📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Manager, Customer Marketing
🔹 Company: Gordon Food Service
🔹 Location: Concord, North Carolina
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: May 12, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Overseeing strategic marketing activities and supporting key customers and internal teams
- Managing customer-facing teams of marketing specialists in business solutions, culinary, and product areas
- Driving relevant business, culinary, and product solutions to key customers
- Aligning strategies and activities with Sales and Marketing teams to increase market share
- Planning and executing industry, sales, and marketing events, divisional meetings, marketing campaigns, and food shows
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the food service industry and its customers.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Drives relevant business, culinary, and product solutions to key customers through the activities of the customer marketing team(s)
✅ Aligns strategies and activities to complement the initiatives of the Sales and Marketing teams, with the ultimate goal of increasing the overall market share of Gordon Food Service
✅ Supports the planning and execution of industry, sales, and marketing events, divisional sales and marketing meetings, marketing campaigns, and food shows that align with the long-range plan and divisional goals
✅ Ensures consistent and relevant product, culinary, and business solution training for sales and specialist teams
✅ Determines and appropriately manages the budget and expenses of the customer support team in the assigned region
✅ Manages a team of divisional customer-facing specialist(s), including interviewing, hiring, training, and retaining staff, conducting performance monitoring, and developing succession plans
✅ Performs other duties as assigned
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of multitasking, requiring the ability to manage multiple projects and teams simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field
Experience: 5-10 years of experience in marketing, with at least 3 years in a management role
Required Skills:
- Excellent customer service, mentoring, interpersonal, and communication skills
- Ability to develop, refine, communicate, and implement plans and set goals
- Industry and segment knowledge, with the ability to analyze and interpret data
- Good time management, administration, and organizational skills
- Ability to build relationships, network, influence, and link resources to plan and execute business practices
- Ability to multitask and work exceptional hours, including evenings and weekends
- Willingness to take on new responsibilities with a strong desire to succeed
- Ability to develop solutions to complex problems that require the regular use of ingenuity and innovation
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the food service industry
- Fluency in Spanish or other languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in the food service industry and relevant language skills may have an advantage in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $80,000 - $120,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager with 5-10 years of experience in the food service industry)
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
- Employee discounts on Gordon Food Service products
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, with the expectation of working evenings and weekends as needed
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Gordon Food Service operates in the food and beverage services industry, focusing on foodservice distribution, retail stores, and fundraising.
Company Size: With over 10,000 employees, Gordon Food Service is a large organization that offers a broad range of employment opportunities and fosters an environment that promotes internal growth, training, and career development opportunities.
Founded: 1897, in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Company Description:
- Gordon Food Service is the largest family-operated broadline food service distributor in North America
- Committed to being passionately committed to the people they serve, providing quality products, and making moments special
- Operates in the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest regions of the U.S. and coast to coast in Canada
Company Specialties:
- Foodservice distribution
- Retail stores
- Fundraising
Company Website: http://www.gfs.com
ASSUMPTION: Gordon Food Service's large size and extensive reach in the food service industry provide ample opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level management, with the potential for growth into senior leadership roles
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Director of Marketing and oversees a team of divisional customer-facing specialists
Work Arrangement: On-site, with the expectation of working evenings and weekends as needed
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement into senior leadership roles within the marketing department
- Expansion of responsibilities to include additional regions or product lines
- Development of expertise in specific areas of marketing, such as event planning or data analysis
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within the marketing department and the broader organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office
Office Location(s): 6200 Gordon Food Service Dr, Concord NC
Geographic Context:
- Concord, North Carolina, is located in the Piedmont region of the state, approximately 20 miles northeast of Charlotte
- The area offers a mix of urban and rural environments, with a growing population and a diverse economy
- Concord is home to numerous attractions, including the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the U.S. National Whitewater Center
Work Schedule: Full-time, with the expectation of working evenings and weekends as needed
ASSUMPTION: The Concord, North Carolina, location offers a diverse and dynamic work environment, with easy access to cultural attractions and recreational opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the Director of Marketing and other department members
- Final interview with the Vice President of Marketing
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Industry and marketing knowledge
- Leadership and management skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, management, and problem-solving abilities
- Research Gordon Food Service and the food service industry to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role
ATS Keywords: Marketing Manager, Customer Marketing, Strategic Marketing, Team Management, Event Planning, Data Analysis, Food Service Industry
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be comprehensive and competitive, with a focus on assessing the candidate's industry knowledge, leadership skills, and cultural fit.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)
- Event planning and management software (e.g., Cvent, Eventbrite)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the department's needs and the candidate's areas of expertise.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-focused
- Integrity
- Respect
- Accountability
- Teamwork
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and goal-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you demonstrate our company values in your daily work?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment?
- How do you approach setting and achieving goals for yourself and your team?
ASSUMPTION: Gordon Food Service places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and values-driven decision-making in its hiring process.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The fast-paced and dynamic nature of the food service industry may require the candidate to adapt quickly to changes in the market and the company's priorities
- The role may involve working with a diverse range of customers and internal teams, requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills
- The expectation of working evenings and weekends as needed may present challenges for candidates with personal or family commitments
- The competitive nature of the food service industry may require the candidate to continuously improve their skills and knowledge to stay ahead of the curve
ASSUMPTION: The potential challenges of this role are outweighed by the opportunities for career growth, professional development, and making a significant impact on the company's success.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Marketing Manager position, but with a specific focus on customer marketing and supporting key customers and internal teams
- Compared to other marketing roles, this position requires a higher level of management and leadership skills, as well as a deep understanding of the food service industry and its customers
- Career paths for this role may include advancement into senior leadership roles within the marketing department or expansion of responsibilities to include additional regions or product lines
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in customer marketing and develop leadership skills within the food service industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a marketing campaign to promote a new product line to key customers
- Planning and coordinating a regional food show to showcase Gordon Food Service's products and services
- Analyzing customer data to identify trends and opportunities for targeted marketing efforts
ASSUMPTION: The specific projects for this role may vary depending on the department's needs and the candidate's areas of expertise.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the company's long-term goals for the marketing department and how this role contributes to achieving them?
- How does the company support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- Can you provide an example of a successful marketing campaign that the company has implemented, and what made it successful?
- How does the company measure the success of its marketing efforts, and how is this role expected to contribute to those metrics?
- What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role fit into that philosophy?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates the candidate's interest in the role and their commitment to understanding the company's culture and priorities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing experience and skills
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your leadership, management, and problem-solving abilities
- Research Gordon Food Service and the food service industry to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your continued interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
