Lead, Brand Building

📌 Core Information 🔹 Job Title: Lead, Brand Building 🔹 Company: McCormick & Company 🔹 Location: Hunt Valley, Maryland 🔹 Job Type: Hybrid (50/50) 🔹 Category: Brand Management 🔹 Date Posted: May 12, 2025 🚀 Job Overview Key aspects of this role include: - Guiding multifunctional partners to build stronger brands through sound strategy and marketing excellence. - Optimizing brand strategy execution and building marketing capabilities. - Collaborating with global teams to enhance brand fundamentals and consumer connections. - ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of brand marketing. 📋 Key Responsibilities ✅ Builds Marketing Capability: - Develop and enhance brand building capabilities, including strategy development, positioning, planning, and activation. - Customize capability programs for different internal audiences and identify knowledge gaps. - Stay informed about industry trends and network with external experts to gain insights. - Facilitate internal workshops and create educational materials to support continuous learning and application. ✅ Optimizes Brand Strategy: - Champion the brand-building process for global herbs and spices, including the flagship McCormick brand. - Develop and execute learning plans to optimize brand fundamentals, including positioning, architecture, and visual identity. - Synthesize consumer behavior and market trends to inform brand strategy and decision-making. - Partner to embed the brand-building process into the organization, ensuring consistency in future efforts. ✅ Tracks and Optimizes Brand Strategy Execution: - Establish indicators and check steps to assess progress toward long-term brand-building goals. - Use data-driven insights to prioritize key touchpoints and interactions that have the most significant impact on brand perception. - Connect with consumers to assess the effectiveness of brand touchpoints, including advertising, social media, packaging, in-store, and in-home experiences. - Provide actionable recommendations to enhance touchpoint effectiveness and ensure consistent brand positioning. ✅ Builds Insights Function: - Contribute to the growth and development of global insights groups. - Build advocacy for sustained organizational investment in brand fundamentals, consumer insights, and market understanding. - ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong analytical skills, a data-driven mindset, and the ability to translate complex information into actionable insights. 🎯 Required Qualifications Education: - Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Economics, Business, or a related discipline; MBA preferred. Experience: - 10+ years of experience in brand marketing, consumer insights, or a related field. Required Skills: - Deep understanding of brand marketing, from strategy development through execution. - Experience with a broad range of consumer behavior and market research methodologies. - Proficiency in the use and synthesis of market data from various global sources (e.g., Circana, Nielsen, Euromonitor). - Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a global, multi-functional team. - Strong presentation skills and comfort presenting recommendations to executives and senior leadership. - Creative problem solver with the ability to think and act strategically. - Ability to connect complex information and drive toward bigger picture insights. - Ability to show complex information in a simple, visual way that drives understanding. Preferred Skills: - Experience with brand strategy development and execution in a global context. - Familiarity with the food and beverage industry. 💰 Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: $121,900 - $219,410 (based on experience level and location) Benefits: - Competitive compensation and career growth opportunities. - Flexibility and support for diverse life stages and choices. - Wellbeing programs, including physical, mental, and financial wellness. - Tuition assistance. - Comprehensive health plans covering medical, vision, dental, life, and disability benefits. - Family-friendly benefits, such as paid parental leave, fertility benefits, employee assistance program, and caregiver support. - Retirement and investment programs, including 401(k) and profit-sharing plans. Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement. 📌 Applicant Insights 🔍 Company Context Industry: Food and Beverage Manufacturing Company Size: 10,001+ employees Founded: 1889 Company Description: McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE: MKC) is a global leader in flavor, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavorful products to the entire food industry. With a trusted source of flavor in millions of kitchens around the globe, McCormick creates flavors for a wide range of applications, such as beverages, snacks, dairy, bakery/confectionary, savory, performance nutrition, and health. Company Specialties: Flavor solutions, brand building, consumer insights, and market research. Company Website: www.mccormickcorporation.com 📊 Role Analysis Career Level: Mid-level to senior Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Senior Director, Global Brand Building. Work Arrangement: Hybrid (50/50) work arrangement, with a flexible schedule that balances remote work and on-site collaboration. Growth Opportunities: - Potential to lead and mentor a global, multi-functional team. - Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and drive strategic initiatives. - Exposure to a diverse range of brands and categories within the food industry. 