Product Marketing Manager

Lactalis USA is currently seeking a talented individual to join our Import Marketing team. This role is onsite and will be based in New York City, NY.

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft® Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, Siggi’s®, and Stonyfield Organic® in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

From your PASSION to ours

The Marketing Manager will be responsible for developing strategy and implementing plans and targets for assigned import products and brands portfolio. Will organize and control assigned product line(s) from conceptual stages through product life cycles to optimize profit and meet marketing, financial, and corporate growth objectives by performing the following duties:

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

· Participate in setting effective business strategy along with the Marketing Director to move business ahead and achieve high level objectives/metrics; demonstrate a deep understanding of brand strategy and the competitive landscape in which the brand operates, including key competitors, general market conditions such as milk pricing, the dynamic foodservice environment, etc. This would include “real time” understanding of what is driving our products and category trends in the marketplace.

· Develop and execute effective annual marketing programs that build the brand in the long run and achieve targeted operating results as specified in the current year budget. Work collaboratively with key inter-dependences to construct this plan: Sales, Trade Marketing, direct supervisor, and senior management to actively monitor and adjust plans as needed during the operating cycle to assure that business results are met; develop best practices and continuously refine these.

· In development of the annual plans, demonstrate expertise in the full marketing mix and utilize “best practices” to achieve business results. Monitor the market and proactively set optimal price points, recommending pricing action as needed. Work effectively and collaboratively with the Agency of Record (AOR) to develop and execute impactful advertising and promotions to achieve results and continuously improve best practices. Work with Sales and Trade Marketing to set appropriate distribution goals particularly with new products. Maintain an appropriate and optimal product range in terms of number of SKUs, sizes, etc., assuring that the mix is profitable and competitive in the market; monitors all plans and programs to determine ROI and effectiveness in delivering results.

· Work closely with Sales and Trade Marketing to provide accurate budgets and forecasts pertaining to volume and mix; provides input in the area of upside potential and downside risk.

· Contribute to new product strategy development for the assigned business area or product line; recommend appropriate new product projects consistent with strategy; lead new product reams in the achievement of new product launches, keeping the team on time, on budget and delivering the agreed upon volume and profit for new products.

· Contribute to the development of key communication strategies such as brand strategy, copy strategy, etc.; effectively briefs the agency in all areas of communications work (i.e.: trade advertising and social media, etc.), provides sound input and direction to the agency on all such creative projects to deliver high impact creative.

· Recommend and execute appropriate market research needed to guide new product development, and communications work like: trade advertising campaigns and other executions involving the expression of the brand positioning and strategy; continuously improves best practices.

· Recommend and execute packaging graphics to assure that the brand image is contemporary, consistent with brand strategy, work closely and give direction to outside agency as required to achieve excellence in product presentation in foodservice.

· Actively lead projects by taking part in all the processes, regrouping the key elements and follow up with key players and stakeholders in the project from start to completion.

· Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the business P&L and actively manages marketing programs to impact results, including pricing, marketing spending, and all other marketing mix activities that impact volume and profit; works closely with Finance and direct supervisor to assure accuracy of financial reporting and when developing pro-forma P&Ls for products; actively monitors monthly results along with Finance to assure that the business is on track, and proactively recommends appropriate action when results are challenged.

· Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and wellbeing of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company’s overall performance and success.

· Travel and / or extended or off work hours may be required.

· This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

· To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.

· Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

· A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications or other comparable discipline. MBA preferred.

Experience

· 5+ years related experience in a consumer package goods marketing position.

· Food experience, and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills / Abilities

· Significant computer skills and background and needs to be familiar with sophisticated sales reporting systems.

· Strong communication and analytical skills

· Ability to coordinate a number of activities internally with a variety of departments and functions

· Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals and/or governmental regulations.

· Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

· Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.

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