage their ongoing PR efforts.

The team manages RJIS’ Communications

• Coordinate the firm’s Corporate Communications strategy; ensuring consistency in image, tone of voice and messaging
• Manage and oversee communications strategies in support of business objectives, ensuring alignment with firms’ overall mission and growth plans
• Manage and oversee communications strategy, execution and analysis of communications initiatives that support corporate objectives, working alongside UK CEO and senior management
• Develop and execute a well-structured communications plan to our clients, to our wealth managers and to head office.

Leadership

• Develops and cultivates a marketing team which upholds behaviours and culture consistent with the values of the business
• Performs human resource management activities, including evaluating performance; developing the team; interviewing, selecting and training new associates; identifying performance problems and approving/executing recommendations for remedial action.
• Plans, assigns, monitors, reviews, evaluates and leads the work of multiple direct reports, supporting other departments, senior executives and branches.
• Coaches and mentors staff and identifies training needs and creates development plans.
• Provides regular guidance and direction to the team to develop their influence and leadership skills
• Resource planning and management, including professional development, recognition and succession planning for direct reports
• Establishes and maintains excellent working relationships with other departments and stakeholders
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Other

• Participate in key initiatives and projects, for example the Consumer Duty implementation and ongoing continuous improvement actions
• Provide ongoing support to other departments in the firm (HR, Relationship Management, Training, Client Services, Operations, IT, Practice Intelligence, Financial Planning)
• Provide support to develop and promote new initiatives including Women Wealth and Head Office Inclusion Networks, DEI and wider CSR messaging, Staff Engagement, etc.
• Plan, monitor progress and manage resources to achieve marketing deliverables on time and within budget.
• Ensure policies and procedures for the team are developed, documented and updated on a timely basis, and that there are appropriate controls and oversight over the process

Experience required

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Marketing leadership + excellent people management skills
• Broad marketing experience including digital and offline
• Ensure continuity on the vital services provided to keep growth momentum
• Oversee delivery of key projects in process
• Maintain team’s performance in support of branches
• Prepare for ramp up in wealth manager recruiting marketing activities

Benefits

• 25-days of annual leave + bank holidays + holiday increases each year, to a max of 30
• Established hybrid working policy and openness to flexible working
• Generous pension contributions
• Private medical healthcare
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Life, Dental & Travel insurance

Raymond James is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from a diverse background. At Raymond James we honour, value and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all our Associates. When associates bring their best authentic self to work, our organisation, clients, and communities thrive. This is a key part of our people-first culture. The Company is an equal opportunities employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.