🌍 Location & Work Environment Office Type: Hybrid (50/50) work arrangement, with a global headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Office Location(s): 24 Schilling Circle, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031, US Geographic Context: - Hunt Valley, Maryland, is a suburban area located approximately 20 miles north of Baltimore. - The region offers a mix of urban and rural environments, with easy access to major highways and public transportation. - The area is known for its strong sense of community, with various amenities, including shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation. Work Schedule: Flexible schedule that balances remote work and on-site collaboration, with a focus on results and productivity. 💼 Interview & Application Insights Typical Process: 1. Online application review. 2. Phone or video screening. 3. In-person or virtual interviews with hiring managers and team members. 4. Final interviews with senior leadership. 5. Background check and offer extension. Key Assessment Areas: - Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. - Leadership and team management abilities. - Presentation and communication skills. - Industry-specific knowledge and experience. - Cultural fit and alignment with McCormick's values. Application Tips: - Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role. - Showcase your understanding of brand marketing and consumer insights. - Demonstrate your ability to think strategically and drive results. - Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills. ATS Keywords: Brand marketing, consumer insights, brand strategy, market research, team leadership, strategic thinking, data-driven insights, global brands, hybrid work arrangement. 🛠️ Tools & Technologies - Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) - Brand management software (e.g., Brandfolder, Frontify) - Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) - Market research tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics) - Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) - Collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack) 👔 Cultural Fit Considerations Company Values: - Respect: Valuing and appreciating the unique qualities and contributions of each employee. - Recognition: Acknowledging and rewarding employee achievements and milestones. - Inclusion: Fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and heard. - Collaboration: Working together to achieve common goals and drive success. Work Style: - Strategic and data-driven approach to decision-making. - Strong focus on collaboration and teamwork. - Results-oriented and action-driven mindset. - Adaptable and flexible in a dynamic work environment. Self-Assessment Questions: 1. How do you approach building and maintaining strong, consistent brands in a global context? 2. Can you provide an example of a time when you optimized brand strategy execution and drove meaningful results? 3. How do you stay informed about industry trends and consumer behavior, and how do you apply this knowledge to your work? 4. How do you balance remote work and on-site collaboration to maximize productivity and team engagement? 📈 Similar Roles Comparison - Brand Manager: Focuses on managing and growing a specific brand within a product category. This role may have a narrower scope and less strategic influence compared to the Lead, Brand Building role. - Consumer Insights Manager: Primarily responsible for conducting market research and analyzing consumer data to inform brand strategy. This role may have less direct influence on brand strategy and execution compared to the Lead, Brand Building role. - Marketing Director: Oversees the marketing efforts for an entire product category or multiple brands. This role may have broader responsibilities but less focus on brand strategy and building marketing capabilities compared to the Lead, Brand Building role. 📝 Sample Projects 1. Developing and executing a comprehensive brand strategy for a global herb and spice brand, including positioning, architecture, and visual identity. 2. Conducting consumer research and market analysis to inform brand strategy and identify growth opportunities for a regional condiment brand. 3. Leading a cross-functional team to optimize the brand touchpoint experience for a national seasoning mix brand, resulting in improved brand perception and increased sales. 💡 Key Questions to Ask During Interview 1. How does this role fit into the broader brand-building strategy for the company? 2. What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days? 3. How does the company support the professional development and growth of employees in this role? 4. What is the company's approach to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment? 5. How does the company measure the success of brand-building efforts, and how is this role expected to contribute to those metrics? 📝 Next Steps for Applicants To apply for this position: 1. Submit your application through this [link](https://careers.mccormick.com/job/HUNT-VALLEY-Lead%2C-Brand-Building-MD-21031/1290183600/). 2. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role. 3. Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills. 4. Research McCormick & Company and the food industry to demonstrate your understanding of the role and the company's mission. 5. Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest in the role and reiterate your qualifications. ⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.