Senior Brand Manager

Senior Brand Manager

Department:  Marketing

Reports to:  Business Unit Senior Director

Location: Mississauga (Orbitor)

Purpose:  

We are charting a visionary future for Gay Lea Foods, aiming to achieve industry-leading results that will ensure the long-term prosperity of our esteemed Canadian diary farmer-owned co-operative.  As we embark on this growth journey, we are seeking a Senior Brand Manager who will play an integral part of the planning for the company’s growth.

The Senior Brand Manager is responsible for leading cross-functional teams to develop integrated strategies to commercialize new products and ensure maximum brand exposure.  The role will oversee brand communications, direct marketing research, and play a critical role in the monthly business planning operating rhythm.  The Senior Brand Manager is responsible for developing and managing the marketing budget and has P&L ownership.

The ideal candidate will posses a unique blend of leadership, creativity, strategic thinking, data-driven insight, and project management skills.  These qualities will develop a high performing marketing team and ensure our brands not only stand out but resonate and thrive in a competitive marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead Marketing Strategy and Insights

Establish vision and lead the marketing team to develop short-term and long-term strategies in collaboration with internal stakeholders.  Develop deep consumer and market understanding through research and market analytics to identify opportunities for profitable portfolio growth.

Coach and Develop Marketing Team

Coach marketing team to create and implement comprehensive marketing plans and brand initiatives grounded in data-driven insights.  Serve as a mentor, contributing to building an engaged, inclusive, and high-performing Marketing team. 

Lead Brand Communications

Leads the development of innovative communication strategies and champions executional excellence to deliver impactful, measurable marketing campaigns to elevate brand visibility, foster deep brand affinity, and cultivates consumer loyalty.

Lead Portfolio Strategy

Accountable to create and manage the product portfolio strategy inclusive of brand, co-pack and private label.  Leads the development of the innovation/renovation strategy in alignment with consumer trends and company ambitions.  Accountable for measuring portfolio effectiveness to strategy and optimizing as required. 

Lead Monthly Business Management

Key leader and Influencer in the monthly Integrated Business Planning process.  Leads cross-functional teams to drive decision-making and alignment against a portfolio strategy that results in smart business growth.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field required, MBA preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of marketing/brand management experience with P&L ownership of a large brand/portfolio of brands
• Consumer Packaged Goods experience with a minimum of 5 years in food preferred. 
• Proven leadership and people management experience
• Hands-on dynamic team player that thrives in fast-paced environments with a strong consumer focus.
• Driven by curiosity, competitiveness, and results, challenging the status quo and fostering innovation.
• Solution oriented with a growth mindset.
• Strong ability to partner with and influence stakeholders.
• Experienced in designing brand strategies and product/campaign launches.
• Strong communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Strong business acumen, experience using analytics to track performance against KPIs and budget, and P&L ownership experience.
• Experience driving insights from both primary consumer research and syndicated data.
• Ability to understand the entire value-chain and where marketing can drive efficiencies and effectiveness.
• Willingness to travel as required.