Background:
Christopher Ward is an English-Swiss watch company and the UK’s leading mechanical watchmaker. Since 2004, we’ve built a loyal global community of watch enthusiasts by fostering meaningful connections and engaging directly and authentically with our customers. As pioneers of the direct-to-consumer model in luxury watchmaking, we’ve always placed authenticity, transparency, and community at the heart of everything we do.
Social media has been a vital tool in bringing our story to life and deepening customer relationships. As a business, we also prioritise deep storytelling - even beyond watches - through our in-house magazine, Loupe. We now want to take some of this publisher-first approach onto social.
With an ever-growing audience and an ambitious vision for the future, we’re looking for a Senior Social Media Manager to elevate our online presence, engage even more with our passionate community, and drive the next chapter of Christopher Ward’s success.
Role Summary:
As Senior Social Media Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Christopher Ward’s social presence and growing its global audience. Working within the Communications & Events team (part of the broader Marketing function), you’ll be responsible for developing and executing a dynamic social media strategy, driving engagement across key platforms, and ensuring that Christopher Ward’s voice remains consistent and authentic.
Reporting into the Head of Communications, this hire is the first dedicated social hire in the Marketing team. So we’re looking for a strategic thinker who can balance big-picture planning with initial hands-on execution (scheduling and community management), with the view to build out a broader Social team.
You’ll collaborate with internal teams and external partners to produce innovative campaigns, analyse performance, and continually evolve our social strategy to meet the needs of a fast-growing brand.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop and implement a forward-thinking social media strategy to grow Christopher Ward’s global audience and engagement, with a focus on building long-form episodic content.
* Oversee daily management of all social media platforms, ensuring content is consistent with the brand voice and visual identity.
* Collaborate with wider Marketing and Creative teams, as well as external resources, to produce engaging content tailored to each platform, including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, and TikTok.
* Manage content agencies and content production partners, including budget allocation and performance tracking.
* Work in partnership with the Head of Digital Marketing to ensure alignment with paid media strategy.
* Work closely with the Junior PR Manager to identify opportunities with influencers, creators, and brand advocates.
* Stay up-to-date with industry trends, platform updates, and competitor activity, sharing insights and recommendations with the team.
* Oversee performance analytics, providing regular reports on KPIs and using data to inform strategy.
* Act as a key brand guardian, ensuring all social media activity aligns with Christopher Ward’s brand proposition, values and vision.
* Support with timely brand-focused responses to customer and journalist inquiries on social media, liaising with relevant internal teams.
What We’re Looking For:
* Proven experience in managing social media for a premium and/or fast-growing brand, either in-house or agency side, with measurable success in audience growth and engagement.
* Experience managing agencies / freelancers.
* Strong understanding of platform-specific strategies and trends.
* Understanding of the relationship between organic and paid content, with knowledge of audience targeting, ad formats, and analytics.
* Understanding of e-commerce and how social plays a role in digital retail customer experience.
* Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a knack for crafting compelling copy.
* Creative mindset with the ability to ideate and execute innovative campaigns.
* Highly analytical and data-driven, with experience using social media analytics tools.
* Collaborative and organised, able to juggle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
* Agile and adaptive, open to taking risks and testing new ideas.
* Knowledge of the watch industry and its media/social landscape is useful but not required.
* A passion for storytelling, digital marketing, and building communities.
Company Benefits:
* Great team culture within an inclusive SME
* Pension contribution
* 25-days holiday + long service award
* Birthday day off
* Private health insurance
* Life insurance
* Staff discount
* Discretionary bonus scheme
* Parking space