📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Head of Paid & Owned Marketing (m/f/d) - Hamburg
🔹 Company: Pandora
🔹 Location: Hamburg, Germany
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, On-site
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 14, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Strategic and operational ownership of media activities across Northern Europe
- Balancing brand building with performance-driven strategies
- Close collaboration with partners such as Google, Meta, and TikTok
- Leading and coaching a high-performing, cross-functional team
- Driving both brand awareness and revenue growth
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong combination of ad tech and content expertise, as well as excellent leadership skills to drive media excellence and achieve business impact.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and execute integrated media strategies across all paid and owned channels, balancing brand-building efforts with performance marketing objectives
✅ Own and optimize channel budgets, performance KPIs, and full-funnel media activations, guided by econometric modeling
✅ Bring deep operational and technical knowledge of media buying across both digital and traditional media channels
✅ Foster a culture of experimentation and innovation by driving data-informed decisions, agile iterations, and leading cutting-edge partnerships and pilot programs directly with platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok
✅ Ensure that all media planning aligns with local brand strategies, commercial objectives, and our global communications model, working closely with the Go-To-Market, PR, eCom, Global Media teams and media agencies
✅ Enhance performance and efficiency of our overall media and CRM activities by leveraging insights from our measurement and tracking tools
✅ Take ownership of the loyalty program, encompassing both CRM activities and traffic-driving initiatives
✅ Lead, coach, and empower a high-performing, cross-functional team, fostering a strong culture of trust, accountability, and continuous growth
✅ Constantly challenge established ways of working and set new media benchmarks for the brand
✅ Report directly to the Marketing Director Northern Europe, supporting her with both local and global initiatives
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, operational excellence, and strong leadership skills to drive media excellence and achieve business impact.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field
Experience: 8+ years of experience in media planning, ideally with an agency background
Required Skills:
- Proven expertise in media planning and buying across both digital and traditional media channels
- Strong sense of brand and content, with the ability to apply audience insights to media campaigns continuously improving brand impact
- Advanced analytical skills, with specific knowledge of key marketing metrics and the ability to turn data into compelling business narratives
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to coach and empower team members to unlock their full potential
- Fluency in both German and English (written and spoken)
Preferred Skills:
- Experience managing loyalty or membership programs
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners
- Strong communicator with a commercial mindset and deep understanding of consumer behavior
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong combination of ad tech and content expertise, as well as excellent leadership skills to drive media excellence and achieve business impact.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: €80,000 - €120,000 per year (based on experience and qualifications)
Benefits:
- Great discount on Pandora jewelry
- Personal and professional development through regular e-learning modules, trainings, and workshops
- Beautiful & modern office space in the Hamburg city center
- Gym membership at Fitness First at a reduced Pandora-Corporate-Rate
- Cooperation with corporate benefits & free access to a benefits portal for discounted tickets for sport, culture events, and corporate deals
- Monthly Sodexo vouchers
- Company-subsidized public transport ticket
- Company pension scheme with an attractive employer contribution and insurance package
- Flexible working time with opportunities for mobile working & Mobile Working Kit Allowance
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and experience levels. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and negotiation.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail, specifically jewelry and accessories
Company Size: Medium (51-200 employees)
Founded: 1982 (headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark)
Company Description:
- Pandora designs, manufactures, and markets hand-finished and contemporary jewelry made from high-quality materials at affordable prices
- The company operates through approximately 8,900 points of sale in more than 100 countries on six continents, including more than 1,900 concept stores
- Pandora is publicly listed on the NASDAQ Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark
- In 2015, Pandora's total revenue was DDK 16.7 billion (approximately EUR 2.2 billion)
Company Specialties:
- Retail
- Jewelry
- Fashion
- Sales
- Service
Company Website: Pandora Group
ASSUMPTION: Pandora is a well-established and successful company in the retail industry, with a strong global presence and a reputation for high-quality, affordable jewelry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior leadership role, reporting directly to the Marketing Director Northern Europe
Reporting Structure: This role will have a high-performing, cross-functional team reporting directly to the Head of Paid & Owned Marketing
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site, with opportunities for mobile working
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to shape and grow the media function within Pandora's Northern European operations
- Opportunities to collaborate with global teams and contribute to Pandora's global media strategy
- Potential to develop and mentor team members, fostering a culture of continuous growth and learning
