Brand Marketing Manager | CPG & Beverage Industry (Hybrid - Chicago, IL)

Our Customer, a Fortune 500 company, is an American producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits. They are the largest beer import company in the US, measured by sales, and have the third-largest market share of all major beer suppliers.

We are seeking a Brand Marketing Manager on a contract basis to help support our Customer's business needs.

Responsibilities:

• Propose, implement, and monitor marketing plans and brand strategy to achieve short- and long-term marketing objectives, strategies, and tactics aligned with brand and financial goals.
• Lead day-to-day brand management responsibilities and cross-functional collaboration, including setting deliverables, providing coaching, and supporting people development.
• Deliver brand plans and presentations throughout the annual brand planning process and secure leadership buy-in on strategic plans and tactics.
• Monitor business and brand health performance using internal and external data to identify opportunities for brand growth and volume performance.
• Manage the relationship with lead creative agencies and oversee creative development across all channels.
• Control brand budget expenditures and ensure funds are allocated efficiently against strategic priorities.
• Lead brand or sub-brand innovation strategy, identifying opportunities across packaging and line extensions.
• Partner with Consumer Insights to develop brand positioning, consumer targeting, and brand architecture.
• Partner with Finance to analyze brand P&L, budget development, and KPI performance.
• Collaborate with Media and Analytics to develop, execute, and measure media plans and initiatives.
• Partner with Retail teams to develop consumer retail programming and evaluate creative direction.
• Collaborate with Lifestyle and Experiential teams to develop event marketing programs, sponsorships, and trade functions.
• Partner with Field Marketing to ensure execution of strategies in local markets.
• Collaborate with Public Relations to develop strategic PR initiatives.
• Partner with Field Sales and wholesaler personnel to develop and evaluate field-level marketing programs.
• Participate in market visits, business unit planning, and review meetings.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Management, or related field.
• 3–5 years of progressive experience in the beverage, CPG, or pharmaceutical industry.
• 2–3 years of traditional brand management experience.
• Experience writing creative briefs and evaluating advertising creative.
• Strong understanding of brand strategy, including consumer segmentation, targeting, positioning, and brand architecture.
• Experience leading annual brand planning processes.
• Strong understanding of brand P&L and business drivers.
• Strong analytical skills with experience turning data, trend analysis, and research into actionable insights.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex business challenges.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and persuasion skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Ability to identify and champion new business and brand-building opportunities.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and people development skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work with senior leadership, field teams, wholesalers, and suppliers.
• Experience developing creative briefs for agencies and internal marketing teams.
• Experience managing multiple agencies.
• Experience managing complex project priorities and budgets.
• Ability to foster open, direct, and professional communication while maintaining confidentiality.
• Passion for the beer industry.
• Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time and work on a computer for extended periods. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with a 3-tier alcohol distribution system.

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements)

Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.