📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Media Manager (12-month FTC)
🔹 Company: Hastings Direct
🔹 Location: Bexhill, Leicester, or London (Hybrid - one day per week on-site)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Contract
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-04
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (1 day per week on-site)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing a social media strategy to drive brand awareness, consideration, and customer engagement.
- Collaborating with various teams to create social media plans and oversee the production of social assets.
- Working with a broad range of social tools to deliver campaigns and analyze their impact.
- Engaging with the community to drive awareness, conversation, and affinity to Hastings Direct.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong communication skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally. The 12-month fixed-term contract is an opportunity to prove the value of organic social media and potentially turn into a full-time role.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and execute social media plans, campaigns, activations, and tactics to drive brand and product awareness, consideration, and customer engagement.
✅ Work with a broad range of social tools to deliver campaigns and analyze their impact, from content planning to listening and analytics.
✅ Brief and oversee the production of social assets with external production teams.
✅ Collaborate with creative, product, and internal teams to drive brand stories.
✅ Develop ways to engage the community to drive awareness, conversation, and affinity to Hastings Direct.
ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of strategic planning, creative execution, and data-driven analysis. It requires strong project management skills and the ability to work effectively with various teams.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience: Significant experience (5-10 years) in social media management, with evidence of growing and developing social media channels from the ground up.
Required Skills:
- Exceptional data storyteller with strong presentation skills.
- A creative thinker who can come up with original ideas to elevate Hastings Direct digitally.
- A natural communicator – confident in presenting social campaigns and activities to different parts of the business and managing key stakeholders.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and well-versed in working cross-functionally.
- Financial services experience is preferred but not essential.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social).
- Familiarity with social media analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social, Hootsuite Insights).
ASSUMPTION: While a degree in a relevant field is preferred, equivalent experience and a strong portfolio will also be considered. The role requires a proven track record in social media management and the ability to work effectively with various teams.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: £5,000 per year (AI-estimated, based on industry standards for a 12-month contract)
Benefits:
- Flexible working – championing a flexible hybrid working approach.
- Competitive bonus scheme – all colleagues are eligible for the annual 4Cs performance bonus.
- Private medical insurance – available for Band 4 colleagues.
- Life assurance cover – 4x salary with income protection at no extra cost and matched pension contributions up to 10%.
- Discounts and cashback – access to an award-winning package with discounts, cashback, free independent mortgage advice, and free access to financial wellbeing support.
- Mental wellbeing programme – access to the Thrive mental health app, colleague assistance programme, mental health first aiders, support groups, and a dedicated team.
- Annual leave – 27 days + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one week.
- Healthcare cashback plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to Work scheme, tech schemes, discounted and free on-site facilities, and social events throughout the year.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a 12-month contract. The benefits package is comprehensive and designed to support colleagues' physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Insurance – Hastings Direct is a fast-growing, agile, digitally-focused general insurance provider offering services to the UK car, van, bike, and home insurance market.
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees – Big enough to compete but small enough to grow, Hastings Direct offers opportunities for career progression and a dynamic work environment.
Founded: 1997 – Hastings Direct has over 2.7 million customers and over 3,400 colleagues, operating as an integrated insurance provider with two businesses: Retail and Underwriting.
Company Description:
- Hastings Group provides refreshingly straightforward products and services to UK car, bike, van, and home insurance customers.
- A multi-award-winning business, Hastings Direct has strong relationships with major price comparison websites, a cost-effective digital marketing model, and a focus on customer retention.
- The Group operates as an integrated insurance provider with two businesses: Retail (responsible for end customer pricing, fraud management, product design, distribution, and customer relationship management) and Underwriting (engaged in risk selection, underlying technical pricing, reserving, and claims handling).
Company Specialties:
- Car Insurance
- Motorbike Insurance
- Home Insurance
- Van Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Multi-Car Insurance
- Multi-Bike Insurance
Company Website: https://www.hastingsdirectcareers.com/
ASSUMPTION: Hastings Direct is a well-established insurance provider with a strong focus on digital growth and customer retention. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for career progression.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level – The Social Media Manager role requires strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and proven experience in social media management.
Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Brand and Marketing team, working closely with various teams, including creative, product, and internal teams.
Work Arrangement: Hybrid – The role requires one day per week on-site, with the rest of the week working remotely.
Growth Opportunities:
- Prove the value of organic social media and potentially turn the 12-month contract into a full-time role.
- Gain experience working with a broad range of social tools and collaborating with various teams.
