NextFoods is the parent company to next generation functional food and beverage category leaders. Founded in 2006 and the majority shareholder in Cheribundi and GoodBelly, the industry pioneer seeks to deliver everyday healthy rituals through food and beverage. Headquartered in Boulder, CO and committed to scientifically-proven products that harness the power of whole-foods based nutrition, the company is establishing a new evolution of natural-focused brands for the modern wellness mindset. Its portfolio of products are sold nationwide at every major retail touchpoint: 20,000+ stores, Amazon, direct to consumer (DTC) and 450+ collegiate and professional sports teams.

General Summary

The Senior Brand Manager is responsible for building both the Cheribundi and GoodBelly brands and supporting the business to achieve our sales objectives. Working alongside the VP of Marketing and overall team, this role will drive the annual planning and execution of major brand-building activities, including brand strategy, innovation, renovation, and communication efforts. This role will be a critical member of the NextFoods cross functional team to deliver growth and nurture each brand’s passionate group of consumers. Our ideal candidate is collaborative, equal parts creative and analytical, flexible, has superior project management skills, and is excited about being a critical component of a dynamic team.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:  

Brand Strategy and Stewardship

• Lead and support elements of brand strategy and growth initiatives to drive brand penetration, awareness and trial.
• Ensure brand standards have consistency and provide brand review for all marketing content and ensure it is in line with overall brand positioning and voice.
• Maintain clear product management strategy, including portfolio optimization and innovation opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Sales Team on measurable shopper initiatives, insights, and category trends to expand brand visibility.

Business Management

• In conjunction with sales, oversee the trade channels (retail, eComm) for the Cheribundi and GoodBelly portfolio to maximize sales and share.
• Analyze market category, competitor and brand insights, proactively gather external health & wellness/ food & beverage trends and translate into meaningful strategies and actions to grow the brand.
• Manage marketing budget.

Innovation

• Serve as primary brand leader and driver for new product and brand renovation pipeline activities, including setting project strategies and scope, creating the product brief, leading consumer learning plans, partnering with operations and R&D to create executional timelines, and coordinating across functions to ensure flawless execution.
• Monitor market, consumer and competitive insights and translate into compelling innovation strategies for the brand.
• Collaborate closely with Sales Team to develop materials supporting sell-in of new items.

Marketing Activation

• Oversee annual marketing planning, including digital activation/performance marketing, advertising, shopper marketing, and PR/Influencer strategy in close collaboration with other cross functional team members including:
• Lead internal and external partners to ensure adherence to plan, quality standards, deliverables and budget
• Perform analysis on campaigns. Continuously review and adapt activation efforts to provide for the most effective use of resources

Marketing Communications

• Lead the creative production and media execution process adhering to brand standards, including:
• Briefing creative and agency partners on key objectives, consumer target, and executional mandatories
• Lead agencies to deadlines, quality standards, and budget parameters

Other

• As a member of the NextFoods team, foster a mature, respectful, collaborative team environment across not only the Marketing department but also the entire Organization.
• Support the Vision, Mission and Values of the Organization
• Maintain effective internal communications to ensure all functions are kept informed of marketing objectives
• Other duties, as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 4-6+ years brand management experience, preferably with consumer-packaged goods
• Bachelor’s Degree, an MBA or equivalent master’s degree, and/or classically-trained CPG marketing experience is strongly preferred
• Excellent understanding of brand marketing supported by analytics with the ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial atmosphere and be a strong self-starter
• Ability to interpret and synthesize market information via scan data and consumer insights into actionable strategies
• Experience managing multiple projects with flawless execution
• Self-motivated, innovative, collaborative, multi-tasker, pro-active, and creative
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong team player with a positive attitude that can excel in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills plus experience in dealing with multiple and diverse stakeholders and business partners
• Strong data and analytical skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, Gmail and Google docs
• Capable of having FUN!

Compensation

$110k-$140k annually depending on experience. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, 401k with up to 4% match, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time, stock options and more.

Candidate is preferably located in the Denver, Colorado metro. This position is, at current, a combination of in-office and remote.

Please send us your resume with a cover letter explaining your interests in and fit with the role. Send to [email protected] and reference Senior Brand Manager in the subject line. Please no phone calls as we will only utilize this email address for receipt of applications. Thanks for your interest.

About NextFoods

NextFoods is the parent company to next generation functional food and beverage category leaders. Founded in 2006 and the majority shareholder in Cheribundi and GoodBelly, the industry pioneer seeks to deliver everyday healthy rituals through food and beverage. Headquartered in Boulder, CO and committed to scientifically-proven products that harness the power of whole-foods based nutrition, the company is establishing a new evolution of natural-focused brands for the modern wellness mindset. Its portfolio of products are sold nationwide at every major retail touchpoint: 20,000+ stores, Amazon, direct to consumer (DTC) and 450+ collegiate and professional sports teams.

About Cheribundi

Cheribundi is the leader in natural sports nutrition products, specializing in one of the most effective and functional tools for recovery: all-natural tart cherry juice. Scientifically-proven to significantly improve sleep, recovery, and overall mental and physical health, Cheribundi’s purpose is to fuel athletes daily progress. Formulated through a proprietary filtration process and made in the USA, Cheribundi is the #1 natural recovery agent consumed by over 400 professional and collegiate sports teams. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Portland, OR, Cheribundi is available at 20,000 stores nationwide in natural, specialty, conventional, mass and convenience retailers. Shoppers can also purchase Cheribundi directly at Amazon.com or Cheribundi.com.

About GoodBelly

GoodBelly is the pioneer of gut health dedicated to improving people's lives with intestinal balance, digestive wellbeing and immunity support when consumed daily through everyday efficacious foods, beverages and supplements. Founded in 2006 with a vision to bring probiotics to the mainstream with functional solutions reliant on the well-studied probiotic strains Lactobacillus Plantarum 299v (LP299V®), GoodBelly is headquartered in Boulder, CO and available at 20,000 stores nationwide in natural, specialty, conventional, mass and convenience retailers. Shoppers can also purchase GoodBelly directly at Amazon.com.

About Emil Capital Partners

Founded in 2011, Emil Capital Partners invests in early-stage growth companies in the consumer goods, consumer tech, retail, and digital media sectors. Recognized as one of the most active investment companies in the consumer space, ECP has partnered with more than 30 companies through its value-add investment approach. Representative past and present portfolio companies include Bare Snacks^®, TCHO, Chef’s Plate, Persona, Ollie, No Meat Factory, Base Culture^®, Cheribundi^®, GoodBelly^®, Amour Vert, Zeel and Kidfresh. The fund is headquartered in Greenwich, CT. For more information visit www.emilcapital.com or follow us on LinkedIn.