Marketing Team Lead at European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)

About the team/job

EMBL is Europe’s leading laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation with more than 110 independent research groups and service teams covering the spectrum of molecular biology. 

The Course and Conference Office (CCO) at EMBL is a team of 22 events organisers and marketers who operationally fulfil EMBL’s mission to provide exemplary training for the life sciences, making the laboratory the leading learning and meeting place for biologists in Europe. Join the team that delivers world-class courses, conferences, and events at the forefront of molecular biology, primarily at the striking Advanced Training Centre at EMBL Heidelberg. EMBL’s purpose-built venue, the ATC is centred on a 500 capacity conference auditorium plus a suite of wet laboratories and training rooms, complete with social spaces designed to foster networking and collaboration.

We are currently looking for an experienced digital marketing professional to take on leadership of the marketing team that generates annual audiences of around 10,000 participants for our programme of courses and conferences via the well-established combination of digital marketing channels that is ‘EMBL Events’. The team also engages with the scientific community to gain audience insights and monitors the quality and reach of the marketing and of the events themselves. To succeed in the post you’ll need to combine leadership flair with solid technical marketing skills and knowledge.

Leading this busy team from within, it will be a priority for you to share in the operational marketing responsibilities for the events with the four marketing officers/managers you supervise. Your day-to-day work will include running your share of the social media campaigns, website maintenance and creation, and coordination of the design and production of marketing materials. Next to your ‘hands-on’ operational leadership role you’ll gradually develop the marketing strategy, keeping it current by facilitating the collaborative generation of ideas for improvement and innovation in your team, ensuring that you and the group are alert to developments and trends in your profession and adapt with change. As part of a management group with several other team leads, you’ll represent your area and play a part in decision-making for the Unit as a whole. 

The CCO marketing team also works with the five other EMBL sites to promote external training events across EMBL, presenting all of the activities as a coherent, international training programme. As team lead you’ll regularly collaborate, support and ensure alignment with the marketing and communications specialists in another large training team at our Hinxton, UK site and occasionally with others.  

We would need you to join us early in 2024 taking over the reins in promoting our programme of over 50 conferences and training courses annually.

This post is full-time, based in Heidelberg, Germany, and English is the working language.

Your role

Leadership:

• Financial responsibility for the marketing activities, ensuring adherence to EMBL and CCO policies and regulations
• Supervise the marketing team (currently 4 staff members, plus trainees)
  Input to overall strategy and planning as a member of the Unit’s management groups
• Oversight of the marketing outputs and projects assigned to team members, ensuring high quality across the channels.
• Lead the design, planning, and execution of all event marketing campaigns and channels for EMBL’s External Training Programme including: online, email, video, print, and social media
• Facilitate creative thinking and collaboration within the team to identify any potential opportunities for improvement in our marketing operations. Leading implementation of any changes once agreed.  
• Ensure that your team stays abreast of trends and developments in social media and other channels and is able to adapt strategy
• Shape and maintain efficient communications within the marketing team through effective meetings and information management
• Plan staff resources; recruiting, managing, and developing the marketing team
• Establish and implement collaborations and best practice with other EMBL teams involved in training, communications, and marketing, sharing resources where appropriate.
• Support and liaise with colleagues responsible for marketing of external training activities at other sites, specifically collaborating with the marketing specialist(s) in the training team at EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, UK. 

Marketing and operational tasks:

• Execute your own assigned event marketing campaigns from start to finish, including website creation, digital and offline marketing, posts and blogs, taking photos, and preparing slides
  Coordinate and contribute to EMBL Events online and print communications, eg. EMBL Events Blog, articles in ‘EMBLetc’, annual programme poster, and merchandise
  Manage artwork production and workflows for online and print media
  Lead on web strategy for the CCO and liaising with web technical teams and stakeholders on new website developments.  Providing website support and guidance to the wider team. 
  Oversee media partnerships with a range of stakeholders, e.g. journals and partner organisations
  Conduct market research and compiling event statistics, including analysis of feedback surveys
  Establish and monitor campaign ROI and effectiveness metrics through reporting and analytical tools
  Lead on the annual statistical analysis process, creating  reports and aligning with colleagues at other sites. Includes social media statistics, google analytics reports, and Google Ads analysis.
  Build and maintain good relationships with internal and external partners
  Administrative functions necessary to the post

The role may occasionally require evening/weekend work or visits to other EMBL sites. 

You have

• Ideally, 5+ years of professional experience in Marketing/Events marketing/related field 
• A strong team spirit and desire to lead from within as part of a team
• Ability to provide guidance and support to your team
• Prior experience of supervising team members
• Strong administrative, coordination, and customer service skills 
• Adept communication and relationship building skills
• Attention to detail with flexibility and the vision to see the priorities, enabling you to manage multiple projects 
• Creative self-starter and innovative thinker
• Strong software skills – especially relevant applications are: Google Analytics 4, Adobe Creative Suite, content management systems (currently WordPress), customer relationship databases, Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey, Google Analytics, Google Adwords, Canva. 
• Social media expertise: in-depth knowledge of and ability to create social media campaigns and posts for the following social media channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, Mastodon as well as the ability to keep up with new trends in this area”
• Fluency in English is essential, this being the working language at EMBL  

You might also have

• Specific experience marketing international conferences and events or in science communications
• Experience of leading effectively in a hybrid remote/onsite team 
• Level of university/academic education and relevant professional qualifications will be considered in shortlisting
• Basic level of German language proficiency, or commitment to acquiring it – courses available internally 

Why join us

The Course and Conference Office team is international, creative and collaborative in character. A warm welcome from a motivated and ambitious team of skilled events and marketing professionals awaits the right candidate. From design through print and photography to catering and facilities management, our key internal service partners are reliable and responsive in-house teams who operate to the highest standards. The large events management team, administrative support and financial management all sit within the CCO, freeing the marketing team to focus on their area. We enjoy clear scientific leadership and direction at a senior level from our parent unit: EICAT-External Training.

Do something meaningful

At EMBL you can apply your talent and passion for events marketing to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind’s greatest challenges. EMBL conducts world-class excellent biological research, provides advanced training for students and scientists, and provides state-of-the-art technologies for a wide range of scientific and experimental services.

Join a culture of innovation

This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are located in Heidelberg, a centre of learning and research in Germany with a lively international community. Heidelberg is also a popular tourist destination with its attractive old town and its setting close to the Black Forest and the Rhineland Palatinate.

Enjoy lots of benefits

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, a pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Certified training and continued development of your professional and personal skills.
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family.
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year.
• Relocation package including installation grant (if required).
• Family benefits: 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave and monthly family and child allowances
• Benefits for non-German residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance. 

What else you need to know

• The contract duration is of 3 years, renewable to a maximum of 9 years. With clear progression opportunities within the team.
• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions.
• The working language of the institute is English, German is considered to be advantageous here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought, therefore we welcome all individuals to apply.
• Job location: This role is based in Heidelberg, Germany. You will be required to relocate if you are based elsewhere and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.
• How to apply: To apply, please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system.

The first round of interviews will be held virtually on Friday 9 February, 2024.

In-person interviews are scheduled to follow on Monday 19 February at EMBL Heidelberg.