Brand Manager

**Please note this job is based 5 days a week at our head offices in Cheadle**

Key Objectives & Job Scope:

The Brand Manager understands the unique attributes of the brands within the Cole Beauty portfolio and researches the global competitive marketplace to support the Senior Brand Manager in making and lead activities that continue to grow each brand in line with company targets and in the protection of the brand IP.

Alongside the Global Head of Brand and NPD Manager, they will create NPD plans in line with company growth expectations and align internal and external departments to ensure the brand proposition and vision is delivered. They will utilise data and insight to monitor brand saliency and success to continue to develop agile brand plans.

They input into over-arching comms that creates/retains the brands unique position within the global marketplace and develop and deliver integrated, global marketing plans, acting as the brand guardian in key markets, they are the first point of contact for Brand and Marketing activity in line with the long-term sales plan and brand guidelines.

Working alongside the Global Head of Brand, the Brand Manager will also work closely with wider teams such as Sales and Cole Beauty’s inhouse Design team, to ensure cross functional alignment.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

· Maintain continuous analysis of the competitive environment and consumer trends in the masstige IB and beauty environment

· Defend the integrity of the Cole Beauty brand and its proposition ensuring that the brand values, proposition and differentiating factors are protected and optimised through product development, content development and activation

· Develop new NPD line extensions (and potentially brands), with recommendations around retail price point and competitive position, in line with company growth expectations, seeking innovative and ownable product characteristics that enhance the brand proposition. Collaborating with Technical and NPD to ensure that this is maintained through the development process

· Development of brand assets including brand & copy bible, lead campaign photography and outline marketing concepts and content that underpin the brand proposition

· Build the appropriate activation of the brand/category vision and plans in primary markets

· Develop campaign content (online & offline) to achieve brand objectives and sales plans

· Responsible for go-to-market activation of the campaign content, defining the integrated marcomms plan within key marketplaces against sales targets and budgets

· Build and execute Joint Business Planning activity with strategic retail partners, alongside Distributors and Account Managers

· Briefing and management of external marketing agencies including PR partners, media buying agencies, experiential suppliers etc

· Champion our instore environment. Lead, develop and execute retail strategy in local markets working closely with sales and retailers

· Make recommendations on spend split in collaboration with the Social Media Manager and E-Commerce Manager

· Review incumbent product propositions to ensure their ongoing fit and success in market and make recommendations around portfolio / lifecycle management

· Regular analysis of AYR sales in conjunction with the Sales team, and brand financial KPIs across the portfolio of brands to continually inform the global product, sales and brand and marketing strategy

· Working alongside Sales, establish performance specifications, retail price parameters and market applications

· In conjunction with the Social Media Manager and E-commerce Manager, measure and report performance of all brand campaigns, and assess against goals (ROI and KPIs)

· Monitor product distribution and consumer & retailer reactions

· Input into and manage (where appropriate) the brand marketing budget

· Fully responsible for the brand experience on D2C channels and working closely with the E-Commerce Manager to ensure it is kept updated, on brand and in line with agreed activation plan

· Day-to-day line management of two reports; Brand Executive & Social Media Manager

Qualifications & Experience Requirements:

· Business, Brand or Marketing related degree or similar qualification

· 5+ years’ experience of delivering successful marketing campaigns from within the beauty/ lifestyle or retail industry, ideally with international experience

· 5+ years’ work experience as a Brand or Marketing Manager

· Sound knowledge of social media and conversant in all platforms

· Strong knowledge and experience of NPD product development

· Demonstrable leadership skills with a drive for results, ideally with direct line management experience

· Excellent project management skills

· Excellent standard of English language and mathematically astute

· Fully conversant with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel & PowerPoint

· Working knowledge of website CMS, knowledge of Direct Mail comms beneficial

· Knowledge and/or understanding of Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator

· Experience in identifying target audiences and devising campaigns that engage, inform and motivate

Key Competency Requirements:

• Articulate
• Creative & visionary
• Methodical and analytical
• Good understanding of the full marketing mix
• Strong sense of commercial awareness
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking
• Ability to think strategically using an analytical marketing approach
• Entrepreneurial and innovative
• Capable of thriving in fast paced environments and using initiative
• Strong team player
• Excellent understanding and passion for the beauty category and marketing trends
• Motivated individual with a self-start mentality
• Proven ability to develop brand and marketing strategies and effectively communicate recommendations.
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Strong negotiator
• Up-to-date with latest beauty trends and marketing best practices
• Attention to detail