Associate Brand Manager (Wine Jobs: Sales & Marketing)

  The Wine Group

  Livermore, California

The Wine Group is one of the top leaders in the wine industry.  As a privately held management-owned company with 14 wineries in California, New York, and Australia, we thrive to win with exceptional people who share our values.  We produce many well-known brands including Franzia, Cupcake, Chloe, Flip Flop, Save Me San Francisco, Insurrection, Concannon, Benziger and Imagery.  We are a successful company looking to employ talented individuals on our team who are self-motivated, positive and energetic.  If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply!

JOB SUMMARY
This person will thrive in a culture that is creative, brand-savvy, entrepreneurial, fast-paced, solutions focused, team oriented, zealously cost conscious, and fun. S/he will have a strong grounding in CPG Marketing best practices, and successful results track record building alcoholic beverage and/or CPG brands.

KEY SKILLS

• The ideal candidate will have a unique combination of (a) best-in-class skill, competence and confidence as a consumer marketer coupled with, (b) ability to define opportunities and roll-up their sleeves to accomplish goals without a large marketing team or agency budget. More specifically, the ideal profile is as follows:
• Non-traditional Marketer: Skilled marketer with preferred experience from consumer packaged goods companies, yet comfortable operating in a non-traditional, fast paced environment. Someone who is not afraid to turn a problem upside down to develop unique solutions.
• Demand Creator: An exceptionally talented “front-end marketer” (i.e., marketer who understands consumer insights, product development, and packaging; strong track record of driving sales; able to integrate marketing strategies and tactics into all consumer touch points).
• Creative Leader: Intuitively “gets” the brand and has the ability to direct creative; highly detail-oriented with ‘zero-defect’ orientation, and zealous about ensuring all communication is an exceptional expression of the Brand; effectively leads the team and other resources.
• Entrepreneurial Track Record, Competitive Drive: Proven success in an entrepreneurial venture, including an appreciation for an environment of resource limitations, cost control, prudent risk taking and limitless creativity.
• Leadership and Drive: Collaborative team leader with high motivation and strong desire to achieve in a demanding environment. Sets dramatic goals and aggressive schedules for improvement. Conveys a sense of urgency, and drives issues to closure. A team builder who inspires, coaches, develops and leads from the trenches and by example. Holds oneself and others accountable for achieving high levels of performance and responsiveness. Attracts, retains and develops strong talent.
• Intellectual Curiosity: Connects “the dots” quickly and perceptively. Problem solves without a road map. Fascinated by emerging consumer trends and design. Enjoys challenging conventional wisdom.
• Communication Skills: Translates data into focused insights. Highly articulate. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; operates equally effectively in formal and informal settings and internally and externally. Well-honed influencing skills; courage to confidently express an independent point of view.
• Cultural Astuteness and Flexibility: Is pragmatic, adaptable and focused in a fast-paced environment. Adapts strategies and approach as new information and circumstances arise. Is resilient in the face of challenging obstacles.
• Energy: Has a very high capacity for work. Shows passion, intensity and excitement. Is outcome/results focused and drives issues to closure. Resourceful and innovative (scrappy); always pushing to find new and better ways of working.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Reviews and analyzes the brand business to unlock key insights that will translate to strategic plans for the brand
• Based on a solid foundation of business/brand knowledge, takes a leadership role in the development of brand plans and proposals
• Leverages complex data/analytics and market research to make recommendations and solve complex problems relating to package, product and strategic plans
• Envisions opportunities by identifying business issues and offering solutions
• Acts like an owner by executing against brand strategic plans on time and on budget; collaborating with internal cross-functionals and external agencies including, but not limited to, PR, events, media, social and digital
• Manages the brand budget and understands the financial metrics of product propositions to make business recommendations that achieve financial objectives
• Defines and manages POS, merchandising and sales tools to support the Field Sales Organization and position them to succeed
• Collaborates with internal partners to plan and executed against new project propositions related to design, package and line extensions
• Partners with winemakers in the product development process to meet quality and taste profile expectations in line with financial parameters
• This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict tasks that may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• MBA preferred but not required:  CPG brand management experience from an “academy” CPG company with food/beverage experience.  Bachelors in Marketing, related field or equivalent work experience
• Wine or spirits category experience preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Must embrace and demonstrate The Wine Group Core Values - Performance, Empowered and Cost-mindful, and keep them in mind when making all decisions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Primary work activities are within an office environment
• Position includes travel to various industry and/or company events, 25% of the time

How To Apply