Brand Manager OWS

About Us:

Carl Buddig and Company, a respected name in the meat manufacturing industry, boasts a legacy of over 80 years. Founded as a family-owned company, we have evolved into a leading producer of premium meat products, including renowned lunchmeats, ready-to-eat cooked meats under our Kingsford, LLC division, and savory snack meats from Old Wisconsin.

As a third-generation family business, our success is anchored in our commitment to quality, innovation, and community. With a workforce of 2,500 dedicated team members spread across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, we continue to expand, driven by a vision for excellence and a responsiveness to evolving consumer preferences.

At Carl Buddig and Company, we foster a culture centered around teamwork and innovation. We strive to create an environment that values creativity and collaboration, ensuring every team member is empowered to contribute to our collective goals.

Our dedication extends beyond our business operations. We actively support charitable initiatives and community organizations through direct contributions, volunteer work, and partnerships. We aim to make a positive impact and give back to the communities that have supported us over the years.

Join us at Carl Buddig and Company, where tradition meets innovation, and where our passion for quality meat products is matched by our commitment to our people and communities.

Position Summary:

Responsible for driving growth of the Old Wisconsin brand, focusing on the execution of marketing strategies to achieve volume and profit objectives for all customers and channels. This role involves developing and executing high-impact brand initiatives, fostering strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, and enhancing brand presence and engagement with both consumers and trade audiences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the commercialization of new and innovative products, packaging (including temporary and permanent displays) in conjunction with R&D and Sales and continuous improvements on current items.
• Lead on-going competitive product/brand review and analysis to deliver key insights into the planning process for both short and long-term growth.
• Execute annual marketing plans, programs, and measures to support and grow the business.
• Contribute to effective category management strategy: partner with sales to deliver customer specific growth plans, promotional strategies, and marketing programs; compelling sales stories and tools that help deliver in-store growth initiatives; and new channel growth opportunities.
• Analyze the business regularly for periodic updates, to include volume, distribution, and margin contribution analysis.
• Manage the needs of the business on a day-to-day basis which includes market visits with sales, and engagement in the industry and issues of the day.
• Build relationships with all external vendor partners, including management of advertising, promotion, and public relation agencies.
• Develop a working relationship with all internal departments and extend the leadership role of the marketing team across all functions.
• Be a team player within the marketing department by demonstrating leadership skills and communicating across all functions.
• Ensure packaging, product quality, displays and pricing integrity is maintained.
• Nielsen monthly reporting/monitoring.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and maintain the brand's social/digital strategy to drive awareness of key promotions that will stimulate sales and distribution.
• Own the Old Wisconsin marketing budget.
• Consistently direct and interact with agency partners.
• Analyze product changes and approve or deny changes to preserve the quality by brand hierarchy level.
• Initiate roadmaps to gain approval for all R&D projects and new product development.
• Work with commercialization to keep operations informed of all initiatives.
• Gather and structure syndicated data in order to analyze and make strategic marketing decisions.
• Communicate with sales and keep them updated on marketing initiatives.
• Develop and approve packaging design changes or new packaging needs.
• Direct market research to maintain integrity of results and ensure high ROI for research spends.
• Participate in product cuttings, agency meetings and new product meetings.
• Assist in planning, attend the quarterly Sales Meetings, and key trade shows.
• Approximately 20% travel.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Product innovation, project management and consumer insight experience.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to design and execute marketing tactics.
• Written and verbal communication skills are critical to be able to effectively work with internal and external groups.
• 3-5 years of classical CPG marketing experience required with proven experience at the Assistant/Associate Manager level.
• Agency management experience and proficiency with P&Ls a plus.
• Experience with planning, design, and execution of: Digital Media, social media, on-pack programs, continuity programs and traditional media.
• Understanding of syndicated data required along with data analysis (Nielsen, Circana).
• Advance written, verbal and presentation skills required.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years brand/marketing experience.
• MBA (preferred).
• Food/Meat Experience (preferred).
• Experience working with the C-store Channel preferred.
• New product innovation (Retail and Channels).
• Passion for Food.