For Melbourne & Sydney Marketing Teams building data-driven functions.

If you’re trying to hire a CRM Manager, Loyalty Specialist, or Customer Experience lead right now, you’ve probably noticed it’s competitive for top talent.

Even though there’s plenty of talk about a “softening” market, when it comes to data-driven marketing roles—particularly across CX, CRM, Loyalty and Automation—it’s still competitive.

Here’s a quick snapshot of what we’re seeing in the market right now, and what you should keep in mind if you’re planning to grow your team.

1. Strong talent is still being snapped up.

Top candidates in CRM, Lifecycle and Marketing Automation aren’t sitting around waiting for job ads. They’re being tapped on the shoulder—and often have multiple conversations on the go.

If you’re hiring, it’s important to move quickly and have a tight, engaging process. Long delays or unclear briefs can easily cost you the best people.

2. There’s a real shortage of Junior to Mid-level candidates.

There’s been a noticeable gap in the market for junior to mid level candidates. This is making it hard for businesses that want someone hands-on but not too junior.

Hiring managers are often faced with two choices:

👉 Invest in more senior talent with proven strategy + leadership

👉 Hire junior and up-skill internally.

University’s have identified this gap and new courses such as RMIT’s Marketing Technology major is aiming to prepare job ready candidates in a few years’ time. We've been delighted to help provide market insight and support for this course.

3. Senior candidates are looking for their next challenge.

Senior CRM or CX leaders are having conversations about getting exposure to the right experience. They’re looking for purpose, smarter tech stacks, and a seat at the strategy table.

4. Consulting is popular.. but competitive.

We’re seeing a shift towards consultancy for many senior CX and CRM Strategy candidates as they await the right opportunity. The market is competitive and we have a strong pool of candidates we can align according to business need/problem.

5. Location still matters (but flexibility is key).

Most candidates desire some degree of in-office connection and hybrid work is the sweet-spot offering the best opportunity to attract great talent. Location is a key consideration as travel-time and cost are factored into decision making.

Thinking of hiring?

Whether you’re recruiting for a CRM Manager, Loyalty Marketing lead, or Customer Experience role in Sydney or Melbourne, we can help.

We’ve been recruiting in this space for over 20 years and have a deep network across both agency and client-side candidates.