The Brand Manager will lead all aspects of the company's Casual Entertaining category, including the brand and Private Label store brands. Develop brand and product strategies, and create marketing plans that drive breakthrough growth. Lead team of direct reports and cross functional partners in new product development and commercialization, advertising and promotion campaigns, packaging, retail programs, channel development, and online marketing initiatives. Maintain accountability for full P&L, including pricing, spending, cost improvement, and product mix. Must be a leader for the business and the organization, a passionate advocate of the consumer, and a results-oriented change agent for our brands.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Deliver sales and profitability growth targets as owner of Casual Entertaining franchise P&L.
• Develop and gain management alignment to annual business plan -- both marketing strategies and financials.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to deliver sales revenue growth targets and margin improvement.
• Maintain marketing budget planning, management and delivery of goal.
• Manage business reporting, including monthly dashboards, business analysis and regular management reviews.

• Build Casual Entertaining category leadership, increasing market share via product and channel initiatives, as well as equity-building marketing programs.
• Develop brand equity vision, footprint and positioning, and drive into packaging and marketing communications.
• Drive trial and loyalty through advertising, promotions, retail merchandising, PR and online marketing.
• Pursue and obtain consumer insights that provide competitive advantage via market research activities.
• Develop and deliver integrated branded and private label solutions.
• Create packaging solutions that enhance consumer appeal, shelf presence, and sustainability.

• Collaborate with Innovation Brand Manager to create and commercialize innovation that drives revenue and enhances brand equity.
• Participate in development of brand expansion vision and specific product development plans.
• Leverage deep consumer and customer insights to optimize new product concepts and maximize commercial opportunity.
• Drive new product concepts through development and commercialization to exceed revenue goals.
• Manage product mix and product lifecycles to deliver optimal financial returns.
• Collaborate closely with planning and supply chain to reduce costs and inefficiencies, improving margin.

• Partner with Operations, Sales and Trade Marketing organizations to achieve strong retail programs and customer delight.
• Lead S&OP forecasting and planning activities to ensure customer service goals are met.
• Liaise with Operations and Supply Chain to ensure appropriate inventory and shared alignment to objectives.
• Develop compelling promotion plans, both national and customer-specific, that increase retail merchandising and category growth.
• Develop strong in-store programs, including shelf planograms and displays, to drive in- store excitement and growth.
• Develop collateral materials, product samples, sell-in presentations to support Sales meetings and Field teams.

• Be a leader in the organization.
• Supervise Associate Brand Managers and other team members, taking accountability for their growth and development.
• Raise level of understanding across organization of our consumers, our brands, and the external marketplace.
• Be an advocate for diversity, for creating culture of winning, and for compliance with key processes used to govern the business.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships, building teamwork with cross- functional partners.

• Requires Bachelor's degree in Marketing or related discipline and five to seven years' prior marketing experience, preferably in the consumer packaged goods industry. MBA is strongly preferred. Experience with syndicated data (IRI, Nielsen), category management tools, and marketing analytics desired. Experience with operational tools like S&OP forecast/planning, shipment data analysis, SAP, etc., a strong plus. Comfort with financial statements and financial analysis also very helpful. Comprehensive knowledge of administrative and management functions such as planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and controlling, is required.