- Develop skills in data-driven decision making and strategic planning.
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Manager role offers opportunities for career growth and skill development, with the potential to prove the value of organic social media and turn the contract into a full-time position.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid – The role requires one day per week on-site, with the rest of the week working remotely.
Office Location(s): Bexhill, Leicester, or London
Geographic Context:
- Bexhill – A coastal town in East Sussex with a population of approximately 45,000 people.
- Leicester – A city in the East Midlands with a population of approximately 350,000 people.
- London – The capital city of the United Kingdom, with a population of approximately 8.9 million people.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with one day per week on-site and the rest of the week working remotely.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility and a balance between on-site collaboration and remote work. The location options cater to a range of preferences, from coastal living to city life.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Recruiter screening call
- 1st stage interview with the hiring leader
- 2nd stage interview with the hiring leader's leader
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
- Data-driven decision making and analytics
- Creativity and innovation
- Communication and presentation skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in social media management, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Prepare examples of your past social media campaigns and their impact on brand awareness, customer engagement, and other relevant KPIs.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to data-driven decision making and how you've used analytics to inform your social media strategies in the past.
ATS Keywords: Social Media Management, Strategic Planning, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Data-Driven Decision Making, Analytics, Brand Awareness, Customer Engagement, Social Media Campaigns
ASSUMPTION: The interview process focuses on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, data-driven decision making, creativity, and communication skills. Tailoring your application to these areas will help you stand out as a strong candidate.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Social media management tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social)
- Social media analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social, Hootsuite Insights)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com)
- Design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch)
ASSUMPTION: The role requires proficiency in social media management and analytics tools, as well as project management and design tools to create engaging social media content.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-focused
- Collaborative
- Agile
- Inclusive
Work Style:
- Dynamic and fast-paced
- Data-driven and analytical
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and cross-functional
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you ensure that your social media strategies align with the company's overall brand and marketing objectives?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt your social media strategy based on data insights or feedback from stakeholders?
- How do you balance creativity and data-driven decision making in your social media campaigns?
ASSUMPTION: Hastings Direct values a customer-focused, collaborative, agile, and inclusive work environment. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their alignment with these values and work style preferences during the interview process.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role is a 12-month fixed-term contract, which may not offer the long-term job security of a permanent position.
- The role requires one day per week on-site, which may not be suitable for candidates who prefer fully remote work.
- The role involves working with various teams, which may require strong stakeholder management and communication skills to navigate different priorities and perspectives.
- The role requires a proven track record in social media management, which may be challenging for candidates with less experience in this area.
ASSUMPTION: While the role offers opportunities for career growth and skill development, candidates should be aware of the potential challenges and ensure that the position aligns with their long-term career goals and work preferences.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- The Social Media Manager role at Hastings Direct is similar to other social media manager positions in the insurance industry, with a focus on driving brand awareness, customer engagement, and product consideration.
- However, the role at Hastings Direct is unique in its focus on proving the value of organic social media and the potential for the 12-month contract to turn into a full-time opportunity.
- Candidates should compare the role at Hastings Direct with other social media manager positions in the insurance industry to understand the unique aspects and requirements of the role.
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Manager role at Hastings Direct offers a unique opportunity to prove the value of organic social media and potentially turn a 12-month contract into a full-time position. Candidates should compare the role with other social media manager positions in the insurance industry to understand the unique aspects and requirements of the role.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a social media strategy to launch a new insurance product, including campaign planning, content creation, and analytics.
- Creating a social media calendar for a seasonal marketing campaign, including visually appealing and engaging content tailored to different social media platforms.
- Analyzing social media data to identify trends, optimize campaigns, and inform future strategy.
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Manager role at Hastings Direct involves a range of projects, from strategic planning and campaign development to data analysis and optimization. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with similar projects and how they've approached them in the past.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for the first 30, 60, and 90 days in this role?
- How does the Social Media Manager role fit into the overall marketing and communications strategy at Hastings Direct?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the social media team at the moment, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Hastings Direct support the professional development and growth of its social media team members?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for success in this role, and how will my progress be measured?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview process to demonstrate their interest in the role and gain a better understanding of the company's priorities, challenges, and growth opportunities.
📌 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 experience in social media management, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Prepare examples of your past social media campaigns and their impact on brand awareness, customer engagement, and other relevant KPIs.
- Be ready to discuss your approach to data-driven decision making and how you've used analytics to inform your social media strategies in the past.
- Follow up with the recruiter one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
