We are looking for a rockstar all-in-one experiential marketing ninja to oversee a high-power market as part of our Brand Experience Team. This individual will serve as Brand Activation Manager, working closely with Marketing HQ and lateral Brand Experience Teams as the day to day manager of all experiential activity for the GT’s Living Foods portfolio in their given market. This will involve overseeing a Brand Activation Specialist and managing success through events, networking and partnership sourcing, development of the brand in off premise channel through sampling/360 programming, brand education, vehicle/storage/asset responsibilities and thorough recap/budget management. This role will be responsible for overall performance of their local market, driving growth and increasing market share year over year in a high-powered market on behalf of the largest and most respected kombucha supplier in the world.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Retail Activation
Participate in strategic oversight of off premise sampling initiatives, ensuring product and educational materials are properly displayed in-store and overall team is selling and converting consumers with volume at every demo.
Develop strong business relationships with stores, retail outlets and foodservice accounts in order to gain and drive distribution and visibility for our brand.
Identify opportunities at market level to help elevate the GT brands via targeted POS and merchandising. Optimize shelf set when appropriate.
Develop a relationship with our key distributors to understand key needs and business opportunities.
Oversee programming for larger scale “pop-up” retail experiences, collaborating with sales and executing to the highest standard.
Event Activation
Plan, organize and execute beautiful, high-touch lifestyle events at various venues. Venues may span retail locations to full sponsorships and may involve creation of our own “owned” events from scratch.
Partner with Marketing HQ to identify key events with brand aligned companies to build a solid presence for the GT’s portfolio.
Participate in strategic coordination and execution of sampling initiatives.
Oversee all guerilla marketing impact and success, managing your Brand Activation Specialist in sourcing an extensive calendar of high traffic, high impact sampling locations to utilize our tap truck/“mobile billboard” for visibility and brand awareness.
Contribute to campaign launches – thinking creatively outside of events for how we can “activate” a new innovation item in your region
Smartly leverage sponsorship budget to negotiate high value on-brand partnerships.
Managerial
Coach, mentor, train and grow your Brand Activation Specialist (BAS) to perfection. You’re responsible to create the dynamic-duo partnership that will bring your market to the top.
Oversee a best-in-class, high quality, high performing Brand Ambassador team ensuring BAS has all tools and guidance to succeed with their team.
Be responsible in sourcing key tools and materials for demos/events as well as assist with the evolution of our demo and event aesthetic.
Brand Activation Manager will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and allocation of product for events as well as premium items to be given or sold to consumers.
Serve as the principal point of contact and driver to attend various sampling events, sponsorships, etc.
Act as a key role model for the GT’s portfolio of brands helping to spread the love for the entire brand family.
Be analytical with activations results. We need you to look at the data, pivot quickly when something is not working and double down when we are seeing success.
Market Guru
Be incredibly in-tune with our local competition, looking for every opportunity to leverage our brand’s credibility, gain competitive relationships and find occasions to better showcase our brand.
Work hand-in-hand with our Strategic Accounts Manager or regional sales team to drive awareness in our critical high-touch/high-visibility accounts and collaboratively create programming that adds value.
Analyze key information from consumers to better understand any challenges and hurdles with GT’s portfolio of brands.
Identify market trends and interpret how those trends will affect the marketplace in real time
Capture activity at every high-profile event for social elevation and 360 consumer brand experience.
Be. The. Expert. The buck stops with you for regional growth through field. We expect you to know all of the right places, people and opportunities to expand at all times.
Administrative Etc.
Create detailed activation recaps including success stories, key learning’s and areas for improvement post events.
Compile and analyze key consumer insights and takeaways to help influence our strategy and marketing tactics for all GT brands.
Be fastidious in maintaining receipts and keeping track of own and team expenses to submit for reimbursement.
When we say “ninja” we mean it – be someone that can get analytical, present strong recaps that show value and can understand how to show ROI on experiential marketing through data.
Work collaboratively with counterparts, superiors, juniors, finance, HR, fulfillment and more from the top to the bottom.
Manage regional budget for overall activity – hours, storage, vehicle, supplies etc.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Excellent written, organizational, critical thinking/analytical, problem solving/troubleshooting, and communication/interpersonal skills.
Great taste is a MUST! Ability to find what is new and on-trend is critical.
Creativity is required – both visual creativity but also creative/independent problem solving
Able to set and meet multiple and simultaneous deadlines.
Able to manage high pressure situations and challenges with grace.
Able to plan and align resources - make magic with few tools, stretch every dollar and asset to its highest value.
Be enthusiastic about kombucha, and raw, organic, living foods
Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
Be dynamic and able to juggle multiple tasks.
Be passionate, be bold, be persistent. Nothing great was ever achieved by accepting the status quo. We expect you to continue to improve Brand Experience and our company as a whole.
Requirements:
Experience: 5-7 years of brand activation experience, with 2+ years of people management experience. CPG food/beverage experience is highly preferred. Experience within the local market with current relationships is highly preferred.
Education: Bachelor degree in Marketing or related degree program is preferred
Licensing: Must have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and be able to drive a motor vehicle.
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office Suite
Travel: Travel as needed regionally, must be willing to travel locally 25-45% of time inclusive of some nights & weekends.
Physical: Must be able to lift up to 50lbs to aid with event setup.
Other: Proven track record of overseeing successful and strategic programs. Basic accounting knowledge and experience required.
