Digital & Marketing Recruitment
Digital and marketing teams drive growth, visibility and revenue - but only when the talent is right. RFT places professionals across the full marketing function: strategists who set direction, creatives who deliver output, and analysts who measure what works. We operate across Manchester and the wider North West, working with agencies, in-house teams and fast-scaling brands who need people who can hit the ground running rather than learn on the job.
About This Sector
Sharp Marketing Recruitment, Done Right
Our clients do not want inflated CVs or candidates who talk a good game. They want people who have done the role, understand the tools and can demonstrate results. We take the time to establish what that looks like in each business before we start the search. Whether you are hiring a junior social media coordinator or a Head of Marketing, our process is the same: understand the role, identify the right talent, move quickly and be honest throughout.
Marketing recruitment is a sector where the brief changes quickly. A business targeting growth this year may need a PPC specialist in January and a content lead by Q3. RFT tracks candidate availability and market movement continuously so we can respond with pace when the need arises. We maintain an active pool of screened marketing professionals at every level - which means you receive a shortlist of people who are genuinely available, genuinely interested and genuinely qualified, rather than a stack of speculative CVs pulled from a job board.
Roles We Place
Digital & Marketing Roles We Recruit
From performance specialists to senior marketing leaders, we recruit across the full digital and marketing function.
PPC & Paid Media Manager
Managing paid search and social campaigns across Google Ads, Meta and programmatic channels. Candidates with demonstrable ROAS history and platform certifications move fastest.
SEO Manager / Specialist
On-page, technical and off-page strategy ownership. We place both agency-side specialists and in-house SEO leads who can manage content and link-building programmes.
Social Media Manager
Platform strategy, community management and organic content planning. Experience across Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X is increasingly standard at this level.
Content Marketing Manager
Editorial calendars, long-form content and multi-channel distribution. Strong candidates show how content has contributed to pipeline, not just page views.
Email Marketing Manager
Campaign strategy, list segmentation, automation flows and deliverability. Klaviyo, Mailchimp and HubSpot experience are the most common platform requirements.
Digital Marketing Manager
Generalist digital leadership across multiple channels. Common at SME level where one person owns the roadmap, budget and execution across all digital touchpoints.
Head of Marketing
Strategy, team management and commercial accountability. We place Heads of Marketing who can work at board level and manage junior teams simultaneously.
Marketing Director
Senior leadership roles tied to commercial outcomes and business growth. Often required to own brand, demand generation and partnerships in parallel.
Brand Manager
Brand consistency, campaign management and creative briefing. Particularly in demand in FMCG, retail and professional services where brand equity is commercially significant.
CRM Manager
Lifecycle marketing, automation and retention strategy. Salesforce, HubSpot and Dynamics experience are the most frequently requested by our clients at this level.
Performance Marketing Executive
Junior to mid-level delivery across paid channels. Candidates need live campaign experience rather than theoretical knowledge - portfolio evidence matters.
Ecommerce Trading Manager
Product listing management, trading performance and conversion rate optimisation. Cross-functional experience with buying and merchandising teams is a strong differentiator.
For Employers
Why Employers Choose RFT
We understand the marketing brief. We move quickly. And we tell you what we actually think.
Sector Fluency, Not Guesswork
We have placed marketing professionals across agency, in-house and freelance environments long enough to know what separates a high performer from a polished CV. Our briefing process establishes the actual requirements - the tools, the pace, the team context - before we start sourcing.
Speed Without Compromise
When a campaign is live and your PPC lead has resigned, pace matters. RFT maintains an active candidate pool and does not rely solely on job board responses. Most shortlists are delivered within three to five working days from the initial briefing call.
Honest Matching
We will tell you when a brief is too junior for the market rate, when a role description is attracting the wrong candidates, and when a candidate is likely to be a counter-offer risk. You get our honest read on the market, not just a stack of CVs to wade through.
For Candidates
Why Candidates Work With RFT
We represent your career, not just your CV. That means honest advice, relevant introductions and proper advocacy.
Roles Worth Applying For
We only introduce you to positions that match what you have told us you want. If the salary, sector or seniority does not fit, we will not put you forward. Your time and your professional reputation matter to us as much as they do to you.
Real Market Intelligence
We can tell you what salaries are moving in the Manchester market right now, which employers are growing and which have high turnover. That context helps you make better decisions about when to move, what to ask for and what to avoid.
Advocacy, Not Admin
When you go forward for a role with RFT, we brief the client properly on your background and achievements. You are introduced as a person with a track record, not forwarded as an attachment. We manage the conversation and give you honest feedback at every stage.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most from employers and candidates in the digital and marketing sector.
Ready to Find the Right Marketing Talent?
Share a few details about your vacancy or your next career move and a consultant who knows the digital and marketing sector will be in touch the same day.