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a real impact on Pandora's media strategy and operations.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Modern office space in the Hamburg city center
Office Location(s): Hamburg, Germany
Geographic Context:
- Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and a major hub for media and advertising agencies
- The city offers a high quality of life, with a vibrant cultural scene, beautiful parks, and a rich history
- Hamburg is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it an ideal location for regional and international business operations
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with opportunities for mobile working
ASSUMPTION: Hamburg offers a dynamic and vibrant work environment, with a strong media and advertising industry and a high quality of life for employees.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager
- Final interview with the Marketing Director Northern Europe
- Background check and reference check
- Job offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Media planning and buying expertise
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
- Leadership and coaching abilities
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Pandora's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant media planning and buying experience, as well as your leadership and coaching skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and cultural fit
- Research Pandora's brand and media strategy to demonstrate your understanding of the company and the role
ATS Keywords: Media planning, media buying, brand building, performance marketing, digital media, traditional media, data analysis, leadership, CRM management, communication, collaboration, strategic thinking, content expertise, ad tech, loyalty programs, consumer behavior, innovation
ASSUMPTION: Pandora's application process is designed to assess candidates' media planning and buying expertise, strategic thinking, leadership skills, and cultural fit for the role.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Google Tech Stack
- Paid social media platforms and ad managers
- Ad tech platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads)
- Media attribution and media mix modeling tools
- CRM and marketing automation platforms
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong working knowledge of media planning and buying tools, as well as CRM and marketing automation platforms.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- We deliver
- We dream
- We care
- We dare
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Data-driven and innovative
- Agile and adaptable
- Customer-focused and results-driven
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with Pandora's company values, specifically 'We deliver' and 'We dare'?
- How do you approach challenging established ways of working and driving innovation in media strategies?
- How do you foster a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous growth within your team?
ASSUMPTION: Pandora values candidates who are collaborative, data-driven, innovative, agile, customer-focused, and results-driven, with a strong alignment with the company's core values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing a high-performing, cross-functional team remotely or in a hybrid work environment
- Balancing brand-building efforts with performance marketing objectives across multiple channels
- Keeping up with the latest trends and best practices in media planning and buying
- Collaborating effectively with internal teams and external partners across different time zones
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges, such as managing a remote or hybrid team, balancing brand-building and performance marketing objectives, and collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on both paid and owned media channels, as well as its leadership responsibilities
- Compared to other media planning and buying roles, this position requires a broader skill set and a higher level of strategic thinking
- Career path comparison: This role can lead to senior leadership positions within Pandora's media function or broader marketing roles within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct in its focus on both paid and owned media channels and its leadership responsibilities, offering a unique career path within Pandora.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing an integrated media strategy for a major product launch, balancing brand-building efforts with performance marketing objectives
- Optimizing channel budgets and performance KPIs using econometric modeling to maximize business impact
- Leading a cutting-edge partnership or pilot program directly with platforms like Google, Meta, or TikTok to drive innovation in media strategies
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects reflect the strategic and operational responsibilities of the Head of Paid & Owned Marketing role, requiring a strong combination of media planning and buying expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does this role fit into Pandora's global media strategy, and what opportunities are there to collaborate with global teams?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the media function within Pandora's Northern European operations, and how can this role address them?
- How does Pandora support the professional development and growth of its media team members?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role fit into that framework?
ASSUMPTION: These key questions help candidates understand the role's priorities, strategic fit, challenges, professional development opportunities, and work-life balance expectations.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant media planning and buying experience, as well as your leadership and coaching skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership style, and cultural fit
- Research Pandora's brand and media strategy to demonstrate your understanding of the company and the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
