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 category
Performs competitive analysis, market quantification and assessment
Leads Discovery work to generate new products and platforms within appropriate target segments
VOCC drives for customer and consumer and translate into business opportunities
Owns 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 category
Responsible for planning and executing marketing plans for the assigned category to drive demand
Plans and manages the associated budget
Interfaces with external agency partners and customer marketing team and Demand Creation COE
Accountable for ensuring content and data for assigned category is demand creation ready
Collaborate with Demand Creation COE digital resources to drive demand
Product Management :
Develop product life cycle and rationalization plan for category to optimize portfolio performance
Product Development and Improvement: Execute innovation/renovation activity against plan
Product/Segment Knowledge: Expert” on assigned category (understand operational capabilities, technical aspects, uses, customer positioning)
Influences category demand plan, risks and opportunities and gap closing plans
Provides support and solutions to the Product Supply Chain
Owns 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&L
Identifies issues and opportunities to maximize profitability
Understands product cost structure (perform basic proformas)
Develop and manage gaps and contingency plans as required
Develop 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 channels
Fluent in English
Demonstrated ability in strategic planning in a marketing role with proven success
Solid financial skills to include P&L analysis and other analyses
Solid communication skills to include verbal and written capabilities
Demonstrated ability in collaboration
Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work
Demonstrated leadership skills with cross functional resources through initiatives, projects and teams
Proven track record of taking initiative and delivering results
Solid software proficiency including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Ability to travel 10 to 25%