Associate Brand Manager

At Lindt, we are a global fast-growing consumer goods company, enchanting the world with premium chocolate. We are driven by our passion for excellence and go the extra mile ensuring that every Lindt experience is nothing short of exceptional. Our collective efforts are geared towards making a positive impact, not only in the world of premium chocolate but also in the lives of our employees, customers, and communities. Our company embraces a culture defined by the core values of Excellence, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Responsibility, and Collaboration, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment where these principles drive our success.

Position Purpose:

The Associate Brand Manager will help manage and grow a leading brand within Lindt This position will be responsible for developing brand-building plans and executing projects and initiatives for assigned brand, which support both the short and long-term marketing strategy. The Associate Brand Manager will collaborate cross-functionally (locally and with international colleagues) to create brand relevancy with consumers, drive profitable growth and, develop and execute activities that build and support the brand equity. This person will also support in managing vendor and agency partners and all aspects of their projects.

Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities:

Product/Portfolio Management

• Responsible for managing an assigned portfolio to include SKU rationalization, mix strategies and profit optimization.
• Responsible for heavily influencing portfolio P&L.
• Drive the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process for assigned brand(s); Secure and engage cross functional support to meet required deliverables in a timely manner.
• Evaluate product portfolio and the marketplace and make recommendations for new product launches and product improvements to ensure Lindt & Sprungli's growth and brand equity in the marketplace.
• Analyze market potentials on an ongoing basis for existing and new products and develop competitive concepts to ensure the long-term, profitable growth of Lindt (USA).
• Analyze viability and profit/sales potential for new segments, markets, and consumers.
• Develop and implement strategies and plans to maximize the profitability of assigned products / product categories while maintaining the high quality standard.

Critical Thinking/Research and Analytics

• Conduct routine analysis of the brand, key initiative, competition, category, customer and consumer. Synthesize key findings and indications which enhance brand and company performance on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
• Lead and assist with insight gathering research that collects consumer and competitive knowledge that can be utilized to enhance and evolve the brand's recipe development, promotional acceptance and communication evolution, among others.
• Thoroughly understand internal brand metrics, such as sales and profit, and actively contribute to sales projections and financial planning to drive the brand.
• Garner channel specific insights and become to go-to person for applicable customers by leading monthly key account meetings.

Marketing Strategy

• Develop, present, and execute trade and consumer-relevant programs with clear measures for success that contribute to sales, profit and brand health objectives.
• Leverage working knowledge of consumer, category and brand and continually identify, develop, and execute business-building initiatives which deliver against the global brand strategy, and the company's business and marketing objectives.
• Thoroughly understand Lindt brand equity and respective sub-brand equities. Develop brand plans and initiatives, such as digital support, PR, promotions, packaging and creative, which fully align and strengthen positioning.
• Support the development of annual marketing plan for international strategic alignment.

Cross Functional Support

• Execute marketing communication plans via advertising and consumer promotions, including social media, PR, and consumer activations.
• Communicate regularly with the Field Sales Force, and Customer Marketing to ensure that marketing programs are properly implemented.
• Proactively communicate and collaborate with Field Sales to ensure meaningful integration and alignment in meeting the needs of the customer and marketplace.
• Attend sales calls and participate in selling at the customer level.
• Work with Research and Development to develop new products.

Skills & Knowledge

• Exceptional analytical, communication, and presentation skills
• Excellent collaborative and negotiation skills with ability to build productive business relationships cross functionally within the organization and outside of the organization with agency partners
• Assertive self-starter with ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Curiosity and the ability to operate in ambiguity
• Strong record of complex project management with multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to prioritize and effectively measure and drive for results in an entrepreneurial work environment
• Ability to manage projects and be a motivating, positive influence
• Microsoft office skills -- Experienced and proficient at a high level in Excel and PowerPoint

Experience

• Previous experience working in Brand/Marketing
• Analytics experience -- should have worked with Nielsen and/or IRI
• Proven ability to develop and utilize many elements of the marketing mix to drive the business
• Experience working in an international corporate environment, a plus
• Experience in new product development, a plus

Education

• Master's degree in related field