Our client, a food company specialized in the Horeca, foodservice, ice cream and pastry channels, is looking for a Brand Manager/ Category Business Unit who is responsible for leading a product category. The role includes planning the strategic direction for the assigned category as well as driving product lifecycle management, establishing pricing strategy, developing marketing plans, new product/platform roadmaps, financial management and overall responsibility for delivering business results. Scope of work driven by size, complexity and strategic role of the category.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/OUTCOMES:
Leadership:Vision/Strategy: Develop and drive assigned category plans and execution to achieve market share, volume and profit targets (including responding to trends, portfolio mapping, innovation/renovation activity)Cross-functional team leadership on key initiative products and programs
Understands the Market:Understands the customer, competitor, consumer and our capabilities and other insights that will be leveraged to shape the categoryPerforms competitive analysis, market quantification and assessmentLeads Discovery work to generate new products and platforms within appropriate target segmentsVOCC drives for customer and consumer and translate into business opportunitiesOwns responsibility for understanding the market driving insights that will shape strategy and drive outcomes
Marketing Management:Manages the brand strategy and value proposition within the assigned categoryResponsible for planning and executing marketing plans for the assigned category to drive demandPlans and manages the associated budgetInterfaces with external agency partners and customer marketing team and Demand Creation COEAccountable for ensuring content and data for assigned category is demand creation readyCollaborate with Demand Creation COE digital resources to drive demand
Product Management :Develop product life cycle and rationalization plan for category to optimize portfolio performanceProduct Development and Improvement: Execute innovation/renovation activity against planProduct/Segment Knowledge: Expert" on assigned category (understand operational capabilities, technical aspects, uses, customer positioning)Influences category demand plan, risks and opportunities and gap closing plansProvides support and solutions to the Product Supply ChainOwns pricing and trade guidelines for the category and maximizes our value proposition within the assigned category
Financial Management:Owns and manages the assigned category P&LIdentifies issues and opportunities to maximize profitabilityUnderstands product cost structure (perform basic proformas)Develop and manage gaps and contingency plans as requiredDevelop and manage marketing budget for assigned category
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:Bachelor's degree in marketing or related field required (MBA preferred)Proven experience in B2B marketing within food, ingredients, food proteins sector or related companies that sell to the HORECA, foodservice, ice cream, pastry, or similar channelsFluent in EnglishDemonstrated ability in strategic planning in a marketing role with proven successSolid financial skills to include P&L analysis and other analysesSolid communication skills to include verbal and written capabilitiesDemonstrated ability in collaborationDemonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workDemonstrated leadership skills with cross functional resources through initiatives, projects and teamsProven track record of taking initiative and delivering resultsSolid software proficiency including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPointAbility to travel 10 to 25%