Balfour & Co

Balfour & Co. is one of the world’s largest Collegiate and High School commencement services companies, leading the industry in digital product innovation by helping students and their families celebrate the most meaningful moments in their lives. Operating under Balfour®, GradImages®, University Photo®, Gaspard®, ArtCarved®, KeepSake® and Taylor Publishing Company®, the Company provides personalized products such as class jewelry and apparel, yearbooks and commercial printing, graduation cap and gowns, announcement products and photography through digital marketing technology, personal in-school deliveries, and customized school assortments. To learn more visit Balfour.com, the destination for Graduation products, and GradImages.com, the industry’s largest commencement photography platform. The Company operates throughout North America with around 5,000 team members. From our start in 1913 to today, the Company has grown and evolved in many ways but the quality of our products and our commitment to our people have been at the highest standards throughout this long history.

Are you ready to embark on the next chapter of your exhilarating career journey as a Product Category Manager? Join our dynamic team and become a catalyst for innovation, strategy, and success! We are seeking a visionary individual with a passion for product management and an insatiable drive to make a mark in our ever-evolving business landscape.

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, your overall objectives will include:

Category Domination: As the Product Category Manager, you will take charge of our diverse product portfolio, leading it to unparalleled heights of success. Your mission? To dominate the market, outsmart the competition, and ensure our products are the envy of the industry.

Strategic Wizardry: Employ your strategic prowess to develop and execute comprehensive category plans that align with our company’s vision and objectives. Craft ingenious strategies to identify new product opportunities, capitalize on emerging trends, and revolutionize our offerings.

Master of Market Intelligence: Dive deep into market research and customer insights to gain a profound understanding of consumer needs, preferences, and behavior. Leverage this knowledge to anticipate market trends, identify product gaps, and pave the way for groundbreaking innovations.

Collaboration Maven: Forge strong partnerships with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, marketing, sales, and supply chain to ensure seamless product development, launch, and lifecycle management. Unleash the power of teamwork to deliver exceptional customer experiences and achieve sky-high revenue targets.

Pricing Wizardry: Employ your analytical genius to optimize pricing strategies that maximize profitability while maintaining a competitive edge. Conduct thorough pricing analyses, monitor market dynamics, and fine-tune pricing strategies to achieve unrivaled market positioning.

Product Champion: Champion your products like no other! Drive their success throughout their lifecycle by developing compelling value propositions, captivating marketing campaigns in partnership with our marketing teams, and persuasive sales collateral and sales trainings with our sales teams. Be the go-to expert for all product-related queries, internally and externally.

Agile Innovator: Embrace an agile mindset and foster a culture of continuous innovation. Collaborate with product development teams to drive rapid prototyping, iterative testing, and accelerated product launches. Embrace feedback loops to refine and enhance our products at lightning speed.

Join us on this thrilling adventure as a Product Category Manager, where your ideas will shape the future of our products and drive our company to new heights. Be part of a team that is proactive, results-oriented, and has a passion for achieving targets that embraces innovation, values collaboration, and celebrates success. Apply now and be prepared to unleash your potential! Creative and innovative thinking, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Location: Aventura, Florida (In-office role, remote work not considered)

We will be delighted to connect at your earliest convenience to share more about Balfour, our team, and how you can be a part of this exciting organization.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagoodis/ or at https://www.balfour.com/careers

Balfour & Co

Balfour & Co. is one of the world’s largest Collegiate and High School commencement services companies, leading the industry in digital product innovation by helping students and their families celebrate the most meaningful moments in their lives. Operating under Balfour®, GradImages®, University Photo®, Gaspard®, ArtCarved®, KeepSake® and Taylor Publishing Company®, the Company provides personalized products such as class jewelry and apparel, yearbooks and commercial printing, graduation cap and gowns, announcement products and photography through digital marketing technology, personal in-school deliveries, and customized school assortments. To learn more visit Balfour.com, the destination for Graduation products, and GradImages.com, the industry’s largest commencement photography platform. The Company operates throughout North America with around 5,000 team members. From our start in 1913 to today, the Company has grown and evolved in many ways but the quality of our products and our commitment to our people have been at the highest standards throughout this long history.

Position Summary: As a Product Category Coordinator, you will play a crucial role in managing and coordinating the product categories within our organization. Your primary responsibility will be to oversee the development, procurement, and marketing of products within specific categories to ensure their success and profitability. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, purchasing specialists, marketing specialists, sales representatives, and suppliers, to drive growth and meet business objectives. The Product Category Coordinator is responsible for market analysis, product assortment planning, inventory management, and ensuring the seamless execution of product launches and promotions.

Responsibilities:

1. Category Management: Develop and execute comprehensive category management strategies to drive sales and profitability targets.
2. Market Research and Analysis: Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends, customer preferences, and competitive landscape within assigned product categories.
3. Product Assortment Planning: Collaborate with product managers to curate and optimize product assortments based on market trends, customer demands, and business goals.
4. Vendor Management: Work with purchasing to establish and maintain strong relationships with vendors and suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage product pricing, quality, and availability.
5. Inventory Management: Work with purchasing to monitor inventory levels, ensure timely replenishment, and implement effective inventory management strategies to minimize stock-outs and excess inventory.
6. Product Launches and Promotions: Coordinate and oversee the successful execution of product launches, promotions, and marketing campaigns, ensuring proper alignment with overall marketing strategies.
7. Sales and Performance Analysis: Track and analyze product sales performance, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and identify areas for improvement or growth opportunities.
8. Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with various internal teams, including marketing, sales, operations, and finance, to ensure effective communication and alignment of strategies and goals.
9. Continuous Improvement: Stay updated with industry trends, new product innovations, and emerging technologies relevant to assigned product categories. Propose and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
10. Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure all products within the assigned categories comply with legal and regulatory standards. Monitor product quality and work closely with suppliers to address any quality issues promptly.

