As a contract Sr. Manager/Director, you will be responsible for developing and executing high-impact marketing strategies that drive growth, profitability, and brand strength within a fast-paced and dynamic environment. You will lead the development of annual US marketing plans that align with both brand and company objectives, utilizing market research, consumer insights, and competitive intelligence to drive meaningful actions and outcomes. You will collaborate across teams, lead new product initiatives, and manage key marketing budgets to optimize performance and fuel sustained brand growth. 7+ years of related experience, consumer packaged goods experience preferred. Ideal candidate is self-starter, detail-oriented, analytical, and team player.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position will supervise direct report(s) during the contract period. Manager is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of their areas. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the company’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include hiring, coaching, and directing employees; planning, assigning and directing work; yearly appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints, and resolving problems.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Marketing Leadership

• Lead the development of comprehensive annual marketing plans, including brand objectives, strategies, tactics, volume sales goals, and marketing expense budgets. Ensure these plans align with broader brand and company goals while leveraging an in-depth understanding of brand strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the marketplace.
• Translate brand insights, consumer behavior, market research, and competitive intelligence into actionable strategies that foster robust brand growth and maximize market share.
• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities to drive profitable growth, ensuring the successful integration of brand insights with company priorities and capabilities.

Steering the Business with Precision

• Manage performance tracking & analysis with the creation of comprehensive brand performance reports, identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly tracking progress against goals.
• Proactively identify emerging issues or opportunities, translating them into actionable strategies that drive brand success.
• Manage brand P&L; overseeing and optimizing the financial performance of the brand.
• Provide ongoing updates and insights to senior leadership on brand performance, media effectiveness, competitive landscape, and financial outcomes.
• Conduct in-depth analyses such as Situation Analysis (Product, Placement, Promotion, Pricing, Consumer, Competition) and SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to continually refine marketing strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Brand Alignment

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships across key departments, ensuring collaborative efforts drive consistent brand growth. Work seamlessly with cross-functional teams including Insights, Sales, E-Commerce, Product Development, Business Activation, and Supply Chain.
• Partner with Insights to guide market research initiatives such as concept tests, syndicated studies, and in-market tests, ensuring data-driven decisions to fuel strategic direction.
• Collaborate with Trade Marketing and E-Commerce teams to expand brand accessibility, maximize in-store experience, drive consumer engagement, and increase sales in both traditional and digital channels.
• Work closely with Business Activation teams to develop compelling selling materials, ensuring effective communication of marketing strategies and programs to customers.

Budget & Forecast Management

• Lead the management of brand forecasts and marketing expense budgets, incorporating forecasting and tracking models that incorporate key data (IRI, shipments, retailer-specific data, financial information) to make informed, data-driven decisions.
• Ensure that marketing spend is strategically allocated and effectively tracked to optimize ROI and align with business objectives.

Product Development & Innovation

• In collaboration with the International Marketing team – seek to identify, evaluate, and oversee the development of new product line extensions or brand innovations within the US market, ensuring they align with market needs and brand positioning.
• Lead cross-functional teams including Business Activation, Sales, Supply Chain, and International Marketing to develop and commercialize new products that will drive incremental growth and meet consumer demand.

Advertising & Media Strategy

• Manage the advertising development process, collaborating with media agency to assess proposals and oversee the execution of media plans.
• Utilize media ROI & KPIs to monitor activity and make informed decisions that drive YOY growth.
• Partner with creative teams to execute equity and product lead messaging to resonate with target consumers and enhance brand perception.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide routine performance feedback, direction, and coaching to direct reports
• Collaborate with direct reports to set performance goals that are both challenging and aligned with individual development objectives.
• Cultivate a high-performance, results-driven culture within the marketing team, encouraging creativity, accountability, and ownership of marketing initiatives.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Fulfill Storck Values; Belonging, Passion, and Growth
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) required
• Advanced knowledge of syndicated scanner data (e.g., IRI, Nielsen) strongly preferred

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; MBA degree with emphasis in Marketing preferred with experience in fast moving consumer goods industry
• Experience in a role leading the development of new or existing products or strategies from conception to implementation
• Experience developing and implementing marketing plans and strategies, managing marketing initiatives including market research, consumer and trade promotions, packaging, advertising and selling materials/presentations.
• Experience planning and executing non-traditional (e.g., “guerilla” or grass roots) marketing tactics is a plus.
• Experience developing national advertising campaigns including management of advertising development and media plans.
• At least two years in a managerial capacity
• Resourceful, creative, curious, and an innovative thinker
• Energetic, proactive, and action-oriented individual with a Customer-centric mindset
• Cross-cultural awareness and capabilities; experience working with Global/International business preferred
• Strong communication skills with the ability to adapt to different levels and communication requirements
• Consumer/business curiosity
• Creative idea generator
• Excellent problem-solving ability with demonstrated experience managing situations through facts and data to recommend and/or make business decisions
• Strong analytical aptitude with a proven ability to analyze and interpret data

Working Conditions: Hybrid Work Model, including Monday and Friday Work from Home, and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in normal working conditions for an office environment downtown Chicago, IL.

Other Qualification, Safety Procedures: Must be willing to follow and comply with communicated Company, Travel, and Retailer safety procedures, which may include COVID-19 testing or following other safety procedures in order to attend meetings, travel domestically or internationally, comply with Retail Partner safety procedures, and/or follow other workplace health and safety requirements to fulfil job duties.

Travel: Approximately 5-10%.

Additional Information: Storck USA is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status.
 

This is a 6-month temporary, W-2 contract role that we anticipate starting in August or September 2025. It offers a competitive hourly rate of USD $75.00-$88.00 at the time of this posting.  Pay is based on several factors, including but not limited to position offered, education, skills, work experience, and other factors permitted by law.  We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This position may also be eligible for a contract completion bonus. 

This role is also eligible for up to ten (10) Paid Company Holidays during the 6-month contract when aligned with our standard Company Holiday Schedule, not including Personal Flex holidays, along with ten (10) Vacation days to use during the 6-month contract timeframe. As a 6-month temporary contract role, this role is not eligible to receive any employee benefits, including, but not limited to, health insurance, personal/sick pay, or participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan. 

Additional information is available from our Human Resources Department.