Position: Senior Festival Strategist
Employment: Permanent
Location: Based in London or Manchester, with regular travel required.
Office/Travel/WFH: Depending on location and variable, up to 3 days per week working from the office in London or Manchester and travelling to workshop destinations. 2 days per week working from home. Flexible arrangements based on client and project needs.
Commercial Area: Primarily Europe, but globally where required.
Remuneration: Competitive, commensurate with experience.

This is a unique opportunity to join the world’s leading marketing agency for selling event tickets. With a guiding mission of filling dance floors and events worldwide, you’ll work across music festivals, sports, and experiences, including well-known international brands.

Summary:

As a Senior Festival Strategist, you’ll be responsible for developing and consulting on comprehensive marketing strategies for high-profile music festivals and events. You’ll work closely with clients to understand their unique challenges, identify target audiences, and create innovative strategies to drive ticket sales and brand awareness.
You’ll report directly to the Head of Strategy and work with a team of experienced marketers. Your role will involve leading strategy workshops, producing detailed marketing plans, and providing ongoing consultancy to ensure our clients achieve their goals.
We seek a passionate and highly experienced professional with a proven track record, either as a Head of Marketing in the music and events space, or a Strategist with an agency background and a love for music and events.

The purpose of this role is three-fold:

To create and deliver world-class marketing strategies that help our clients exceed ticket sales targets and enhance their brand positioning.
To establish and maintain strong client relationships, positioning Mustard Media as an indispensable partner in their success.
To deliver high-quality work efficiently and on time, ensuring projects are completed within scope and budget to drive profitability for the agency.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop and consult on comprehensive festival marketing strategies by:

Conducting in-depth research on clients, their events, and target markets
Facilitating strategy workshops with clients and internal teams
Creating detailed marketing plans covering all aspects of festival promotion
Identifying key audience segments and developing targeted messaging
Recommending innovative marketing tactics across various channels
Collaborating with our Paid Media and Campaigns teams to ensure cohesive execution

Provide exceptional client service and strategic guidance by:

Building strong relationships with clients, becoming a trusted advisor
Delivering compelling strategy presentations to client leadership teams
Offering ongoing consultancy and support throughout the campaign lifecycle
Analysing campaign performance and providing data-driven recommendations
Identifying opportunities for upselling and cross-selling Mustard Media services

Contribute to the agency’s growth and thought leadership by:

Supporting new business efforts through participation in pitches and proposals
Producing thought leadership content, including articles and case studies
Mentoring junior strategists and contributing to team development

PERSONALITY, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

We seek a dynamic, creative, and results-driven festival marketing expert with a proven track record of success. The ideal candidate will have:

At least five years of experience in a lead marketing role for a reputable music festival, experience, travel, sports, event series or agency equivalent.
A portfolio of successful festival marketing campaigns, demonstrating expertise in audience targeting, brand positioning, and ticket sales strategies
Deep understanding of the music and live events industry, including current trends and challenges.
Strong analytical skills and experience using data to inform marketing decisions.
Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to influence festival directors.
A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
Adaptability and willingness to travel regularly for client meetings and workshops.
Excellent time management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines efficiently
Strong organisational skills, demonstrating the ability to prioritise tasks and manage complex workloads
Proven experience in managing client and internal expectations effectively, ensuring clear communication and alignment throughout project lifecycles

Furthermore, a candidate will be able to show concrete examples of how they are:

A strategic approach to marketing, with the ability to see the big picture while also managing tactical details.
Creativity in developing unique marketing solutions tailored to each client’s needs.
A track record of managing substantial marketing budgets effectively
Experience in crisis management and adapting strategies in response to unforeseen challenges.
Proficiency in marketing analytics tools and social media platforms.
A passion for music, festivals, and live events

Additional information:

This role requires regular travel to client sites and workshops, potentially including overnight stays.
The successful candidate will undergo a one-month shadowing period before taking full responsibility for client strategies.
Extensive knowledge of festival operations, logistics, and fan experience is highly desirable.

A few more things you should know about Mustard Media:

We have 27 days of paid annual leave and encourage team members to take their birthdays off.
We close the office between Christmas and NYE.
We have quarterly team socials.
We are a fast-growing company with a rapidly expanding client base.
We finish at 4 pm on Fridays.
We’re part of the Nest pension scheme.
We have a cycle-to-work scheme available.

Here’s what our clients say:

“Mustard are marvelous! From our first brainstorm together the ideas have kept flowing and their help and guidance have been an integral part of us not only launching a new festival but also keeping our existing core base happy.. love ’em!” – Rob Da Bank, Camp Bestival

“They are experts in crafting winning cross-channel marketing strategies and implementing them. We would definitely work with them again, not just for Christmas at Bute Park, but for other events too.” – Ben Robinson, bluedot, Kendal Calling, Christmas at Bute Park, Northern Lights