📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Marketing Manager
🔹 Company: IFF
🔹 Location: Shanghai Hongqiao, China
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-05-20
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and delivering local market insights through an outstanding customer experience
- Driving local engagement with customers through powerful storytelling and compelling ideas
- Providing market analysis and generating insights on markets, customers, and products
- Supporting proactive and reactive customer-driven projects to generate business opportunities
- Partnering strategically with the China team to bring forward local insights, trends, and opportunities
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of local markets and customer needs, as well as the ability to translate insights into actionable business opportunities.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and deliver local market insights through an outstanding customer experience
✅ Drive local engagement with customers through powerful storytelling, compelling ideas, and meaningful ways to connect
✅ Provide market analysis and generate insights on markets, new potential customers, brands, food and beverage products, and flavors
✅ Support proactive and reactive customer-driven projects to significantly increase the chances of generating and/or winning business opportunities
✅ Partner strategically with the China team to bring forward local insights, trends, and relevant initiatives
✅ Deliver creative and impactful communication (internally and externally), support marketing communication, and event management when needed
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication and presentation skills, as well as the ability to work well with cross-functional teams and lead project execution at the local market level.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communication, or any other relevant discipline.
Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of marketing experience, preferably in the food ingredient industry or FMCG
Required Skills:
- Fluency in Chinese (native speaker) and English
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Experience in market analysis, communication campaigns, concept development, and event management
- Ability to digest marketing information from numerous sources, create logical arguments, and apply it relevantly to determine direction and future idea focus
- Ability to interact and influence multiple departments to ensure that customer needs are met
- Capability to work well with cross-functional teams and lead project execution at the local market level
- Can-do attitude, ambitious, proactive, and ready to embrace and deliver change
- Strong business acumen and ability to translate market and consumer insights into business opportunities
- Curious approach and enjoy difficult challenges
- Willingness to commit to travel
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in the food ingredient industry or FMCG
ASSUMPTION: Given the local market focus and customer engagement aspects of the role, native-level fluency in Chinese is essential. Additionally, experience in the food ingredient industry or FMCG is preferred but not required.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager with 3-5 years of experience in China, the estimated salary range is ¥350,000 - ¥500,000 per year (before tax).
Benefits:
- Health insurance and retirement benefits
- Employee assistance programs
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
- Discounted IFF products and services
Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with flexibility for project needs
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. IFF offers a comprehensive benefits package to attract and retain top talent.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: IFF is a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating its growth strategy. The company operates in the chemical manufacturing industry, with a focus on flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health, and biosciences.
Company Size: IFF has ~22,000 employees across 65 countries, with more than 110 manufacturing facilities, 100 R&D centers, and 33,000 customers worldwide. As a large, global organization, IFF offers a diverse range of career opportunities and a dynamic work environment.
Founded: IFF was founded in 1889 and has a rich history of innovation and growth in the flavor and fragrance industry. The company has expanded its portfolio to include food ingredients, health, and biosciences, solidifying its position as a global leader in its industry.
Company Description:
- IFF delivers groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products, advancing wellness, delighting the senses, and enhancing the human experience
- The company turns possibilities into reality by redefining the limits of science and nature, creating a more positive, sustainable future for all
- IFF's real-deal experts approach work with an entrepreneurial mindset, working lockstep to defy expectations and create industry-defining solutions
Company Specialties:
- Flavors
- Fragrances
- Food ingredients
- Health and biosciences
- Research and development
- Insights and trends
- Natural ingredients
- Food technology
- Nutrition
- Biosciences
- Pharma
- Culinary
- Perfume
- Biotech
- Probiotics
- Home care
- Ingredients
- Enzymes
- Extracts
- Animal nutrition
Company Website: IFF.com
ASSUMPTION: IFF's diverse portfolio and global presence offer candidates a unique opportunity to work on a wide range of projects and contribute to various aspects of the business.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the mid-level career stage, requiring 3-5 years of marketing experience. It offers opportunities for growth and advancement within the marketing function and potentially into management roles.
Reporting Structure: The Marketing Manager will report directly to the local marketing director or a similar role within the China organization.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site role based in Shanghai Hongqiao, China. The position may require occasional travel to other locations within China and potentially internationally.
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression into senior marketing roles or management positions within IFF's global organization
- Expanding skills and expertise through working on diverse projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams
- Developing leadership skills through managing local marketing initiatives and driving project execution
ASSUMPTION: IFF's global presence and diverse portfolio provide ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: IFF's Shanghai Hongqiao office is a modern, professional workspace with a collaborative and dynamic work environment.
