Brand Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Purpose of Position

Our Brand Manager will support the development and execution of short- and long-term marketing initiatives in the filled pasta category, including new item development, planning and execution, retail channel management, innovation, and brand activation. This role operates in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment, where success is driven by strong execution, cross-functional partnership, and the ability to influence stakeholders within a centralized decision-making structure.

Key Responsibilities

• New Item Development:
  • Create R&D briefs including product design, pricing and packaging
  • Create volume forecast for all new item projects
  • Coordinate & facilitate bi-weekly new item meeting for Retail
  • Work with cross functional team to bring new items to market
    • Support new item development of new US & Canada pasta line extensions
    • Support the expansion into new pasta categories/formats and brands
  • Build customer sell in decks for new item projects
  • Ensure all projects are launched on time
  • Uncover insights to aid in new item development
• Artwork & Physical Packaging Development
  • Work with Design on creative briefs
  • Work with Innovations and Procurement to develop new packaging structures as needed
• Assist Sales with new item sell-in

• Attend key customer new item sales presentations as the product expert

• Consumer & Shopper Marketing Planning & Execution:
  • Manage marketing budgets for Pasta Category & New Brands
  • Work with customers and agencies to build shopper marketing plans and execute on those plans throughout the year
  • Instore activities
    • Lead shelftalk planning & creation across all customers
    • Lead box talker planning & creation across key customers (i.e. Walmart, Target)
    • Manage creation & delivery of instore trays, coolers, shelf strips, & shelf dividers across all customers.
    • Lead instore demos & display planning & execution
    • Identify & support the development of new tools, agencies, and capabilities for standing out instore and digitally
  • At home activities
    • Lead digital coupon planning & creation for Pasta Category
    • Lead iBotta offer planning & creation for Walmart for Pasta Category
    • Lead direct mailer planning with Kroger for Pasta Category
    • Develop new tools, agencies, and capabilities for being more relevant at home
  • Online activities
    • Lead search ad planning & creation for Pasta Category
    • Lead banner display ad planning & creation for Pasta Category
    • Ensure that online content is accurate at all retailers
  • Social/Digital Content Marketing
    • When approved, lead the planning and execution of all social/digital activities (i.e. lasagna or TakeHome)
    • Measure and track performance of all marketing activities in the Pasta Category
• Retail Channel Management
  • Assortment Mix:
    • Manage product mix to ensure profitability and strong category velocities
    • Provide category mix insights and recommendations to sales team
    • Manage discontinuations
  • Margin Management:
    • Constantly look for cost savings that will not impact product quality
    • Investigate ways to improve pricing and lower customer margin requirements
    • Provide demand planning, packaging procurement, and ingredient procurement with accurate forecast and help reduce waste cost
  • Competitive Analysis:
    • Keep a pulse on competitor’s actions in store through IRI, 84.51, and other data sources
    • Make leadership aware of new competitive products, pricing, or packaging changes
    • Be proactive in proposing actions for velocity or distribution improvement
  • Continuous Improvement:
    • Continuously uncover areas for product quality and communications improvements
    • Develop new business processes to improve company efficiency and accuracy
  • Volume planning and achievement:
    • Build annual volume budgets for the Pasta Category and new brands
    • Monitor and deliver volume goals

Key Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or closely related field is required, MBA Preferred
• 3+ years’ experience in ABM/Brand Management required
• Experience with Consumer-Packaged Goods industry required
• Strong analytical, intrapersonal, & communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and bring structure to complex, fast-paced environments
• Strong work ethic with a consistent drive to deliver results and meet commitments
• Capable of balancing collaboration and assertiveness—able to influence stakeholders while confidently sharing perspectives
• Thrives in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment with a willingness to roll up sleeves and execute at all levels
• Appreciation for and ability to thrive within a family-owned business culture
• Ability to work with a wide variety of individuals inside & outside the organization and maintain regular contact with all stakeholders

Compensation:  Starting at $120,000 Annually

About Us :  Rana is an international Company present in over 60 countries, with a turnover close to $1.5 billion. Founded by Giovanni Rana in 1962, the Company has been led for over 35 years by Gian Luca Rana, CEO and pioneer of the internationalization project that has led the Group to become a leader worldwide in the production and marketing of fresh food products (filled and unfilled pasta, gnocchi, sauces and ready meals). Rana focuses its investments in the following areas: the creation of jobs (our workforce doubled in the last five years), the research and development, with the aim of offering Consumers delicious products made of the highest quality ingredients. The Rana Group has always made innovation its strength, both in the technological field (with the registration of dozens of product and process patents) and in communication. 

 

As a family-owned Company, we are united by strong Values and the aspiration of building a better future for the next generations. Ethics and sustainability are the cornerstones of our sixty-two years of history, which have made our business healthy and constantly growing. Today, Rana has 8 factories (6 in Europe and 2 in the US) and is a large family of 3,500 People. The engines of our continued success will keep being innovation, internationalization, passion and constant search for excellence in everything we do. 

Rana is committed to providing a workplace of diversity and inclusion. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Decisions related to hiring, compensation, training, evaluating performance, o r termination are made fairly. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates and selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.