Head of Digital Marketing – Performance

Role Overview

• Own and evolve Harper James’s digital acquisition strategy across paid, organic and AI-led discovery channels.
• Translate revenue targets and go-to-market priorities into commercially governed acquisition plans.
• Drive scalable qualified demand growth while maintaining CAC efficiency, lead quality and ICP alignment.
• Establish clear operating rhythms including forecasting, reporting, test roadmaps and performance reviews.
• Lead paid acquisition strategy across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, paid social, YouTube and emerging AI/search formats.
• Manage agency relationships and performance against commercial outcomes and ROI.
• Optimise channel structure, bidding strategies, conversion signals and budget allocation to improve efficiency and conversion quality.
• Take ownership of significant acquisition budgets with accountability for performance and revenue contribution.
• Own SEO, AIO and LLM visibility strategy across priority services, sectors and content areas.
• Strengthen discoverability as search behaviour evolves across AI-powered search and discovery platforms.
• Partner with Brand and content teams to improve authority, visibility and conversion performance.
• Use market and competitor insights to inform acquisition priorities and content investment decisions.
• Lead CRO strategy across landing pages, service pages, forms and acquisition journeys.
• Use data and insight from GA4, GTM, HubSpot and Business Development feedback to identify friction and funnel leakage.
• Run structured testing programmes with clear hypotheses, success metrics and commercial evaluation.
• Improve conversion performance and enquiry quality across key acquisition journeys.
• Own marketing performance reporting requirements across attribution, tracking and data visibility.
• Work closely with CRM/Data, Finance and Business Development teams to connect digital activity to pipeline and revenue outcomes.
• Develop reporting that goes beyond platform ROAS to include lead quality, cohort analysis, CAC, LTV:CAC and downstream revenue impact.
• Present clear commercial narratives, risks and investment recommendations to senior leadership.
• Lead and develop the acquisition/performance marketing function and external agency relationships.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on measurable outcomes and accountability.
• Determine the most effective internal and external delivery model for capability, scale and efficiency.
• Coach and develop internal talent while ensuring agencies deliver measurable commercial value.

Requirements

• Significant senior-level experience in performance marketing, digital acquisition or growth marketing (at head/director or VP level).
• Strong experience managing paid media strategy and optimisation across major acquisition channels.
• Expertise in CRO, UX optimisation, funnel analysis and conversion testing.
• Experience working with GA4, GTM, HubSpot or comparable marketing and attribution platforms.
• A strong understanding of funnel economics including CAC, LTV:CAC, conversion rates and lead quality.
• Experience managing seven-figure acquisition budgets and improving commercial efficiency.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders, including Board or investor-level reporting environments.
• Experience leading teams, agencies and cross-functional delivery.
• A commercially analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex data into practical decisions and recommendations.
• Experience within legal or professional services is beneficial but not essential. High-growth digital acquisition experience is more important.

Benefits

• No agencies please