Marketing Manager, Trade Activations

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Marketing Manager, Trade Activations

🔹 Company: Funko

🔹 Location: London, City of, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: April 14, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (2-5 years)

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Facilitating supply chain activities and tracking end-to-end launches for Pop Vinyl, Bitty Pop, Loungefly, and Softlines into the retail environment across Funko EMEA.
• Ensuring supply, customer fulfillment, and key milestones are met by working with stakeholders within the business and managing the critical path for each launch and project.
• Collaborating with the Marketing team and Sales team to deliver against strategic growth categories, new product launches, and drive sales with key retail partners through the creation and implementation of a strategic 12-month plan and calendar.
• Managing trade marketing initiatives such as assortments, POS, CDU's, clipstrip programs, and FSDU launches from initiation to delivery into the customer.
• Analyzing retail activations before and after campaigns, providing recommendations to the business to enhance the offering and highlighting how they have contributed to sales growth and achieved sales targets.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of organization, project management skills, and the ability to work well with multiple stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have experience in retail coordination, trade marketing, or a similar role.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Facilitate supply chain activities and track end-to-end launches for various products into the retail environment.

✅ Work with stakeholders to manage the critical path for each launch and ensure customer fulfillment and key milestones are met.

✅ Collaborate with the Marketing team and Sales team to deliver against strategic growth categories, new product launches, and drive sales with key retail partners.

✅ Manage trade marketing initiatives such as assortments, POS, CDU's, clipstrip programs, and FSDU launches from initiation to delivery into the customer.

✅ Analyze retail activations before and after campaigns, providing recommendations to the business to enhance the offering and highlight sales growth and achieved sales targets.

✅ Communicate out issues, priorities, and project statuses to varying levels of team members on a frequent basis, putting forward solutions and problem-solving where needed.

✅ Collaborate with Marketing to ensure brand consistency is delivered across all activations and associated materials.

✅ Lead briefs to the design team for trade initiatives and ensure licensor approvals are met in a timely fashion.

✅ Manage each initiative through a critical path, working with cross-functional teams to ensure product and materials arrive on time into the DC and launches successfully.

✅ Collate required demand within Planning lead times and monitor demand continuously.

ASSUMPTION: The role requires strong project management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work well under pressure. The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar role and be comfortable working with large datasets.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.

Experience: Proven project management skills and experience, ideally with an ability to think rapidly and 'outside the box'.

Required Skills:

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Attention to detail with the ability to work on own initiative.
• Customer service, engagement, and communication skills (written and oral).
• Proactive self-starter, with the ability to juggle many projects using a commercial mindset.
• Positive, can-do attitude and excellent collaboration skills – able to demonstrate a ‘team player’ ethic.
• Able to work with large datasets and generate actionable output with good Excel skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in retail coordination, trade marketing, or a similar role.
• Familiarity with the Funko brand and its products.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills (English + additional language).

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management, retail coordination, or a similar role. They will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working with large datasets.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £45,000 - £55,000 per annum (based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager role in London)

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package, including health insurance and pension contributions.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the company.
• Fun and engaging work environment with a focus on pop culture.

Working Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, with occasional flexibility required to meet project deadlines.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Marketing Manager role in London. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Consumer Goods, specifically focused on pop culture collectibles and toys.

Company Size: Medium-sized company with 1,001-5,000 employees globally, with a head office in Everett, WA, USA, and additional offices in Los Angeles, CA, USA, and London, UK.

Founded: 1998, with a strong focus on pop culture and entertainment enthusiasts.

Company Description:

• Funko is a leading pop culture lifestyle brand that provides connection to pop culture through a wide range of products, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, board games, housewares, NFTs, and accessories.
• The company is the world's largest proprietor of licenses, with a large selection of lifestyle goods available through their website and retail locations.
• Funko is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where every superhero has a unique origin story.

Company Specialties:

• Toys
• Pop Culture
• Collectibles
• Entertainment

Company Website: http://www.funko.com

ASSUMPTION: Funko is a well-established company in the consumer goods industry, with a strong focus on pop culture and entertainment enthusiasts. The company offers a wide range of products and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-Senior level (2-5 years of experience)

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Marketing Director, EMEA.

Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional flexibility required to meet project deadlines.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for career progression within the Marketing department or the wider organization.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Exposure to a wide range of products and brands within the Funko portfolio.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within the Marketing department and the wider organization. The ideal candidate will be proactive, ambitious, and eager to take on new challenges.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, open-plan office with a fun and engaging work environment focused on pop culture.

