Performance Marketing Director

About the Role

A leading international eCommerce group is hiring a Performance Marketing Director to lead a newly established function overseeing their paid and organic acquisition efforts. This senior leadership position involves uniting three specialized acquisition teams focusing on Search Engine Advertising (SEA), Search Engine Optimization (SEO) including organic discovery, and affiliate marketing. Reporting directly to the VP of eCommerce, this role commands a large annual media budget in the nine-figure range and covers multiple markets across EMEA.

Key Responsibilities

• Take strategic ownership of the company’s paid search, organic search, and affiliate marketing channels.
• Lead and integrate three specialist teams under a unified performance marketing strategy.
• Manage a blended acquisition Profit & Loss (P&L), balancing spend, customer acquisition, Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS), contribution, and long-term business value holistically rather than by channel.
• Provide leadership and direction for approximately 15 team members located across the UK, Germany, and remote setups, including direct reports managing each channel.
• Drive change by adapting to evolving consumer behavior, search trends, and technological advances such as AI and automation relevant to search and discovery channels.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with regional marketing, CRM, brand, social media, retention, PR, and broader eCommerce teams to align acquisition efforts with overall trading goals.
• Oversee relationships with agencies, platform providers, and technology partners, determining the balance between internal capabilities and outsourced expertise.

Required Experience & Skills

• Extensive leadership experience in performance or digital marketing at senior levels (Head of or Director).
• Strong background in paid search marketing, ideally initiated as a specialist before progressing into broader multi-channel leadership roles.
• Strategic understanding of SEO and organic discovery channels, especially regarding AI, AI Optimization (AIO), and geographic optimization (GEO).
• Experience leading affiliate marketing, though this channel is a smaller focus.
• Proven success managing multiple specialist teams and leading through organizational, technological, or commercial transformations.
• Experience managing or overseeing media budgets exceeding £20 million annually.
• Ownership of acquisition strategy, investment decisions, and performance marketing P&L management.
• Strong financial acumen covering ROAS, acquisition costs, contribution metrics, attribution models, incrementality, and channel economics.
• International experience operating in diverse EMEA markets.
• Demonstrated ability to balance short-term revenue objectives with sustainable long-term growth.
• Hands-on or strategic experience with automation and AI implementation within performance marketing.
• Ability to challenge channel experts strategically without direct hands-on oversight of all channels.
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder relationship management skills.

Employee Benefits and Terms

• Competitive salary reflecting seniority.
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Comprehensive pension plan.
• Health cash plan coverage.
• Gym membership discounts with a monthly subsidy for a gym of choice.
• Generous employee discounts.
• Complimentary family password-management subscription.
• Hybrid working model requiring three office days per week in Berlin, Germany.

Additional Information

This is a unique chance to shape a crucial new performance marketing function within a major international eCommerce business. You will take over established teams and manage a significant budget to influence the company's approach to search, discovery, AI, and automation on a large scale.

Candidates must be willing to commit to the hybrid working schedule and enjoy leading teams through change in a dynamic environment.