Product & Brand Marketing Manager

The Product Marketing Manager is a key marketing team member responsible for developing and executing go-to-market strategies for new and existing products. This role demands a strong understanding of customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscapes. The ideal candidate will develop and execute brand strategies that enhance brand awareness, drive customer engagement, and build a strong brand reputation. This role also oversees product development, including new product launches, renovations, and maintenance projects. This role is responsible for managing project deliverables to meet short-term and long-term departmental and company goals. This position will work closely with cross-functional partners in the Product Management Division, Sales HQ, Mainstream Market, and our global affiliate office to carry out product design and development work leading to products that deliver on consumer and customer needs. The position works collaboratively with manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain functions to ensure products consistently deliver on product design. This role manages a growing marketing team, collaborating with the marketing HQ team in Japan to ensure alignment with Wismettac's global marketing and brand development.

Essential Job Functions:

• Direct the product development and commercialization of Shirakiku brand products. Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify new product opportunities and trends.
• Generate and evaluate new product concepts, considering consumer preferences, market demand, and feasibility.
• Support other departments (Procurement, R&D, Sales, Product Control, and Food Safety) in developing and refining product formulations, ensuring they meet the product concept's quality and cost targets.
• Monitor product performance in the marketplace, gather consumer feedback, and analyze sales data to identify areas for improvement and adjust product formulations or marketing strategies as needed.
• Investigate and resolve product and process development challenges, providing feedback to stakeholders, including Marketing HQ in Japan.
• Collaborate with internal departments (PMD, Food Safety, SCM, Sales, and inventory team), including the global affiliate office, to develop an innovative food product pipeline and manage innovation for Asian and Mainstream customers.
• Develop and execute comprehensive brand strategies that align with the company's overall business objectives. Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify brand opportunities and threats.
• Develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and drive customer engagement.
• Monitor brand performance and track key metrics, such as brand awareness, brand perception, and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, product, and customer service.

Experience/ Training/ Education

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field. 
• 7 years of relevant experience in a retail food product development environment, including process development, multi-task management, and cross-functional collaborations.
• 7 years of relevant experience in brand marketing management by your leadership or with the help of internal and external experts in this field.
• 5 years of people management experience including building and developing a team. 
• Experience in retail private and national brands is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Advanced knowledge of marketing and branding principles, theories, and concepts, with proven work experience in building a strong brand and managing the holistic consumer marketing process.
• Knowledge of budgeting, project management, and cost control.
• Knowledge of the food industry and its distribution.
• Strong communication and project management skills, with the ability to thrive in an environment of ambiguity, influence decisions, and drive implementation across the organization.
• Strong business process reengineering skills, including change management experience.
• A customer- and consumer-centric mindset focused on building strong brand loyalty.
• Strong understanding of technology-related innovations in marketing and consumer insight research, and their impact on the organization.
• Proven leadership skills in driving continuous improvement and team building.
• Proven ability to conduct product concept development and ideation. This includes the ability to analyze existing processes, identify opportunities for improvement, manage and deliver project deliverables, and optimize team contributions.
• A passion for Asian and Japanese food, culture, and trends.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and passion for creating and driving value.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment.

Working Conditions:

Work in a comfortable office environment, with occasional extended hours to meet deadlines. Marketing projects may require on-call availability, including weekends, early mornings, evenings, and holidays. Managers may be required to travel domestically or internationally for business purposes, such as attending parent-company meetings or visiting branch offices for marketing analysis and campaign support.

Benefits*:  Wismettac offers competitive benefits, which include: 

• Extended Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life & accident insurance
• RRSP with company matching
• and much more!

Must be authorized to work in the Canada on a full-time basis for any employer.