Office Location(s): London, UK

Geographic Context:

• The office is located in a vibrant and bustling area of London, with easy access to public transportation and a wide range of amenities.
• The UK is home to a diverse and multicultural population, with a strong focus on creativity and innovation in the consumer goods industry.
• The London office is Funko's European headquarters, with a team of dedicated and passionate employees.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, with occasional flexibility required to meet project deadlines.

ASSUMPTION: The London office offers a modern, open-plan work environment with a strong focus on creativity and innovation. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and be able to thrive in a team setting.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Initial phone or video screen to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications.
• In-depth behavioral interview with the hiring manager and a member of the HR team to discuss the role in more detail and assess the candidate's fit for the position.
• Final interview with the Marketing Director, EMEA, to discuss the role's strategic fit within the department and the company.

Key Assessment Areas:

• Problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and creatively.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work with large datasets.

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with project management, retail coordination, or a similar role in detail.
• Demonstrate your passion for pop culture and Funko's products in your application materials.
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, communication skills, and ability to work well under pressure.

ATS Keywords: Marketing Manager, Trade Activations, Project Management, Retail Coordination, Consumer Goods, Pop Culture, Funko

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's fit for the position, both in terms of their skills and experience and their cultural fit with the company. The ideal candidate will be proactive, ambitious, and eager to take on new challenges.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
• Data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Google Analytics)

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have experience with Microsoft Office Suite and project management software. Familiarity with data analysis tools is also beneficial.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Passion for Pop Culture
• Creativity and Innovation
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Customer Focus
• Integrity and Accountability

Work Style:

• Fast-paced and dynamic
• Team-oriented and collaborative
• Results-driven and focused on achieving sales targets
• Adaptable and able to thrive in a changing environment

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a deep passion for pop culture and Funko's products?
• Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and able to thrive in a team setting?
• Do you have strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously?
• Are you able to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines?

ASSUMPTION: Funko is a fast-paced, dynamic company with a strong focus on creativity, innovation, and collaboration. The ideal candidate will be passionate about pop culture, comfortable working in a team setting, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role may require occasional flexibility to meet project deadlines, including working outside of standard business hours.
• The role involves managing multiple projects simultaneously, which can be challenging and require strong organizational skills.
• The role requires a strong understanding of the retail environment and the ability to work effectively with retail partners.
• The role may require occasional travel to Funko's offices in the US or other European locations.

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will be adaptable, able to manage their time effectively, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to a Trade Marketing Manager or Retail Operations Manager role in the consumer goods industry.
• Funko is a well-established company with a strong focus on pop culture and entertainment enthusiasts, offering a wide range of products and a unique work environment.
• Career progression opportunities within the Marketing department or the wider organization are available, with potential for growth into senior management or leadership roles.

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within the Marketing department and the wider organization. The ideal candidate will be proactive, ambitious, and eager to take on new challenges.

📝 Sample Projects

• Managing the launch of a new product line, including coordinating with stakeholders, managing the critical path, and ensuring successful delivery into the retail environment.
• Analyzing retail activations before and after campaigns, providing recommendations to the business to enhance the offering and highlight sales growth and achieved sales targets.
• Managing a trade marketing initiative, such as an assortment, POS, CDU's, clipstrip program, or FSDU launch, from initiation to delivery into the customer.

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are designed to give candidates an idea of the types of initiatives they may be responsible for in this role. The ideal candidate will have experience in project management, retail coordination, or a similar role and be comfortable working with large datasets.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the typical workload and priorities for this role?
• How does this role fit into the wider Marketing department and the company as a whole?
• What are the key challenges and opportunities for this role in the next 12 months?
• How does Funko support the professional development and growth of its employees?
• What is the company's approach to work-life balance, and how does this role fit into that?

ASSUMPTION: These interview questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the company, and the opportunities for professional development and growth. The ideal candidate will be proactive, ambitious, and eager to take on new challenges.

📌 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 experience and skills for this role, with a particular focus on your project management, retail coordination, or similar experience.
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, communication skills, and ability to work well under pressure.
• If you are selected for an interview, be prepared to discuss your experience with pop culture and Funko's products in detail.
• Follow up with the hiring manager or HR team within one week of 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.