We are partnering with Whittaker’s to find a Brand Manager that is passionate about Chocolate, passionate about quality and sustainability and driven to return strong returns to the business. The purpose of this role is to lead the lifecycle management for a range of Whittaker’s products, working closely and collaboratively with NPD, sales, operations, finance, procurement, production and our sales agencies to create innovative products and marketing to bring them to life This is a permanent role based out of Porirua.
You will be working collaboratively with members of the marketing team and wider business on key strategic projects from insight led strategy, to idea generation, concept development, budget management, product and pack design, creative processes, brand and marketing positioning, team and stakeholder engagement and post evaluations.
In this role you will be:
- Owning the product strategy and management for a product portfolio within the Whittaker’s product set;
- Leading the marketing strategy, planning and execution to drive growth across the core and limited edition products; and
- Leading the project management to identify and bring new products (NPD) and product updates to life for our customers
Ultimately, you will be delivering strong returns to the business, achieving Whittaker’s brand aspirations and providing an outstanding product experience for their customers.
Key deliverables in this role include:
- Lead the project management of a cross functional team to deliver new and improved products to market.
- Responsible for the annual brand and marketing strategy, planning and budget for the Australian market, working closely with the CMO and Co-COO.
- Owning and accountable for taking products through the Stage and Gate process to ensure products can be successfully launched. Including the development of the business case, identifying risks and leading the project team to minimise risks and increase profitability.
- Working collaboratively with NPD managers to develop new products, both core and limited edition that align with the Whittaker's product strategy and reinforce the brand character and positioning.
- Use data and insights to inform decisions and recommendations and measure performance.
- Leading and briefing designers on new packaging designs and ensuring all labelling requirements are met.
- Responsible for leading implementation and associated marketing of key initiatives of the Good Honest Chocolate strategy (Sustainability & Community) Eg: sustainable packaging, traceability, charity support initiatives in partnership with the other brand managers.
- Responsible for managing and implementing all aspects of the product marketing campaigns to drive awareness and sales, including campaign strategy, execution and media and working closely with the Digital Marketing Specialist, Marketing Coordinator and key agencies to deliver innovative campaigns as identified through the annual planning process.
We are looking for someone with the following experience and skills:
- Proven experience in Marketing and Brand Management including, campaign strategy development and execution. Preferably in FMCG or a manufacturing business
- Experience in leading and managing complex projects with well-developed project management and problem-solving skills
- Strong commercial thinking and financial nous
- Experience in Product strategy development and lifecycle management
- Strong attention to detail
- A resilient nature and the ability to think quickly and on your feet and adapt well to change
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team and taking on a leadership role within the organisation to drive successful outcomes
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience and understanding of the Australian market, particularly in FMCG is highly desirable
- Passionate and knowledgeable about sustainability
What is in it for you?
- Work for New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand – 10 years in a row!
- Supportive and collaborative team environment
- The opportunity to contribute to the Whittaker’s brand and product line
If you are interested in applying or learning more, please contact Laura Corkill at laura.corkill@beyond.co.nz or 021 193 0267 referencing job number # 113043 or push the APPLY NOW button.