Sr. Manager Strategic Marketing (food/beverage manufacturing) - Baldwin Richardson Foods

WHO WE ARE

Baldwin Richardson Foods is focused on enriching the flavor of life. As a full-service liquid products supplier and strategic partner to the food and beverage industry, Baldwin Richardson Foods combines its formulation expertise and unique packaging options with robust processing capabilities to produce high-quality sauces, toppings, syrups, fillings, and shelf-stable beverages for the world's most iconic Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands, and food service companies. Its state-of-the-art Innovation & Culinary Center transforms trends and culinary inspiration into legendary products through an award-winning commercialization process. The company also manufactures and markets Mrs. Richardson's dessert sauces and Nance's mustards/condiments in addition to producing finished goods for the private label sector. BRF maintains its headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Macedon, New York; with a Culinary Innovation Center in Westmont, Illinois; and offices and manufacturing facilities in Williamson, New York; Pennsauken, New Jersey; and Corona, California. This role will be based in Westmont, IL.

WHAT WE NEED

The Sr. Manager of Strategic Marketing is responsible for studying and analyzing market conditions to find opportunities to fuel BRFs long-term and sustainable growth.They will develop a strategic planning process across all channels that position BRF to win in core, new and emerging markets. They will track and report on portfolio and industry trends to stay ahead of an always-evolving environment. They will be focused on collecting, organizing, and analyzing data from market research, competitive monitoring, and industry reports. These insights and implications will be compiled into strategic documents designed to enable compelling sell in, inform innovation decisions, and elevate the market, category, and product knowledge of the entire organization. Meeting with sales, innovation, and cross-functional teams to create and partner to execute the go-to-market strategy.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Research and Insights

• Build research strategy and roadmap, including required resources, execution plans and timing. Ensure BRF partners with the right organizations necessary to conduct primary and secondary research, positioning BRF as a thought leader in trends, consumers and innovation.
• Lead team responsible for
  • Identifying, researching and analyzing industry, market, category, consumer, flavor, ingredient and claim trends that have the most impact on BRF and its customers’ business growth opportunities and new product development pipeline.
  • Gathering and analyzing competitive intelligence, performing competitive monitoring and developing SWOT analysis.
  • Tracking and organizing new and/or innovative in-market products across all business segments.
• Calculate market sizing, develop segmentation, create customer value propositions and evaluate customer experiences.
• Translate analysis and key findings into actionable insights with business implications and recommendations, quantifying growth opportunities for BRF’s business segments.
• Present findings, strategic insights, key learning and recommendations that will have the most impact on BRF and its customers’ business growth opportunities and innovation pipelines.
• Position BRF as an industry and category thought leader by presenting impactful insight-led presentations that support new product development/innovation projects and recommendations.
• Conduct at least 4 presentations to senior leadership, key stakeholders and professional staff annually.

Strategy

• Develop and present growth strategy rooted in business intelligence and performance, aligning with long-range goals, strategic customers and focus platforms/capabilities.
• Identify key targets, determine opportunity size, create go-to-market plans and prioritize go-gets for sales team.
• Identify and validate potential pathways for growth, including innovation, partnerships, capital investment, co-mans, etc.
• Build business case(s) to quantify the impact of new opportunities within the business. Translate data and information into compelling selling stories that influence and drive business decisions.
• Produce high quality, well-structured reports and strategic presentations that synthesize insights and implications to support senior leadership team (SLT) decision making.
• Work cross functionality, sharing findings with cross functional teams and stakeholders, clearly articulating implications to influence business strategy development.
• Provide strategic support for new business pitches and RFP presentations to strengthen existing customer relationships, expand customer base and generate innovation projects and sales growth.

Innovation

• Demonstrate strong knowledge of internal formulation and packaging capabilities (and limitations).
• In partnership with Sales, provide strategic direction on customers’ growth plans, key initiatives, capabilities and ingredient requirements, offering vital inputs to ensure that new product concepts meet customer expectations.
• Identify and assess customers' risk tolerance within the trend adoption lifecycle to ensure new concepts/products are aligned with customers’ brand positioning, value proposition and core consumers.
• Translate research into actionable insights critical for the success of new product development, including, project kick offs, ideation sessions, concept development and co-creation workshops with customers.
• Conduct primary research test new product concepts to predict consumer acceptance and support sell-in to customers.

Partner Management

• Build strong working relationships and routines across the organization and with our network of agency partners, suppliers, and vendors to deliver plans as a holistic team.
• Form strategic relationships and partnerships with data suppliers and industry experts to increase potential for successful collaborations. Manage agreements with research partners, freelancers, and consultants to ensure efficient and quality service.
• Scope and attend relevant industry events to build and maintain industry expertise.

People Management

• Manage employee performance by clearly defining job responsibilities and standards of performance; tracking progress against goals; providing clear, thorough, timely feedback; and addressing performance problems and issues promptly.
• Ensure self and staff keep up to date on technical knowledge and developments that impact roles. Uses this information to drive improvements and/or prepare for changing requirements.
• Create an effective learning environment by coaching employees, orchestrating learning opportunities, and providing relevant, high-impact feedback.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Data Management, or Business required.
• MBA required or relevant equivalent experience preferred.
• A minimum of ten (7+) years of B2B marketing experience.
• A minimum of seven (7+) years of marketing research and analytics related experience and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of four (4+) years of people leadership experience, with proven success, through examples, in creating and leading highly effective teams.
• Syndicated Data experience: Proficient in Circana, Technomic and Nielsen data platforms
• Prior marketing and innovation success in Food Service or related industry.

At BRF, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. The base pay range for this role is between $170,000 and $180,000K. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

You'll also receive a comprehensive benefits package including low premium and out of pocket cost medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k with company match, generous sick and vacation time, 9 paid holidays, birthday and floating holidays, volunteer time and more!

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