Brand Manager

Company Description

Simple Mills is a rapidly-growing company on the forefront of the clean food movement, transforming center store grocery aisles with products made from nutritious, purposeful ingredients. Simple Mills is a female-founded business, started by Katlin Smith in 2012 out of her own Kitchen. In the company’s short history, Simple Mills has disrupted the market to become the #1 bestselling natural baking mix, the #1 bestselling natural cracker, and the #1 bestselling natural cookie.

The company’s mission is to advance the holistic health of the planet and its people by positively impacting the way food is made. Simple Mills is distributed in 25,000+ stores nationally including Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Costco and more, and available online at retailers like Amazon and Thrive Market. The brand’s newest products include: Organic Seed Flour Crackers, Seed & Nut Flour Sweet Thins, and Soft-Baked Almond Flour Bars. Simple Mills has earned broad recognition from top tier media and industry associations- including a segment on our Founder & CEO Katlin Smith on NPR’s How I Built This . Our products have been featured in a wide array of top publications including Vogue, Women’s Health, Forbes, Business Insider, mindbodygreen, NOSH and many more. Fast Company recently named Simple Mills as one of their Brands That Matter in 2022, and one of their Most Innovative Company in 2023.

Role Description

The Brand Manager will lead product marketing management and brand-building programs for a specific product category within the Simple Mill’s portfolio. This role will use consumer insights, category/competitive insights, and business analytics to craft and implement breakthrough marketing initiatives that create a competitive advantage for the brand and support company strategic and financial objectives.

The position will report to the Director, Product Marketing and responsibilities will include:

• Define strategies for Simple Mills to win in this role’s categories by:
• Maintaining a deep understanding of the category, the competitive landscape, and consumer dynamics
• Utilizing strong analytics skills to draw insights from data, diagnose performance, and identify opportunities
• Designing, executing, and integrating consumer research to inform marketing strategy, product decisions, and execution
• Lead assigned categories go-to-market strategies, communications, and marketing plans by:
• Developing differentiated, breakthrough marketing plans that build brand equity and bolster product velocities, in collaboration with internal and external creative partners
• Consulting innovation team on new product development and leading integrated launches for new products across paid, owned, and earned channels
• Overseeing packaging graphics for assigned category SKUs including new product innovation
• Approving marketing communications, creative, and content
• Manage assigned category businesses, ensuring product lines deliver against revenue targets by:
• Optimizing product portfolio and fundamentals across the 4Ps to accelerate velocity growth
• Building strong account-specific plans, assessing performance, and optimizing activities based on learnings, opportunities, and threats
• Analyzing data, crafting compelling sell stories, and partnering with Sales on customer presentations to win new distribution
• Guide commercialization projects, including product renovation and new pack sizes/structures by:
• Building strong cross-functional relationships to motivate and lead teams through ambiguity and obstacles to successfully deliver projects on time & in full
• Effectively influencing and facilitating alignment among key cross-functional and leadership stakeholders to advance key projects and initiatives
• Manage, coach, and develop direct report(s) as applicable and provide informal mentorship to other teammates across the marketing team and broader organization
• Performs other projects as assigned

Position Requirements

• A minimum of 4 years of experience in a Brand Marketing position is required, with a preference for that prior experience working in the food and beverage consumer packaged goods (CPG) or natural food industries
• A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related field is required, and a MBA degree is preferred, but years of experience in lieu of Master’s degree will be considered
• Experience developing marketing campaigns that build awareness and drive in-market performance
• High level of curiosity about and familiarity with the marketplace, competitors, consumers, and marketing technologies
• Ability to lead with confidence, gain consensus and influence amongst cross-functional peers, and facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving
• Naturally curious, with an appreciation for ambiguity and the ability to embrace the “test and learn” mentality in pursuit of continuous improvement
• A passion for natural food and healthy eating as well as a desire to change the way we think about ingredient labels

Benefits of Working at Simple Mills

• You will make a huge impact as a key member of an emerging brand that’s changing the way we eat and facing explosive growth
• Working with a vibrant community of passionate team members that are driven by healthy food that tastes good and fuels your body
• Our culture is aligned with doing good in the world and we are committed to diversity, the environment, fairness to employees and to our customers
• Integrating into a company that is passionate about its people and their development, with consistent training and multiple forums/platforms to participate in, contribute to and learn from
• Employee benefits including health, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/DCA account options, Commuter Reimbursement Plan, 401(k) plan, robust PTO offering, cell phone/internet allowance, health & wellness stipends, product stipends, and many other perks

Compensation will be competitive for the ideal candidate. Starting in June of 2021, Simple Mills will operate a hybrid-model: a balance of in-person and virtual work determined by position, team, and personal needs. You must be able to work remotely at your own designated location with sufficient internet access to support video conferencing. You must also be willing and able to work at our Chicago office, when necessary. Safety protocols in accordance with CDC recommendations are followed.

At Simple Mills, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and inclusion. Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present military service, physical or mental disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications. #LI-DNI

Simple Mills is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Simple Mills will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges or employment, please contact [email protected].

Simple Mills