Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.
About Handshake
Handshake is the leading early career platform connecting talent with opportunity. Our mission is to democratize access to meaningful careers by helping students and graduates discover and launch careers they’ll love, regardless of where they come from or who they know. We partner with thousands of employers and educational institutions to create a more inclusive and efficient job market, and we’re just getting started! Following our rapid growth in the U.S., we’re scaling our presence across Europe.
With a growing team, an expanding customer base, and increasing brand recognition in the region, this is a pivotal moment for Handshake EMEA — and marketing will be at the heart of what comes next.
Why We're Hiring
Until now, our EMEA growth has been largely sales-led. As we continue to expand, we’re looking for a strategic, commercially minded Head of Marketing to be the first dedicated marketing leader in the region. This role is a unique opportunity to build our EMEA marketing function from the ground up - shaping the strategy, driving demand, enabling the sales team, and delivering measurable business impact.You’ll join the EMEA Leadership Team and report directly to the Managing Director for EMEA, playing a critical role in accelerating our go-to-market efforts and helping us reach the next stage of growth.
What You’ll Do
- Build the strategy: Define and execute a regional marketing strategy that drives awareness, generates qualified pipeline, and supports revenue goals
- Drive demand: Launch high-impact campaigns and programs that fill the funnel and create commercial opportunities for our sales team
- Enable sales: Develop positioning, messaging, content, and tools that help our go-to-market teams win in a competitive market
- Lead the team: Manage and develop a small team of four, ensuring clarity, accountability, and a strong performance mindset
- Partner cross-functionally: Collaborate with Sales, Customer Success, Product, and Global Marketing to create alignment and scale what works
- Show quick wins: Balance long-term strategic bets with scrappy, near-term tactics to drive visible progress early on
- Represent marketing at the leadership table: Bring a commercial and data-driven voice to EMEA leadership discussions
What We're Looking For
- Strategic operator: You’re a senior marketer who can see the big picture and execute against it. You know how to build marketing strategies that deliver measurable results
- Commercial mindset: You’re laser-focused on pipeline and revenue. You understand what sales needs to succeed and can design marketing that supports them
- Builder energy: You've built or rebuilt marketing functions at early- or mid-stage startups, ideally in fast-growing B2B SaaS businesses
- Leadership experience: You've led and grown marketing teams before, creating clarity, alignment, and impact
- Scrappy and hands-on: You're comfortable rolling up your sleeves — whether it’s launching a campaign, testing a new channel, or jumping into analytics
- European market expertise: You understand the nuances of marketing across multiple countries in EMEA; fluency in German or French is a plus
- Strong communicator and collaborator: You know how to influence, align stakeholders, and work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment
Why Join Us
At Handshake, you’ll be part of a mission-driven company making a meaningful difference in the world of work. In EMEA, you’ll have the rare chance to build something from the ground up, with the backing of a proven business, a talented team, and strong market momentum.You’ll shape the future of our marketing efforts in the region, work closely with senior leaders, and see your work translate directly into business growth.
What we offer
At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.
Benefits below apply to UK employees in full-time positions.
- 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
- 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
- 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
- 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual £1,500 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
- 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
- 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
- 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
- 🥗 Free lunch provided 3x a week across all offices.
- 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.
- 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
- 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
- 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
- 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.
Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during initial communications.
