Brand Manager, Local Brands

Bel, makers of iconic cheese brands including Babybel, The Laughing Cow, and Boursin, is a growing global company that values your contributions, strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone and offers career growth and development opportunities, as well as competitive total compensation and meaningful well-being benefits from day one. For All, For Good, our company signature, reflects Bel’s commitment to sustainability and healthier and responsible food for all. Bel Brands USA has been named Chicago's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" for 10 years in a row. The company is headquartered in Chicago and operates three manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI, Leitchfield, KY, and Brookings, SD.

Job Description Summary

The Brand Manager is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of brands, including our iconic Local Brands Kaukauna, Merkts, Price*s, our Private Labels, and Imports Port-Salut, Kiri, and Regal Picon. This is a key role in driving sustainable growth for Bel. Working closely with the Senior Director of the Local Business Unit and our manufacturing plant in Little Chute, WI, this person will help define core strategies and rally the organization to achieve them, working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment, leading to accelerated share and profit growth through holistic marketing plans. This person is responsible for enrolling and aligning leaders at all levels in the plans and is expected to work closely with Strategic Insights, RID, Finance, Sales, Industrial and Agency partners. This is a hybrid role (2-3 days/week) based in our Chicago Loop office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Brand Strategy Leadership: develops Brand Strategy, inclusive of overall growth plan, positioning, tactical plans, price/value proposition, strategic target activation, and new product strategies.
Communications Leadership: leads agency partner relationship to ensure maximum efficiency and breakthrough marketing activations, including annual integrated marketing planning.
Business Management and Tracking: actively manages P&L variances to attain annual and long-range financial objectives. Consistently evaluates business progress against plan and recommends corrective action as needed.
Go-To-Market Strategist: deep understanding of Customer channels and product route to market; ability to partner with Sales and Supply Chain through the S&OP and Innovation process.
Program Evaluation: analyzes program results and marketplace dynamics to provide on-going marketing mix recommendations.
New Product Management: identifies opportunities and works closely with our manufacturing plant to implement plans for line extensions and new product introductions, ensuring effective and on-time route to market.
People Management: supports evolution of internal brand management organization through effective recruitment, management, and development of team.

Qualifications and Competencies

Minimum Bachelor’s degree required, MBA preferred

6+ years of progressive CPG Brand Marketing experience

Specific Competencies Required

Ability to enroll and align leaders at all levels through effective storytelling and clearly articulated (verbal and visual PowerPoint) strategic thinking.
Must have experience managing multiple projects at once in a fast paced, matrix management environment.
Must be an independent and proactive contributor that can excel in changing and ambiguous situations.
Must have expertise in data analysis (Nielsen/IRI preferred); translating data into insights, demonstrate strong leadership, teamwork and strategic thinking skills.
Ability to communicate (both verbally and in writing) concisely and effectively within function and with direct reports, cross-functional team, and agency partners.
Ability to motivate and develop associate talent.

Performance Expectations

Takes full ownership mindset towards applicable business lines, strategy, and associated performance.
Gains trust and respect of management, direct reports, coworkers, vendors, and agency partners. Maintains the integrity of confidential business and product information.
Makes decisions in a complex environment without having all the information at hand.
Gives and can receive ongoing, straightforward, and constructive feedback.
Develops trustful relationships and engages teams towards common objectives.
Can be trusted to contribute key deliverables on-time with the utmost quality and accuracy.

PHYSICAL & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Work is performed largely in a hybrid office environment (2-3 days/week in office). Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week. At times there will be some variation in work hours due to special projects, deadlines and other concerns.

Total Rewards:

Base Salary: $135,00 - $145,000

Bonus Potential: 23%

401k, Medical, Dental, Vision from Day One, PTO days and more

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.

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