Senior Brand Manager

Role Description:

The Senior Brand Manager, Cookies and Baking will be a critical role in driving brand awareness, product trial, category share, and revenue growth. The role will be responsible for defining strategies to win with consumers and customers, grow our categories, and increase our share. It will leverage consumer insights, customer needs, and market trends to develop breakthrough marketing initiatives that create a competitive advantage for the brand and support company strategic and financial objectives. This role will also work closely with our internal Content & Creative team to ensure our brand and product positioning come to life through our owned channels. The position will report to the Senior Director of Brand Marketing.

Role Expectations:

Define strategies for Simple Mills to win the Cookies and Baking/Pancake categories by:

• Maintaining a deep understanding of category, competitive, and consumer dynamics 
• Utilizing strong analytics to draw insights from data, diagnose performance, and identify opportunities 
• Designing and executing consumer research to inform marketing strategy and execution

Lead Cookies, Baking, and Pancake go-to-market strategies, communications, and marketing plans by:

• Developing differentiated, breakthrough marketing plans for Cookies Baking/Pancake that build brand equity and bolster product velocities, in collaboration with internal and external creative partners 
• Consulting innovation team on new product development and leading integrated launches for new products across paid, owned, and earned channels 
• Overseeing packaging graphics for all Cookies and Baking/Pancake SKUs including new product innovation 
• Approving marketing communications, creative, and content supporting Cookies and Baking/Pancake product lines

Manage Simple Mills Cookies and Baking/Pancake businesses, ensuring product lines deliver against revenue targets by:

• Optimizing product portfolio and fundamentals across the 4Ps to accelerate velocity growth 
• Building strong account-specific plans, assessing performance, and optimizing activities based on learning, opportunities, and threats 
• Crafting compelling sell stories and partnering with Sales on customer presentations to win new distribution

Guide commercialization projects for Cookies and Baking, including product renovation and new pack sizes/structures by:

• Building strong cross-functional relationships to motivate and lead teams through ambiguity and obstacles to successfully deliver projects on time & in full 
• Effectively influencing and facilitating alignment among key cross-functional and leadership stakeholders to advance key projects and initiatives

Manage, coach, and develop one Associate Brand Manager and provide information mentorship to other teammates across the marketing team and broader organization

Performs other projects as assigned

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required in marketing or related field; MBA preferred 
• Minimum 8 years experience required in a relevant field, ideal candidates will have 5 years of CPG/Brand Management experience 
• Demonstrated knowledge of the CPG industry, retail channels, and account-specific marketing 
• Track record of growing brands through differentiated, breakthrough marketing plans and strategies 
• Experience building marketing plans and budgets 
• Experience managing agency partners 
• Experience managing and developing talent 
• Experience executing consumer research 
• Experience interpreting syndicated data (Nielsen, IRI, SPINS, etc.) 
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills complemented by well-developed marketing intuition 
• High level of curiosity about the marketplace, competitors, consumers, and marketing technologies 
• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. Includes the ability to have supportive but candid conversations with leaders of all levels and tenure and the ability to communicate and build alignment across a fast-growing organization 
• Self-starter that displays a healthy sense of urgency and thrives in a fast-paced environment involving time sensitive projects 
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional team members to solve problems quickly with limited direction 
• Ability to toggle between strategy & execution 
• Entrepreneurial mindset. 
• Appreciation for ambiguity. 
• Ability to create structure and organization from scratch, creatively solve problems with incomplete information, and roll up sleeves 
• Naturally curious, embracing test and learn mentality in pursuit of continuous improvement 
• A deep passion and curiosity for natural food, healthy eating, holistic health. 
• A desire to positively impact our food industry

Benefits of Working at Simple Mills:

• You will make a huge impact as a key member of an emerging brand that’s changing the way we eat and facing explosive growth
• Working with a unified group of passionate team members that are driven by healthy food that tastes good and fuels your body
• Integrating into a company that is passionate about its people and their development, with consistent in-office classes and trainings
• Employee benefits including health, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/DCA account options, Commuter Reimbursement Plan, and a 401(k) plan

Compensation will be competitive for the ideal candidate. Starting in June of 2021, Simple Mills will operate a hybrid-model: a balance of in-person and virtual work determined by position, team, and personal needs. You must be able to work remotely at your own designated location with sufficient internet access to support video conferencing. You must also be willing and able to work at our Chicago office.