The role of a marketing manager is to develop and oversee a business' marketing strategy. Having one in place is important because it can help your startup get an investment, generate revenue and save money on marketing costs. Your marketing manager should be skilled in various forms of advertising, digital marketing and direct mailing.
A good employment contract for your marketing manager includes all pertinent information about working conditions, length of employment and salary expectations to help you secure the right candidate.
What is a marketing director?
A marketing director (or chief marketing officer and senior marketing executive) is responsible for promoting the company's brand, products and services. They devise marketing strategies to attain this goal through the content, website, campaigns, leads and other marketing tools.
Importance of having an employment contract for a marketing director
An employment agreement allows an employer to hire an employee. An employment contract specifies the rights and obligations of the employer and the employee. An executive employment agreement for your marketing manager will specify key information such as the employee's role, salary, work location, hours and holidays.
It is crucial to have a marketing director employment agreement as it can be used as evidence in court if there is a dispute between the parties. It also protects both parties by clearly understanding what each party expects from the other, including responsibilities and compensation. In addition, an employment contract can help clarify expectations and eliminate uncertainty about the role of the chief financial officer.
An employment agreement protects the company through restrictive covenants, especially in its early stages. Restrictive covenants include non-compete, non-soliciting, and non-poaching clauses to prevent employees from damaging the business by reducing competition.
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What to include in an employment contract for a marketing manager
Notice Period
One thing to consider for a senior employee such as a marketing director is a notice period. You wouldn't necessarily have the same notice period for a marketing director as someone in a junior role, even though nothing is stopping you from doing this. Senior marketing managers have more responsibility and will most likely be dealing with sensitive matters, so the notice period should reflect this.
For example, suppose a marketing director is in the middle of a campaign or planning an event later on in the year, and they suddenly give in their resignation letter with a month's notice. In that case, it could harm the company by not allowing sufficient time for a handover.
Benefits
A marketing director's employment contract should include salary, bonus, benefits, stock options and other perks. Such payments and benefits are essential in attracting and retaining hardworking employees. Compensation for a marketing director may be slightly more attractive than for a junior employee due to increased challenges and responsibilities faced in the role.
Bonuses
Bonuses are an excellent way for companies to share profits with employees, particularly those who contribute significantly to the company's success. Bonuses are typically paid at year-end or some other predetermined date during the year.
Stock Options
Stock options are another great way for companies to reward and motivate employees. For startups, it's essential to motivate employees through stock options. If employees have this form of deferred compensation, it will give them a sense of cohesion and incentivise them to work hard. Stock options would be a great way to reward their efforts while allowing them to benefit from long-term growth in value.
Salary
The salary of a marketing director is not only determined by their qualifications but also by the company's budget. An experienced marketing director will have a range of skills that can be applied to many businesses and industries, so it is vital to know what they are worth, their base rate and how much they can expect to earn in different roles.
As reported by Reed, marketing Director salaries range between £67k to £76 per annum in the UK. This will, of course, fluctuate depending on the city.
Non-Compete Clause
For a startup, it may be necessary to include a restrictive covenant depending on the nature of your business and the duties of the marketing director. This places constraints on the employee if they ever leave the company.
A marketing department may be privy to confidential information months ahead of it being public so this clause aims to protect the interests of the business. Such clauses are usually inserted to prevent staff from competing with their old employer or using confidential information after their employment has ended.
Hours of work
One of the most important things to include in an employment agreement is the hours of work clause. This should outline the maximum number of hours that an employee is expected to work, as well as what happens if this number is not met.
The hours of work clause also includes details about time off and breaks that an employee is allowed. These should be clearly defined so that both parties know what they can expect from each other. Employees cannot work more than 48 hours a week as stated in the working time directive (also known as working time regulations) unless they opt-out of the 48-hour week.
How can I create an employment contract with Legislate?
Legislate is an end-to-end contracting management software for the unlawyered. To find out more about creating your employment contracts on Legislate, take a look at our tutorial, or you can book a live demo to learn more about the platform.
Download our Employment Agreement Guide for free!