Office Location(s): The Shanghai Hongqiao office is located in the Shanghai Hongqiao Industrial Zone, close to the Hongqiao International Airport and major transportation hubs.
Geographic Context:
- Shanghai is the largest city in China and a major global economic hub
- The Shanghai Hongqiao Industrial Zone is a major industrial park with a diverse range of businesses and easy access to transportation and amenities
- The area offers a mix of urban and suburban living options, with convenient access to the city center and surrounding neighborhoods
Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with flexibility for project needs. IFF offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing employees to work remotely for a portion of their workweek, depending on their role and team's requirements.
ASSUMPTION: The Shanghai Hongqiao location offers a convenient and accessible work environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development within IFF's global organization.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission through the IFF careers portal
- Phone or video screening to assess communication skills and cultural fit
- In-depth behavioral and technical interviews to evaluate skills and experience
- Final round interviews with senior leadership or hiring managers
- Background and reference checks before extending an offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication and presentation skills
- Market analysis and insights generation
- Customer engagement and project management skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with IFF's values and work environment
- Problem-solving and strategic thinking abilities
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of the local market and customer needs in your application materials
- Prepare examples of market analysis, customer engagement initiatives, and project management successes to discuss during interviews
- Research IFF's company culture and values to show your fit and enthusiasm for the role
ATS Keywords: Marketing, Customer Engagement, Market Analysis, Local Insights, Brand Management, Project Management, Communication, Presentation Skills, Fluent in Chinese, Fluent in English
ASSUMPTION: IFF's application process is designed to assess candidates' skills, experience, and cultural fit for the role. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their qualifications and provide specific examples of their work throughout the interview process.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
- Marketing automation and analytics tools
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the team's needs and the projects being undertaken. Candidates should be comfortable learning and adapting to new tools as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Integrity
- Respect
- Excellence
- Collaboration
- Innovation
- Sustainability
Work Style:
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- Data-driven decision making
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Agile and adaptable
- Results-oriented
- Customer-focused
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with IFF's core values, particularly in the context of this role?
- Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment or project scope. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- How do you approach generating insights from market data, and how do you translate those insights into actionable business opportunities?
ASSUMPTION: IFF's company culture values an entrepreneurial mindset, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their fit with these values and work style preferences throughout the application and interview process.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with frequent changes and tight deadlines
- Navigating a large, global organization with diverse teams and stakeholders
- Adapting to cultural differences and working with remote teams
- Balancing local market insights with global strategic direction
ASSUMPTION: The Marketing Manager role at IFF presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth and development. Candidates should be prepared to manage multiple priorities, adapt to change, and work effectively in a global, cross-functional team environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Marketing Manager (Food Industry) vs. Marketing Manager (FMCG):
- Food industry-specific knowledge and experience may be required for this role
- FMCG experience may provide a broader perspective on consumer behavior and market trends
- Marketing Manager (China) vs. Marketing Manager (International):
- China-specific market knowledge and cultural understanding are crucial for this role
- International experience may offer a broader global perspective and exposure to diverse markets
- Marketing Manager (Local) vs. Marketing Manager (Global):
- Local market focus requires a deep understanding of local customer needs and preferences
- Global marketing experience may provide a broader strategic perspective and exposure to international best practices
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other marketing manager positions, it also presents unique aspects and requirements specific to the food ingredient industry, the China market, and a local market focus.
📝 Sample Projects
- Conducting a comprehensive market analysis of the local food and beverage industry, identifying trends, opportunities, and potential gaps
- Developing and executing a targeted local marketing campaign to promote a new flavor or ingredient product launch
- Managing a customer engagement project, such as a food safari or industry event, to build relationships and generate business opportunities
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of responsibilities and initiatives that a Marketing Manager at IFF may undertake, requiring strong market analysis, customer engagement, and project management skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the company's long-term strategy for the China market and how this role contributes to that strategy?
- How does the local marketing team collaborate with global marketing and other functional teams to ensure alignment and consistency in branding and messaging?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how will success be measured?
- How does IFF support the professional development and growth of its marketing managers?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the local marketing team, and how can this role help address them?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and commitment to understanding the company's goals and priorities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the IFF careers portal
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role, emphasizing your local market knowledge and customer engagement expertise
- Prepare examples of market analysis, customer engagement initiatives, and project management successes to discuss during interviews
- Research IFF's company culture and values to show your fit and enthusiasm for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
