Senior Brand Manager - Innovation
About the Company:
At Horizon Organic, we’re growing a culture of passionate people driven to do good for the horizon we all share. We’re building the tomorrow we want to see. Every single day.
Joining our team means being part of a dynamic environment where your skills are valued, and your contributions make a real difference. We offer diverse opportunities for career growth and development. Embark on a rewarding journey with us in shaping the future of organic dairy!
Two generations of families—and counting—have grown up on Horizon Organic® milk. From the start, as the leading organic milk producer in the U.S., Horizon has been committed to delivering innovative, nourishing dairy that growing families can rely on. In 2023, Horizon Organic became a brand of Platinum Equity. Today, Horizon works with more than 500 farmers across the U.S. to bring high-quality, certified organic milk to consumers. For more information on Horizon’s full portfolio of organic dairy products, visit Horizon.com.
The role is a hybrid 3 days in office, based in Broomfield, CO.
About the Job
A Sr Brand Manager at HFB owns brand strategies and leads execution of brand plans with cross-functional teams to deliver annual and long-range growth targets for HFB. The Sr BM is responsible for launching and scaling new businesses, growing base businesses, anticipating and responding to business/brand health dynamics, championing brand/commercial/supply/financial solutions, and leading direct and indirect reports towards flawless execution. A Sr Brand Manager will manage 2 or more business segments that will generate >$300MM in annualized contribution, marketing budgets of $500k-$20MM, and up to 20 projects simultaneously. Direct report responsibility varies.
- Supports development of strategic plans and leads execution of initiatives that build brand equity, consumer penetration, segment growth, and profitability. Scope is likely to include brand, commercial, portfolio, network, supply, COG, and innovation initiatives.
- Understands consumer, category, channel, and retailer dynamics and applies understanding in the execution of brand plans.
- Leads cross-functional teams in the flawless execution of marketing/brand plans, including (but not limited to): integrated marketing, shopper marketing, research, product development, merchandising strategies, COG optimization, network optimization, supply optimization, and PPA.
- Understands financial documents and identifies opportunities to optimize and/or achieve profitability goals across multiple segments.
- Partners with insights and analytic teams to strengthen consumer, category, and competitive intelligence. Synthesizes data into actionable insights that influence strategy and drive brand, product, and category change.
- Initiates consumer or category research initiatives and leads execution in partnership with analytical/strategic teams, which may include CLTs, CDTs, Ethnographies, Packaging Research, Turf Analysis, etc. Socializes consumer and or category shifts internally and externally.
- Partners with commercial team to achieve distribution and velocity targets, channel and customer prioritization, price/promo execution, and sales/customer communication. Participates in customer presentations or trade events.
- Leverages commercial and shipment data to inform demand planning (monthly, annually) and facilitates optimal use of network and supply capacity across assigned segments.
- Understands the regulatory, quality, and food safety environment of a fresh foods business, and can work within parameters to deliver a trusted portfolio to the consumer
- Leads cross-functional projects through governance stages, utilizing stage gate templates and driving for on-time and within-budget execution. Projects may include line extensions, innovation, packaging refreshes, supplier changes, and network changes.
- Manages segment budgets – support annual planning processes, quarterly spending, PO initiation, and month-end closure efforts.
- May manage 1 or more direct reports (FTE or contractual).
- Achieves annual operating plans and individual development plans.
The base compensation range for this position is $125,000-$140,000/year commensurate with experience.
About You:
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required; MBA preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive CPG or strategic brand marketing experience with increasing responsibility, and a proven track record of success.
- Must have 5 years experience launching and scaling new innovation platforms sold in grocery/mass/natural/club channels.
- Competency in the areas of P&L management, people management, brand management, product management, commercial planning, integrated marketing execution, data analysis and synthesis into actionable insights, demand planning, budget management, project management, and new product development governance processes.
- Preferred, but not required, experiences: food and beverage CPG experience, natural foods/mission-led and/or B-Corp certified experience, and board-led or Private Equity experience.
- Strong communication skills with an ability to inform and influence a variety of audiences: small groups, large groups, executives, external partners, brokers, and customers
- Characteristics and behaviors: growth mindset, optimism, initiative, agility, flexibility, ability to think big and tight, drive, ability to influence, and passion for mission-centric brands
- Exemplification of HFB values: Team First, Act as Owner, Strive for Excellence, Open Dialogue, and Equip & Empower
