Senior Specialist, Marketing

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Specialist, Marketing

🔹 Company: Mastercard

🔹 Location: Waterloo, Belgium & London, UK

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: June 12, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)

🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Waterloo & London)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing and implementing innovative media strategies to out-leverage Mastercard's competition.
• Guiding the creation and distribution of digital content to accelerate Mastercard's marketing strategies.
• Leading social media implementation in the region and managing influencer activations.
• Developing media campaign measurement and analytics frameworks to drive effective campaign performance and reporting.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Executes marketing strategies, activities, and events by helping to frame briefs, determining logistical requirements, etc. Strong project management skills required.

✅ Develops paid, owned, and earned media strategies and principles for the region, influencing adoption across local markets with clear processes/standards and measures for success.

✅ Develops and implements innovative media strategies by identifying effective and impactful combinations of media channels to out-leverage Mastercard's competition.

✅ Guides the creation and distribution of digital content to accelerate Mastercard's marketing strategies and address consumer needs/behaviors via digital channels, including managing influencer activations.

✅ Leads social media implementation in the region.

✅ Develops media campaign measurement and analytics frameworks to drive effective campaign performance and reporting, including post-campaign analysis and leveraging visualization tools.

✅ Compiles and reports to the global media team on regional media budgets and spends.

✅ Reports on competitive spends and landscape.

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong communication skills to work effectively with various teams and stakeholders.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in media planning and buying, with a strong understanding of digital media campaign activation and programmatic buying.

Required Skills:

• Media planning and buying (including negotiation with third parties) either advertiser or agency side.
• Strong understanding of digital media campaign activation (trafficking, tagging, tracking, privacy) and programmatic buying.
• Digital marketing expertise in strategy, planning, and creative development including social media.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Understanding of BI tools (ideally DOMO).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working on projects that require collaborating with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Pan-regional/multi-market coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to standardize collected data and draw out preliminary insights.
• Experience developing presentations by creating content and articulating a story with a clear point of view.

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, a strong understanding of the financial services industry and familiarity with Mastercard's products and services would be beneficial for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €70,000 - €90,000 per year (approximate, based on industry standards for the role and location)

Benefits:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company match.
• Generous time off and flexible working arrangements.
• Employee discounts on Mastercard products and services.

Working Hours: Full-time position, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with flexibility for occasional remote work.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, qualifications, and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Mastercard operates in the global digital payments and technology industry, with a focus on providing secure, simple, smart, and accessible payment solutions.

Company Size: Mastercard is a large, publicly traded company with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and teams.

Founded: Mastercard was founded in 1966 and has since grown to become a global leader in its industry.

Company Description:

• Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.
• The company supports a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible.
• Mastercard's technology and innovation, partnerships, and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses, and governments realize their greatest potential.

Company Specialties:

• Global digital payments and commerce.
• Technology and innovative mobile payment solutions.
• Processing.

Company Website: https://www.mastercard.com/

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's focus on innovation, technology, and global impact makes it an attractive employer for individuals seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking work environment.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the mid-senior level, offering opportunities for career growth and development within the marketing function.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Specialist, Marketing will report to the European Head of Media and maintain strong connections with global heads of media and digital/social marketing, as well as other regional media leads.

Work Arrangement: This is an on-site position, with the primary office locations being Waterloo, Belgium, and London, UK. Occasional remote work may be possible.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to take on additional responsibilities and advance within the marketing function.
• Opportunities to work on regional and global projects, expanding skills and expertise.
• Access to professional development and training opportunities offered by Mastercard.

ASSUMPTION: Given Mastercard's global presence and diverse business units, there are ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Mastercard's offices are modern, collaborative workspaces designed to foster innovation and creativity.

Office Location(s): Waterloo, Belgium & London, UK

Geographic Context:

• Waterloo, Belgium: A vibrant and multicultural city located near Brussels, offering a high quality of life with easy access to international transportation links.
• London, UK: A global financial hub with a diverse and dynamic business environment, offering numerous cultural attractions and international connections.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, with flexible working arrangements and occasional remote work opportunities.

ASSUMPTION: Both Waterloo and London offer attractive work environments with a mix of urban and suburban living options, as well as easy access to international travel and cultural experiences.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume screening.
• Phone or video screening with the hiring manager.
• On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and relevant team members.
• Final interview with the regional head of marketing or a senior stakeholder.

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Analytical skills and data-driven decision-making.
li>Communication and presentation skills.
• Collaboration and stakeholder management skills.

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role.
• Demonstrate your understanding of Mastercard's business and the role's responsibilities in your application materials.
• Prepare examples of your past work that showcase your ability to develop and implement innovative media strategies.

ATS Keywords: Media planning, digital marketing, social media, campaign measurement, analytics, stakeholder collaboration, project management, presentation development, data standardization, process improvement, negotiation, Excel, PowerPoint, DOMO

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's application process is designed to assess candidates' strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders. Tailoring your application materials to these key assessment areas will increase your chances of success.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• DOMO (business intelligence tool).
• Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).
• Media planning and buying tools (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.).
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, etc.).

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with the listed tools and technologies is essential for success in this role. Candidates should be comfortable learning and utilizing new tools as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Doing what's right.
• Staying curious.
• Making a difference.

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented.
• Data-driven and analytical.
• Innovative and forward-thinking.

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you align with Mastercard's core values of doing what's right, staying curious, and making a difference?
• Are you comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders?
• Do you have a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative media strategies?

ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's values-driven culture emphasizes integrity, continuous learning, and making a positive impact. Candidates should assess their fit with these values and the company's work style when considering this opportunity.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role requires managing multiple projects and stakeholders, which can be challenging at times.
• Mastercard's global presence may involve working with teams across different time zones and cultures.
• The role may require occasional travel for meetings and events.
• The pace of work can be fast, and deadlines may be tight, requiring strong time management and prioritization skills.

ASSUMPTION: While these challenges may present obstacles, they also offer opportunities for professional growth and development.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other senior marketing roles, this position places a greater emphasis on digital marketing, social media, and data-driven decision-making.
• Mastercard's global presence offers more extensive opportunities for career growth and development compared to smaller organizations.
• This role requires a higher level of strategic thinking and analytical skills than entry-level or junior marketing positions.

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider their career goals and preferences when comparing this role to similar positions in the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a regional social media campaign to promote a new Mastercard product launch.
• Analyzing competitive media spends and landscape to inform Mastercard's media strategy and budget allocation.
• Creating and distributing digital content to support a Mastercard marketing campaign, including managing influencer activations.

ASSUMPION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, analytical, and collaborative nature of the Senior Specialist, Marketing role at Mastercard.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into the broader marketing strategy for Mastercard in the region?
• What are the key priorities for the first 90 days in this role?
• How does Mastercard support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
• What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare to succeed in them?
• How does Mastercard foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within its marketing teams?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and commitment to success at Mastercard.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Mastercard careers website.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role.
• Prepare examples of your past work that showcase your ability to develop and implement innovative media strategies.
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your final interview to express your continued interest in the role.

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.