What is Spark and what do we do?
SPARK is a community venue in the heart of York, and home to some of the very best independent food, drink and retail businesses in Yorkshire. We help to incubate these businesses from complete start-ups, to regional scale-ups, and aim to offer a platform for their exposure and growth. We also operate SPARK Studios, with a co-working office, maker space and event space.
What is our vision
The vision of SPARK is simple. Our overarching mission is to ignite positive change in the community by creating a space and community that encourages social enterprise and enables independent businesses to thrive. In creating a busy and vibrant destination and setting excellent standards we strive to provide the best possible platform for these businesses to grow and develop.
The purpose of your role.
To lead the strategic direction, execution, and evaluation of all external marketing and communications activity at SPARK and beyond as we look to take on new projects and opportunities.. This role is responsible for shaping our brand narrative, deepening audience engagement, overseeing digital platforms, managing strategic partnerships, and driving the success of any initiatives that align with our vision.
Roles & Responsibilities :
Creative Direction & Brand Leadership
* Own and evolve SPARK’s overarching creative direction, including visual identity, tone of voice, and brand standards across multiple venues and projects
* Develop and maintain brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and quality across all channels
* Provide senior creative oversight for campaigns, content, design, storytelling and venue presentation
* Oversee all major creative output to ensure high standards and alignment with SPARK’s values
* Build SPARK’s creative identity through innovative concepts, partnerships and activations
Marketing Strategy & Campaign Development
* Lead the creation of annual and seasonal marketing strategies
* Shape campaign narratives, creative concepts and cross-channel plans
* Ensure consistency and alignment across digital, onsite, email, press and partnership channels
* Set standards for content quality, copywriting, design and engagement
* Use performance data to refine creative approaches and improve impact
Social Media & Content Oversight
* Implement a clear content and social media strategy
* Oversee the content calendar, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery
* Provide direction and feedback on posts, visuals and messaging
* Ensure accessibility, accuracy, and brand alignment across all content
* Create simple systems, templates and workflows to streamline production
* Grow our following organically and without diminishing our existing brand
Events & Onsite Experience
* Provide creative direction for venue-wide events, themes, seasonal moments and community activations
* Collaborate with the operations team on atmosphere, decor, music, signage and guest experience
* Ensure all event concepts and onsite creative elements are deliverable, aligned with licensing constraints and financially sound
Team Leadership & Development
* Line-manage the Marketing & Events Lead and Marketing Executive
* Set expectations, provide coaching, and support professional development
* Build a culture of accountability, clarity and creativity
* Lead weekly creative/marketing planning sessions and oversee workflow management.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
* Work closely with the senior team to prioritise creative initiatives
* Partner with traders, community groups and external organisations to deliver impactful creative campaigns
* Provide strategic support for partnership campaigns, events and new initiatives
Skills and Qualifications
* Strong creative judgement and experience developing brand identity
* Excellent leadership, coaching and communication skills
* Ability to set clear creative standards and maintain them
* Demonstrated experience in campaign strategy, brand development and content oversight
* Organised, proactive and confident managing multiple creative projects simultaneously
* Examples of creating impact and growth in comparable and relevant environments
* An ability to evidence your own stylistic and aesthetic nuance regarding visual brand execution
Salary & Benefits
* Annual salary £38,000-42,000
* Annual personal development fund
* Paid Birthday Off