Head of Digital job description

This page reveals key information about the Head of Digital Marketing role. Keep reading to learn the core responsibilities, salary information and how to approach digital marketing recruitment.

What does a Head of Digital do?

The Head of Digital is responsible for growing a business' digital marketing strategy to drive customer acquisition and retention.

In this leadership role, they oversee resources, budget, and team to ensure the successful execution of the digital strategy. This includes the management of all channels, including CRM, social media, analytics and performance marketing.

Key responsibilities

While the role may change based on company needs and digital experience, a typical week will include:

Digital marketing strategy: Develop and deliver the strategy to accelerate digital growth, increasing online visibility and growing the customer base.
Evolve digital capabilities: The Head of should be innovative, striving to always deliver leading online marketing campaigns. Using knowledge of emerging channels, trends and the business, the Head of should identify opportunities for growth inline with business goals.
Budget and resource management: Ensure the right resources are in place to achieve your plan.
Team management: Lead, challenge and develop a digital marketing team. The team could consist of generalist Digital Marketing Managers or specialists, such as content, CRM and performance marketers.
Build relationships with agencies: Manage and maintain relationships with third-party agencies that support the digital strategy.
Create and report on KPIs: Create targets for each digital platform. Ensure team success and development through consistent reporting.

Skills and requirements

To hire a Head of Digital, you should look for the following skills and experiences in candidates:

A minimum of 3 years experience in a digital marketing role. Depending on the job description, this could be generalist marketing experience or channel specific.
Proven experience developing strategies across all digital platforms to drive growth and revenue.
Strong digital marketing knowledge in all channels, including CRM, Paid Search, Paid Social and SEO.
Innovative, entrepreneurial mindset with an understanding of the importance of testing and learning.
Understanding of SEO and how content marketing contributes to the digital strategy.
Highly analytical with experience reporting across different channels.
A strong leader with experience managing a team.
Experience, knowledge or passion for the industry.

Salary expectations

What is a Head of Digital paid?

The average salary for a full time Head of Digital is £70,000 - £120,000. For a contractor, you can expect to pay a day rate of £400 - £650.

Salary changes depending on the industry, company size and years of experience. For more information, download our digital marketing salary guide.

Access salaries

Side-by-side bar charts comparing salary and day rate income, with the salary bar in pink reaching £120K and the day rate bar in blue reaching over £600.

Career path & progression

To progress their careers, a Head of Digital Marketing can pursue the following job titles.

Digital Marketing Director

Experience as the Head of a Digital Marketing team allows for a smooth transition into a Director role. As a Digital Marketing Director, you will allow take your skills to the next level. You will be responsible for researching industry and market trends, helping the business stay ahead of their competitors. Overall, your insights will contribute to strategic campaigns and provide long-term digital success.

Learn about Digital Marketing Director roles

Chief Marketing Officer

With enough experience in a Director role, candidates might consider approaching the C-suite role. A Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) takes a broader view of the business in it's entirety. They work directly with the board, rather than just the marketing team, and are the voice of the customer.

Learn about CMO roles

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Liz Hopkins Senior Director

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FAQs

Do Heads of Digital make a lot of money?

Yes, a Head of Digital earns above the average UK salary. With permanent Heads of Digital in the UK earning a minimum of £80,000 per annum and contractors earning a day rate of at least £500, Head of Digital is a well-paid profession.

How long does it take to become a Head of Digital?

To become a Head of Digital, you’ll need a minimum of 5 years’ experience in roles such as Digital Marketing Manager or Senior Digital Marketing Manager, although it often takes 6-10 years in the profession before you can rise to Head of Digital.

How do I become a Head of Digital?

To become a Head of Digital, you generally need a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, computer science or a related field, although it’s not a blanket requirement. It’s more important to build at least 5 years of hands-on technical knowledge, digital experience and leadership skills.

Is a Head of Digital more senior than a Head of Marketing?

The Head of Digital and Head of Marketing roles are usually at the same level in an organisation. Both typically report to a higher executive, such as a Marketing Director, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO), but they can overlap in start-ups or smaller organisations. Salaries for both reach an upper limit of around £125,000 for a permanent role and £700 per day for a contract role.