Digital Marketing Executive

Job Description

BUSINESS FUNCTION: Customer & Commercial
SALARY: £32,000 – 39,000 / Grade: ML1/SB1
ROLE TYPE: Permanent / Hybrid
LOCATION: York
HOURS: 37 per week

Join Northern as a Digital Marketing Executive!

As part of our digital marketing team, you’d help shape how customers discover Northern online – from the first scroll on social media to the moment they land on our website. You’ll work across a mix of paid media, website marketing and performance optimisation, making sure our campaigns don’t just look good, but genuinely improve the customer journey and deliver results.

You’ll work closely with the Senior Digital Marketing Manager, agency partners and colleagues across marketing, digital and communications. The role is based in York, with remote working options, and regular chances to get out and meet colleagues across our network.

What you’ll be doing

This is a hands-on role with plenty of variety. You’ll be:

• Supporting and optimising digital marketing campaigns across paid social media, pay-per-click (PPC), affiliates, digital display, search engine optimisation (SEO) and website marketing.
• Keeping the Northern website fresh, relevant and easy to use – updating key propositions and improving user journey
• Working with agency partners on paid search, paid social and display activity, including day-to-day campaign management and reporting
• Managing and growing our affiliate programmes, building strong relationships with key publishers
• Taking a test-and-learn approach – helping to run A/B testing, conversion rate optimisation and new campaign ideas
• Collaborating with wider marketing and communications teams to deliver joined-up, multi-channel campaigns
• Using performance data and insight to spot trends, improve return on investment (ROI) and strengthen future campaigns
• Keeping an eye on what’s next in digital marketing, from new platforms to emerging technology and revenue opportunities

About you

Digital marketing is your thing – and you know how to balance creativity with commercial thinking. Here are a few things you’ll bring:

• Significant experience in a business-to-consumer (B2C) digital marketing role, working across multiple channels
• Confident experience with paid social and affiliate marketing – those two are especially important in this role
• Strong copywriting skills, with a knack for creating clear, engaging and accessible content for digital platforms
• Experience improving websites and user journeys, with conversion in mind
• The ability to interpret performance data, turn insight into action, and explain what’s working (and why)
• A good working knowledge of Google Analytics and other marketing reporting tools
• An understanding of SEO best practice and optimisation techniques
• Experience working with agencies, affiliate programmes or account managers
• Experience using content management systems (CMS), with Drupal experience a bonus, not a must
• If you enjoy experimenting, learning and improving as you go – you’ll feel right at home.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.

Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.

Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.

Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.

Electric Car Scheme: Lease a brand new electric or plugin hybrid car.

Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.

Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.

Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.

Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,650 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, beginning a journey that would transform travel across the world. We’ve recently celebrated 200 years of the modern railway and, as we reflect on that legacy, our focus is now on the future as Great British Rail takes shape. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B - we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.

Please note that Northern reserves the right to close recruitment for this role before the published closing date, if high volumes of applications are received.