With over 70 years of backyard cooking experience, Middleby Outdoor has three of the top brands in outdoor cooking (Char-Griller, Masterbuilt and Kamado Joe). We strive for excellence in designing and building the most innovative products in the industry and markets we serve. We create a work environment that is conducive to building long-term employees who are motivated and dedicated to manufacturing quality products while upholding the highest standards in business ethics. Our mission is to build great products and greater relationships with a vision to lead the way with integrity and intelligence.
SUMMARY
The Associate Brand manager position will be deeply involved in running the day to day and long-term strategy of Middleby Outdoors business. This role will build and execute plans to sustainably grow revenue, optimize the portfolio, enhance margin profile, and lead brand building activities across the Middleby Outdoor portfolio. This includes managing the existing core assortment mix, channel strategy, pricing strategy and profitability along with leading the innovation funnel development and commercialization based on consumer insights and prevailing market conditions. Cross-functional partnership will be critical for this role to be successful. A passion for the grilling / BBQ space is a plus.
A qualified candidate will be able to seamlessly work with product development, marketing communication, and the sales / sales operation teams to define the go-to-market strategy, helping them understand the product positioning, key benefits, and target customer. You will also serve as the internal and external champion for your product offering. The Associate Brand Manager's key role is both strategic and executional.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Category Management - Complete key business analyses including, consumer research, current market landscape, market trends and competitive information to identify and recommend opportunities for both core assortment and launching new products into both new and existing channels.
- Lead brand initiatives across all elements of the marketing mix, interacting with and influencing other functions within the organization to deliver against project objectives.
- Generate & lead new product roadmap that align with strategic initiatives.
- Manage all aspects of new product development from concept through commercializing new products – product features / benefits, proposition, pricing strategy, channel strategy, pricing and promotional plan, asset development, master data, and partner with Marketing on integrated marketing planning.
- Prioritize development projects based on resource availability and overall value to the business.
- Lifecycle management of portfolio of products through continued development or rationalizing underperforming / redundant / margin challenged SKUs.
- Pricing – Lead annual pricing review process, MAP policy implementation and management, liaison between sales / finance around pricing exceptions and promotional planning in partnership with sales.
- Manage cross functional project teams comprised of product development, Marketing Communication, Sales, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain to execute and keep on track new product development plans.
- Manage the excess and obsolete process with sales, sales operation, finance and supply chain.
- Liaise with Sales to coordinate annual Product Line Review cadence.
- Support Sales Operation and supply chain in the demand planning process and executive rollout.
- Takes initiative and has a bias for action to drive for results.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or related field required.
- MBA preferred
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in CPG in brand management, channel marketing, marketing, or sales roles (a combination is ideal)
- Related industry experience (outdoor industry, big ticket durable items, or enthusiast products) preferred
- High level of familiarity with channel management, National Account selling and category management
- Passion and curiosity to continuously seek out opportunities and ideas to strengthen and grow your business with a bias for action to quickly adapt and execute on the needs of the business while being comfortable challenging the status quo.
- Ability to be a cross functional leader that can effectively communicate and collaborate with cross functional partners within sales, supply chain, research and development, communications, finance and market research.
- Have the ability to leverage first party and third party consumer research to articulate the voice of the customer to develop an execution plan for new products and packages
- Advanced analytical skills with strong proficiency in market data, competitive data, POS, Sales, Gross Margins, Operating Margins, Inventory Turns, etc.
- Customer-focused, can-do mindset with a passion for problem-solving and commitment to excellence and continuous improvement
- Ability to travel as needed (20-30%)
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Hybrid work in office environment
- Knowledgeable of office administration principles, practices and techniques
- Dedicated to company and personal core values
BENEFITS
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid office schedule
- Generous Paid Time Off + company paid holidays
- Health Savings Account with a company paid HSA contribution when enrolled in the traditional high deductible BCBS medical plan with HSA
- Dental and vision plans
- Legal and supplemental insurance available
- 401(k) Match
- Paid parental and major medical leave
- Company paid basic life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discounts and rewards
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Learn more about our story and our products at www.chargriller.com, www.masterbuilt.com, and www.kamadojoe.com. Middleby Outdoor is a subsidiary of Middleby Corporation.
Middleby Corporation is a fast-growing and profitable global manufacturer of commercial foodservice, food processing and residential cooking equipment with approximately $3 billion in revenue headquartered in Elgin, IL. Sales of the company’s products are marketed under 80+ different brands. The company has 55+ manufacturing operations (including 20+ international) and 10 international distribution offices. Middleby has grown from approximately $100 million in revenues since 2001 and was named a Fortune Magazine’s Fastest Growing Company in 2014 and 2015. Forbes included Middleby in their list of the World's Best Employers for 2021.
Middleby Outdoor proudly supports diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Employment type: Fulltime, Monday - Friday
