Assistant Brand Manager

Our Client, a Food Product Manufacturer company, is looking for a Assistant Brand Manager for their Bolton, ON/Hybrid location.

Responsibilities:

• Works within established procedures with a moderate degree of supervision
• Identifies the problem and all relevant issues in straightforward situations, assesses each using standard procedures and makes decisions based on factual information
• This is typically a Assignment with significantly more authority and responsibility at this Assignment level. It should be selected to recognize differences which are not enough to be represented by a separate Assignment level, such as increased proficiency in skills/competencies to perform responsibilities, greater impact to the business unit, customer, segment, geography, etc. May also provide guidance or leadership to other Associates.

Marketing:

• Marketing is the management function in the organization that provides consumer driven strategic direction. It uses data driven analysis to identify the growth drivers on which the organization should focus, centered around three priority areas: creating scale to generate margin for investment, strengthening memory structures to be more mentally available and so more readily chosen by shoppers and improving physical availability to interrupt shoppers and remind them to purchase. As well as developing the long term strategies, marketing is responsible for the development and execution of the annual brand plans, focusing on innovative ways to tell the brand story through communications and in store activation, and then share global best practices in these areas. It works with R& D on the identification of the right innovation growth pipeline which can remove barriers to penetration and unlock value.

Brand & Portfolio Management:

• Brand/Portfolio Management work is focused on driving branding/marketing strategies that result in successful brands including:
• Managing the brand/portfolio P&L (, budgeting, expenditures, profitability, ROI etc.)
• Analyzing potential markets, competitor positioning, and customer buying patterns to project demand/profitability for potential products, key product features/requirements, favorable timing for product launch, etc.
• Partnering with product development and customer marketing teams to ensure that customer needs for each targeted segment are incorporated into product design, branding, and marketing approaches
• Developing product commercialization strategies (, pricing, licensing, distribution etc.)
• Analyzing brand/portfolio performance and customer feedback as input to product enhancements
• May involve new product launch
• The Assistant Brand Manager is responsible for developing and capitalizing on opportunities that lead to the achievement of long-term profitable growth for assigned brands and/or portfolio. This is accomplished through consumer and market data analysis that supports the development, recommendation, and planning for implementation of strategies and programs to support business objectives across the portfolio.
• Brand Management (strategic planning, business leadership, brand plan creation and leadership)
• Financial Management (P&L management, budget tracking)
• Innovation (product and packaging, developed locally or global adaptation)
• Consumer, Category and Customer Insights (business analysis, data to insights)
• Business Planning (annual planning, monthly business analysis and planning)
• Retail Strategy
• Cross functional collaboration and leadership

Brand Management:

• Responsible for the development and deployment of brand strategies that accelerate growth of the portfolio to deliver on short and long-term corporate goals.
• Responsible for the co-ordination and development of long-term strategic plans and in-year brand plans, with support of Director. This requires analysis of general market, consumer research, competitive trends and development of objectives and strategies for all key functional areas of the business (product, pricing, availability, media, communications, and tactical promotions).
• Development and execution of consumer communication plans, including developing or adapting advertising as appropriate in partnership with the global team, and driving the convergence of creative and media.
• Execution of above and below the line campaigns with a strong focus on digital.
• Evaluate performance of executed programs and communication campaigns to ascertain their effectiveness for continuous improvement.

Financial Management:

• Responsible for managing brand P&Ls to deliver topline and profit targets, focusing on quality growth with a category growth mindset.
• Representing the portfolio and brands through the S&OP+ process (portfolio management reviews).
• Lead cross-functional team through category analysis, planning, portfolio review, risks and opportunities, as well as escalating critical decisions.
• Manages fiscal budgets within guidelines set by Senior Management including Packaging, Advertising and Consumer Promotion. Influences all areas of the P&L.
• Continuously work towards improving product margins, both locally and in partnership with regional and global partners, through the identification of opportunities, both cost savings and business opportunities, from concept development to final product.

Innovation Launches:

• Lead the project management for product initiatives, including cross-functional leadership.
• Lead the development and execution of strategies related to new product launches within the portfolio. This includes identifying and/or validating winning propositions, and the development of executional and launch strategies within the Canadian Market.
• Lead relationships with Client global and regional counterparts to best leverage global innovations, plans and expertise, and to share Canadian best practices.
• Continually liaises with regional and global teams to identify long term business building opportunities and ensures that every aspect of local marketing is consistent with Global frameworks.

Consumer & Category Insights:

• Partner with CMI and Category Leadership to command a superior consumer & category understanding in developing key consumer insights and category growth drivers that will lead to strategy development.

Long-Term Planning:

• Prepare Long Term strategic plans for the portfolio in collaboration with cross-functional team (Category & Consumer Insights, Sales Strategy, Strategic Revenue Management, Finance, Digital COE).
• Identify gaps & opportunities to grow the category, escalate decisions as required.

Retail Strategy:

• Present at key Sales Meetings to rally the selling organization behind the vision and strategy.
• Co-champion development of key merchandising tools and integrated priorities.

Requirements:

• University degree required (preferably in Business/Marketing/Brand Management)
• MBA an asset
• Experience in brand marketing in international FMCG companies
• Experience managing several different and complex projects at the same time
• Experience with Nielsen, Numerator data an asset
• Fluent in English
• Excellent analytical, presentation and communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand P and L, and identify key financial business levers
• Successful engagement of cross-functional teams
• Preferred Experience: Assistant Brand Manager previously
• Has working knowledge and skills developed through formal training or work experience

Why Should You Apply?

• Excellent growth and advancement opportunities