Marketing and Events Officer - Independent Preparatory School

Marketing & Events Officer Independent Preparatory School | Buckhurst Hill, Essex Permanent | 30 Hours Per Week Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 per annum (Dependent onExperience) Start Date: ASAP - September 2026 Hays Education is delighted to be supporting a highly regarded and expanding independent preparatory school in Essex in the recruitment of a Marketing & Events Officer. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative, highly organised, and energetic marketing professional to join a thriving school community and play a key role in promoting the school's continued growth and success. The successful candidate will lead on marketing, communications, social media, content creation, event management, and community engagement, helping to strengthen the school's reputation and attract prospective families. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, this role will be instrumental in showcasing the unique educational experience, achievements, and values of this ambitious and growing school. Key Responsibilities Strategic Marketing & Brand Development • Support the development and delivery of the school's annual marketing and communications strategy. • Increase awareness of the school across Essex and the wider independent education sector. • Promote the school's educational offering, values, facilities, curriculum, outdoor learning opportunities, and extracurricular programmes. • Develop innovative marketing campaigns designed to increase admissions enquiries and pupil recruitment. Social Media Management & Digital Marketing • Take ownership of the school's social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other emerging platforms. • Develop and maintain a strategic social media content calendar aligned with school priorities and events. • Create engaging daily content highlighting school life, pupil achievements, classroom learning, outdoor education, sporting success, performances, trips, celebrations, and special projects. • Capture high-quality photography and video content across the school. • Create engaging reels, promotional videos, interviews, parent testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content. • Manage social media advertising campaigns to support admissions and marketing initiatives. • Monitor engagement, audience growth, website traffic, and campaign performance analytics. Content Creation & School Communications • Produce compelling written content for newsletters, blogs, websites, prospectuses, brochures, press releases, and marketing materials. • Write and publish school news stories, event highlights, pupil achievement articles, and community updates. • Develop case studies, parent testimonials, and pupil success stories. • Ensure all website content remains accurate, engaging, and reflective of the school's ethos and achievements. • Maintain a comprehensive library of photography, video, and promotional assets. • Coordinate external photography, videography, design, and print projects when required. • Support the creation and delivery of email marketing campaigns and parent communications. Event Planning & Delivery • Lead the planning and execution of all key school events and promotional activities. • Create detailed event schedules, project plans, budgets, risk assessments, and operational timelines. Events may include: • School Open Days • Prospective Parent Tours • Admissions Events • Stay & Play Sessions • School Productions • Sports Days • Music and Performance Evenings • Christmas and Summer Fairs • Fundraising Events • Prize Giving Ceremonies • Graduation Celebrations Admissions & Community Engagement • Support the school's admissions strategy through engaging marketing initiatives. • Help convert enquiries into school visits and applications. • Attend admissions events and act as an ambassador for the school. • Build positive relationships with prospective families and local stakeholders. About You The successful candidate will demonstrate: • Experience in marketing, communications, events management, admissions, or a related field. • Outstanding organisational and project management skills. • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. • Strong social media management and content creation experience. • Excellent photography, videography, and digital marketing skills. • Experience delivering successful events from concept to completion. • The ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. Essential Requirements • Proven experience in a marketing, events, communications, admissions, or customer engagement role. • Strong knowledge of social media platforms and digital marketing principles. • Experience creating engaging content across multiple channels. • Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office. • Strong copywriting and communication skills. • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. • Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to obtain one). Desirable Experience • Experience working within an independent school, educational setting, hospitality, leisure, or customer-focused environment. • Knowledge of website management systems and email marketing platforms. • Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or equivalent design software experience. • Photography and videography experience. • Event management qualifications or relevant professional training. What the School Offers • Salary of £30,000 - £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience. • Permanent 30-hour-per-week contract. • The opportunity to join a growing and ambitious independent school. • Significant autonomy and opportunity to shape the school's marketing strategy. • A collaborative and supportive leadership team. • Modern facilities and a vibrant school environment. • Ongoing professional development opportunities. • The chance to make a visible impact on the school's growth and success. Why join? This role would suit someone who is as comfortable creating Instagram reels and developing admissions campaigns as they are co-ordinating a large-scale Open Day for prospective families. To Apply Apply now or reach out to: Aamir Malik Senior Manager | Hays Education London Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. 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