Lifecycle Marketing Manager

About the role

Kernel is growing – and fast. We've doubled year on year for the past six years, now trusted by 40,000+ Kiwis with over $2B invested, and on track for another stellar 12 months ahead. As our customer base grows, we're looking for a Lifecycle Marketing Manager to own Kernel's customer engagement platform and deliver personalised, data-driven communications across the customer lifecycl, from onboarding and activation through engagement, retention, and advocacy. Reporting to Andy, the Head of Marketing, you will design and optimise journeys, triggers, and campaigns that improve conversion and lifetime value across our product suite, partnering closely with the wider Marketing team on go-to-market initiatives and content execution.

This role blends technical capability with customer-centric storytelling and rigorous measurement. You will be accountable for building out the lifecycle strategy, channel performance (email, push, in-app, SMS), compliance, and reporting. Ultimately influencing how Kiwis experience their customer journey with Kernel.

You'll be joining a small, agile team where your work will have immediate visibility and impact. You'll have the opportunity to shape the lifecycle function from the ground up, influence how Kernel communicates with thousands of customers, and work closely with product, sales, and tech to bring ideas to life. If you enjoy solving problems with data, building systems that scale, and creating meaningful customer experiences, this role offers the autonomy and scope to do just that.

About Kernel

We're a 100% Kiwi owned and operated fintech on a mission to make wealth accessible for every Kiwi. Our investment platform takes the guesswork out of investing – offering KiwiSaver, Managed Funds, US shares & ETFs, and Smart Saver accounts, all in one place with some of the lowest fees in the market.

We're at an exciting stage. Scaling fast, expanding our team of globally experienced financial professionals, and building the foundations for what's next. Our culture is collaborative, hands-on and ambitious – built on trust, innovation and saying it like it is. We value diverse perspectives, empower individuality, and believe the best ideas come from thinking together.

Things move quickly here, and every person plays a key role in shaping our future.

What you'll do

• Own Kernel's customer engagement platform (Braze), managing setup, governance, data integrity, and platform optimisation.

• Develop and execute the customer lifecycle strategy, translating business goals into automated, multichannel journeys across email, push, in-app, and SMS.

• Build and maintain segments, flows, and dynamic content, ensuring strong data integrations with tech and data teams.

• Run A/B tests, personalise content, and optimise campaigns to improve engagement, conversion, and retention.

• Monitor performance, analyse results, and share insights to inform future initiatives and improve ROI.

• Continuously innovate Support internal teams with training and best practices and stay current with trends in marketing automation and customer engagement.

You'll be great if you bring

• Proven ability to lead and execute marketing automation strategies across the full customer lifecycle.

• Deep hands-on experience with Braze, HubSpot, or Marketo.

• Strong grasp of customer segmentation, journey mapping, and lifecycle marketing principles.

• Confidence working with APIs, event-based triggers, and data integrations in collaboration with technical teams.

• Practical knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Liquid Logic for building and editing email templates.

• A data-informed mindset, comfortable analysing performance, running tests, and applying insights to improve outcomes.

• Clear communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with marketing, product, and sales teams.

• Awareness of privacy, consent, and data protection standards in digital marketing.

• A proactive mindset, a passion for data, and a drive to make a meaningful impact. You welcome different perspectives and enjoy exploring new approaches to solving challenges.

Bonus things you could bring along to the role

• Experience working in the financial services industry.

• An understanding of, or keen interest in, personal finance.

• Certification in Braze or other marketing automation platforms such as Marketo or HubSpot.

Why You'll Love it at Kernel

• Connecting Kiwis with investment products that are designed in a way no other fintech in New Zealand is approaching, connecting everyday financial goals with intuitive, customer-first experiences.

• Contribute to a platform trusted by tens of thousands of Kiwis, helping them feel more confident and in control of their money.

• Own and influence the lifecycle marketing function from the ground up, with the autonomy to test, learn, and scale what works.

• Join a team built on trust, collaboration, and flexibility, where feedback is constructive and everyone has a voice.

• Competitive compensation package

• Flexible hybrid work and support for remote setups

• Health insurance, parental leave top-up, and professional development support

• Extra staff holidays, office snacks, coffee, and a dog-friendly environment

Join our team

Not sure you meet every requirement? We encourage you to apply. We value growth, impact, and mindset just as much as specific experience. If this opportunity sounds like you, send us your cover letter explaining why you're excited about the role and working at Kernel, along with your CV.

Visit our careers page for more on working at Kernel and follow us on LinkedIn & Instagram. to stay connected.