Brand Manager (Chocolate & Snacking Brands)

Zertus UK & Ireland, Home based with travel to all UK sites. Start Date: July 2024.

 

Exciting Opportunity at Zertus UK & Ireland: Join Us as a Brand Manager!

 

Are you ready to ignite the growth strategy for iconic brands in the UK market? Zertus UK & Ireland, a leading manufacturer of chocolate and snacking products, is seeking a dynamic Brand Manager to lead the charge!

 

Zertus UK & Ireland comprises three distinguished companies – Humdinger Foods, Kinnerton Confectionery, and Lir Chocolates. Our expertise spans the manufacturing of a diverse range of snacks and chocolates, with multiple facilities and offices strategically positioned throughout the UK and Ireland. With a commitment to innovation, we strive to craft products that captivate and delight our customers. As the UK & Irish division of Zertus GmbH, headquartered in Hamburg and boasting a workforce of over 2000 employees across Europe, we are part of a dynamic and expansive global network. 

As the Brand Manager, you'll be at the forefront of driving growth strategies for Baileys Chocolate Licensed Brand and Nuts brands, elevating their presence in the UK market. You'll also play a pivotal role in shaping the innovation pipeline for Baileys Chocolate Licensed Brand and overseeing the management of key brands including Guinness Licensed Brand (UK), Budweiser Licensed Brand and Humdinger's The Sun Valley Nut co brand. This is a homebased role with regular travel to all UK/Ireland factories/ sites.

 

Your key areas of responsibility will be:

Brand Management, Planning, and Innovation:

• Develop 3-year brand plans aligned with business objectives and marketing strategy.
• Execute brand plans to achieve targets such as NSV, GM, Market Share, and Brand Awareness.
• Collaborate with Sales team to implement winning Channel & Customer strategies.
• Monitor and adjust marketing activities monthly to meet company targets promptly.
• Manage external/internal agencies for PR, content creation, digital, and shopper marketing.
• Coordinate with Brand Manager and digital team to execute strategy across multiple touchpoints.
• Organize and deliver brand events as part of brand plans.
• Lead Baileys Chocolate Licensed Brand  3-year innovation pipeline and manage NPD portfolios for Guinness Licensed Brand, Budweiser Licensed Brand, and Humdinger's The Sun Valley Nut co brand. 

Licensing and Sales Support:

• Serve as key contact for licensing agencies (Beanstalk for Diageo, IMG for Budweiser) on innovation and UK marketing plans.
• Maintain updates with Diageo and Budweiser teams as necessary and ensure compliance with licensed agreements.
• Support sales team with internal presentations and trade materials.
• Attend retailer meetings as needed and provide final approval for all branded designs.

Experience

• Substantial experience of working in a Brand Management role in Food/FMCG
• Proven experience of managing a branded innovation pipeline with examples of delivering successful innovation to market

 

Skills:

• Strategic Brand Planning: Ability to develop comprehensive brand plans aligned with business objectives and marketing strategy
• Performance Measurement: Proficiency in measuring and evaluating brand plan execution against key performance indicators (KPIs) such as NSV (Net Sales Value), GM (Gross Margin), Market Share, WTD % (Weighted Dsitribtuion %), Penetration, Brand Awareness, Brand Preference, and Brand Image.
• Innovation Pipeline Management: Experience in collaborating with category teams and insights to identify and prioritize branded innovation opportunities
• Channel and Customer Strategy Development: Strong capability to work with sales teams to translate brand plans into winning channel and customer strategies that drive sales and market penetration.
• Marketing Activity Analysis: Skill in conducting monthly analysis of marketing activities, identifying areas for improvement, and adjusting plans promptly to achieve company targets and objectives.
• Agency and Design Management: Experience in managing external agencies and internal design teams across various functions including PR, content creation, digital marketing, and shopper marketing.
• Licensing Expertise: Ability to liaise with licensors to understand licensed brand properties and translate them into market-leading product propositions within the portfolio.
• Product Development: Capability to work with category and sales teams to develop strategies for licensed products, including identifying growth opportunities and developing product briefs for innovation teams.
• Trade Presentation Development: Skill in creating trade presentations for each season in collaboration with design teams, and organizing internal sales meetings to communicate brand strategies effectively.
• Retailer Relationship Management: Ability to attend retailer meetings when necessary and establish strong relationships to support brand objectives. Strong knowledge of UK retailers is essential. 
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Proficiency in collaborating with a variety of teams
• Excellent communication skills: Able to influence and articulate ideas

 

Qualifications (Desirable but not essential): 

• BA Hons Marketing/Business or equivalent experience 

Certifications/ Licenses Required

• UK Driving License (regular travel) 

• Generous Pension and Life Assurance Scheme: Enjoy an attractive life insurance scheme at x4 basic salary.
• Comprehensive Health Care Cash Plan: Company-paid plan via Paycare, along with access to Paycare Perks for exclusive high street and retailer discounts.
• Home working allowance
• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme: Acquire an extra 5 days of leave annually through our holiday purchase scheme.
• Engagement in Charity and Team Events: Participate in charity fundraising and engaging team events.
• Additional Leave for Community Work: Receive an extra day of paid leave for charity or community service.
• Staff Shop Discounts: Access exclusive discounts through our staff shops.
• Employee Values Awards: Be recognised and celebrated for embodying our values.
• Referral Bonus Vouchers: Earn bonuses by referring exceptional talent.
• Training and Development Opportunities: Access ongoing opportunities for professional growth.
• Access to London Hub Space in Camden: Benefit from a dedicated London Hub space.
• ESG Commitment: Join our ongoing commitment to our ESG strategy, prioritizing the well-being of our people, communities, and the planet.
• Grocery Aid Charity Support: Avail assistance through Grocery Aid, supporting our community and promoting well-being. 

If you're ready to make your mark on iconic brands and drive growth in the UK market, we want to hear from you! Apply now and join us in shaping the future of chocolate and snacking at Zertus UK & Ireland. To apply submit your CV and carefully answer our application questions. If you are shortlisted, you will receive a call from the Talent Acquisition Manager. The interviews will be a two-stage process, with stage 1 via Teams call and stage 2 at our London offices and will include a presentation task.