- Job Title: Assistant Brand Manager
- Company: Kao Corporation
- Location: Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Job Type: Hybrid (On-site & Remote)
- Category: Marketing
- Date Posted: April 23, 2025
- Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)
🚀 Job Overview
As an Assistant Brand Manager at Kao, you'll support the Senior Brand Manager in driving brand growth through strategic planning, financial management, and cross-functional collaboration. Your key responsibilities will include developing annual marketing plans, leading market result measurements, and collaborating with various teams to achieve brand objectives. A strong analytical mindset, results-driven approach, and collaborative spirit are essential for this role.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- P&L Management: Manage brand budgets, explain line items, and understand financial practices.
- Business Analysis: Assess information, develop presentations, and participate in risk assessments.
- Marketing Planning & Execution: Conduct market and competitor analysis, develop marketing plans, and analyze in-market results.
- Retailer Connection: Understand retailer strategies, translate brand objectives, build retailer-specific plans, and evaluate in-market executions.
- Digital & Direct to Consumer Marketing: Develop and execute digital marketing campaigns, work independently on the D2C platform, and access data to provide recommendations.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or a related field.
- Experience: 5+ years of marketing experience.
- Required Skills:
- Experience with Nielsen, IRI, or other POS platforms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook).
- Strong analytical, results-oriented, and collaborative mindset.
- Preferred Skills:
- Experience with digital marketing campaigns and tools.
- Knowledge of budgeting practices within the Brand area.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $77,000 - $95,000 per year (based on experience and performance).
- Benefits:
- Healthcare coverage.
- 401(k) plan with company match.
- 36 total days off (vacation, holidays, sick leave).
- Working Hours: Full-time, hybrid work schedule (2-3 days on-site per week).
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Kao is a global manufacturer of consumer products, with a focus on beauty care, human health care, fabric and home care, and chemical products.
- Company Size: 30,300+ employees worldwide, with 10,001+ employees in the US.
- Founded: 1887, in Japan.
- Company Description: Kao strives for the wholehearted satisfaction and enrichment of people's lives globally through its Yoki-Monozukuri approach, which focuses on creating value from the consumer's perspective.
- Company Specialties: Kao specializes in developing consumer product businesses that target general consumers, including beauty care, human health care, fabric and home care, and chemical products.
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid-Senior level, with opportunities for growth and development.
- Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Senior Brand Manager.
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid work schedule, with 2-3 days on-site per week.
- Growth Opportunities: Kao offers a friendly and flexible work environment, with great compensation packages, benefits, ongoing development, and the opportunity to enhance skills and deliver tangible results.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Kao's Cincinnati office is a hybrid work environment, with on-site and remote work options.
- Office Location: 14-10, Nihonbashi Kayabacho 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8210, JP.
- Geographic Context: Cincinnati, Ohio, is a mid-sized city with a cost of living slightly below the national average. It offers a variety of cultural attractions, sports teams, and outdoor activities.
- Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid work schedule (2-3 days on-site per week).
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Apply online, phone screen, in-depth interviews, and final decision.
- Key Assessment Areas: Analytical skills, strategic thinking, marketing expertise, and cultural fit.
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences.
- Prepare examples of your marketing planning, execution, and analysis skills.
- Research Kao's products, mission, and values to demonstrate your interest and alignment with the company.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Nielsen, IRI, or other POS platforms
- Digital marketing tools (depending on specific campaigns)
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Kao values innovation, collaboration, and customer focus. It strives to create a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can contribute to its success.
- Work Style: Kao encourages a positive, transparent, growth-minded, and collaborative team environment. It values professional growth and development across its commercial teams.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role may require occasional travel to meet with retailers or attend industry events.
- Kao's global presence may result in some late-night or early-morning meetings due to time zone differences.
- The role involves working with cross-functional teams, which may require navigating different priorities and perspectives.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Assistant Brand Manager roles at other consumer product companies may have similar responsibilities but different company cultures, product portfolios, or work environments.
- This role may differ from related positions in other industries, such as retail or advertising, which may have different focuses and priorities.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing an annual marketing plan for a Kao brand, including objectives, strategies, tactics, and budget.
- Conducting a competitive analysis and market trend assessment to inform brand positioning and marketing strategies.
- Leading a project to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital marketing campaign and providing data-driven recommendations for optimization.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does this role collaborate with other departments, such as sales or product development?
- What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the brand management team?
- How does Kao support work-life balance for its employees?
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the [Kao Careers portal](https://www.kao.com/americas/en/careers/).
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role.
- Prepare examples of your marketing planning, execution, and analysis skills to discuss during interviews.
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications.
- Be prepared to discuss your alignment with Kao's values and work style during the interview process.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