Requirements:

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field. Relevant certifications or additional training in product management or category management are a plus.
2. Experience: Prior experience in product management, category management, or a related role within the retail or e-commerce industry is preferred.
3. Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
4. Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and stakeholders.
5. Organizational Skills: Strong organizational and multitasking abilities to manage multiple product categories, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
6. Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy in product assortment planning, vendor management, and promotional activities.
7. Negotiation Skills: Proven negotiation skills to effectively manage vendor relationships, contracts, and pricing.
8. Team Player: Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, fostering positive relationships and contributing to a cohesive work environment.
9. Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, market conditions, and business needs.
10. Passion for Products: Enthusiasm and a genuine interest in consumer products, market trends, and customer needs within assigned product categories.

11. Location: This role is based in our Aventura, Florida office. We will not consider remote work for this role.

Join us on this thrilling adventure as a Product Category Manager, where your ideas will shape the future of our products and drive our company to new heights. Be part of a team that is proactive, results-oriented, and has a passion for achieving targets that embraces innovation, values collaboration, and celebrates success. Apply now and be prepared to unleash your potential! Creative and innovative thinking, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Please let me know the best day/time to connect. I will be delighted to connect at your earliest convenience to share more about Balfour, our team, and how you can be a part of this exciting organization.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagoodis/ or at https://www.balfour.com/careers

Balfour & Co

Balfour & Co. is one of the world’s largest Collegiate and High School commencement services companies, leading the industry in digital product innovation by helping students and their families celebrate the most meaningful moments in their lives. Operating under Balfour®, GradImages®, University Photo®, Gaspard®, ArtCarved®, KeepSake® and Taylor Publishing Company®, the Company provides personalized products such as class jewelry and apparel, yearbooks and commercial printing, graduation cap and gowns, announcement products and photography through digital marketing technology, personal in-school deliveries, and customized school assortments. To learn more visit Balfour.com, the destination for Graduation products, and GradImages.com, the industry’s largest commencement photography platform. The Company operates throughout North America with around 5,000 team members. From our start in 1913 to today, the Company has grown and evolved in many ways but the quality of our products and our commitment to our people have been at the highest standards throughout this long history.

Position Summary: As the Director/VP of Marketing, you will be the driving force behind all marketing efforts at Balfour, leading the charge in both B2B account-based marketing and direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing. Your mission will be to generate excitement, foster customer engagement, and drive revenue growth across all channels. With a focus on email and direct mail, you will create innovative campaigns that captivate our audience, while also leading social engagement programs to expand our reach and deepen customer connections.

Roles and Responsibilities: Marketing Strategy and Leadership:

• Develop and execute visionary marketing strategies that align with Balfour’s mission, leveraging email and direct mail as primary channels to drive brand awareness and customer engagement.

• Lead the marketing team, fostering a collaborative and high-energy culture focused on exceeding expectations.

• Set and surpass key performance indicators (KPIs), providing regular reports and insights to the executive team.

• Manage the marketing budget, maximizing ROI and driving innovation.

B2B and DTC Campaign Development and Execution:

• Create captivating marketing campaigns across digital, social media, print, and events to establish Balfour as the go-to source for personalized graduation products, both for our B2B partners and direct-to-consumer market.

• Utilize market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, customer preferences, and competitive landscapes, shaping marketing strategies accordingly.

• Optimize digital marketing efforts, including SEM, content marketing, and social media campaigns, to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.

Social Engagement Programs:

• Develop and lead social ambassador programs, leveraging social media influencers to amplify brand reach and strengthen customer connections.

• Develop and lead ongoing social calendar development.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless integration and alignment of marketing strategies.

Qualifications: Leadership and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Minimum 10 years of experience in senior marketing roles, preferably in the consumer goods industry.

• Proven leadership experience, successfully guiding and developing high-performing marketing teams.

Marketing Expertise:

• Expertise in email and direct mail campaigns, driving customer engagement and revenue growth.

• Track record of launching and managing successful social programs to amplify brand reach.

Analytical Skills and Strategic Thinking:

• Strong understanding of market research and analysis, data-driven decision-making, and ROI measurement.

• Proficiency in digital marketing strategies and tools, including SEO, SEM, content marketing, and social media.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders.

• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking, with a passion for innovation.

Location: This role is based in our Aventura, Florida office. We will not consider remote work for this role.

Join Balfour as our Director/VP of Marketing, and lead our comprehensive marketing efforts, encompassing both B2B and direct-to-consumer initiatives. Together, we will create remarkable experiences, celebrate achievements, and shape the future of our brand. Apply now and embark on an incredible journey with us.

Please reach out directly to the CMO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagoodis/ or via https://www.balfour.com/careers

Balfour & Co