Senior Associate Brand Manager

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Associate Brand Manager

🔹 Company: Ornua Co-operative Limited

🔹 Location: Evanston, Illinois, United States

🔹 Job Type: On-site

🔹 Category: Brand Management

🔹 Date Posted: May 30, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Owning several aspects of the Kerrygold business in North America
• Contributing to both short-term and long-term brand strategy
• Leading the development of business tracking processes
• Managing customer marketing strategies

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong analytical mindset, financial acumen, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams. It is ideal for a candidate with experience in Consumer Goods (CPG) looking to grow their career in a growing and evolving organization.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Report to the senior brand manager and own delivery of several aspects of the Kerrygold business in North America on a growing brand team.

✅ Contribute to the development and deployment of the short-term and long-term brand strategy.

✅ Lead development and roll out of a monthly business tracking process, translating data into opportunities or actions, and implementing action plans on key metrics (market share, volume and revenue trends and drivers, competitive performance).

✅ Lead customer/shopper marketing strategy, including partnering with sales on ecommerce digital marketing.

✅ Manage portfolio strategy and assortment optimization with clearly defined roles for each segment of the business.

✅ Lead monthly demand review process, develop and manage driver-based business & forecast model with demand planning.

✅ Partner with NPD (innovation) team to guide innovation through development, customer sell-in, and lead new products through market launch with best in class support plans.

✅ Lead diverse cross-functional teams with multiple stakeholders, complex inputs, and time sensitive deadlines.

ASSUMPTION: The role requires strong project management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to clearly manage key stakeholders while driving work forward.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred

Experience: 7+ years of experience (or combination of education and experience), experience in Consumer Goods (CPG)

Required Skills:

• Leads with curiosity
• Ability to identify opportunities for new processes or frameworks and drive buy-in across the organization
• Strong analytical mindset, ability to translate data into insights and actions
• Financial acumen, ability to navigate a P&L and connect marketing and business strategies to financial levers
• Strong ability to navigate ambiguity and operating in a growing and evolving organization
• Creative problem solver
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in matrixed organization
• Proactive and action-oriented, sees opportunities to add value or optimize and takes action
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail
• Ability to clearly manage key stakeholders while driving work forward

ASSUMPTION: The required skills and experience listed are essential for success in this role. Candidates should have a strong background in brand management, data analysis, and cross-functional team leadership.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 to $135,000 per year

Benefits:

• Healthcare
• Pension
• Paid Time Off
• Maternity Leave
• Flexible Working
• Fitness Reimbursement
• Charity Donation
• Complimentary Kerrygold products
• Free car parking and secure bicycle storage
• Free healthy snacks and drinks in the office
• Reward & Recognition program
• Volunteering opportunities
• Long Service Awards

Working Hours: 40 hours per week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range and benefits package are competitive for the industry and reflect the level of responsibility and experience required for this role.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Founded: 1961

Company Description:

• Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its Member Co-operatives, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers.
• Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products and has annualised sales of €3.4 billion.
• Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has a strong global team of 2,800 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 13 production facilities.
• Ornua is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients.

Company Specialties:

• Dairy Produce
• Dairy Trading
• Dairy Ingredients
• Consumer Foods
• Logistics
• Supply Chain
• Food Distribution
• Speciality Foods
• and New Product Development

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

ASSUMPTION: Ornua’s extensive experience in the dairy industry and global presence make it an attractive employer for candidates seeking to grow their career in the food and beverage sector.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level

Reporting Structure: Reports to the senior brand manager

Work Arrangement: On-site, full-time

Growth Opportunities:

• As Ornua continues to grow, there will be opportunities for the successful candidate to take on more responsibilities and advance their career within the brand team.
• The role offers the chance to work on high-visibility projects and influence change within the organization.

ASSUMPTION: The role provides ample opportunities for professional growth and development within the growing brand team.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate office

Office Location(s): Evanston, Illinois, United States

Geographic Context:

• Evanston is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, offering a mix of urban and suburban living.
• The area is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, as well as its proximity to Lake Michigan.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with flexibility for the role’s demands

ASSUMPTION: The office environment is professional and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening
• In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager
• Final round interview with additional stakeholders

Key Assessment Areas:

• Analytical skills and problem-solving abilities
• Brand management experience and strategic thinking
• Cross-functional team leadership and collaboration skills
• Adaptability and resilience in a growing and evolving organization

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and ability to work in a matrixed organization
• Research Ornua and the brand team to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its growth plans

ATS Keywords: P&L management, brand management, data analysis, customer marketing, portfolio strategy, demand planning, cross-functional leadership, project management, financial acumen, creative problem solving, stakeholder management, ecommerce marketing, innovation guidance, market launch support, analytical mindset

ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate’s ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and drive results in a growing and evolving organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will have experience with relevant tools and technologies, and be comfortable learning new platforms as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Seek and Embrace New Ideas
• Make It Happen
• Be Our True Selves
• Show You Care
• Achieve Great Things Together

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Adaptable and resilient
• Results-driven and proactive
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you align with Ornua’s company values, particularly ‘Seek and Embrace New Ideas’ and ‘Make It Happen’?
• How do you approach working in a matrixed organization, and how do you ensure effective collaboration with multiple stakeholders?
• How do you balance attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture and drive results?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong cultural fit with Ornua’s values and work style, as well as a clear understanding of the role’s requirements and the company’s growth plans.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role may require occasional travel to other Ornua offices or customer sites
• The pace of work can be fast-paced and demanding, with tight deadlines and multiple priorities
• The role may involve managing conflicting stakeholder interests and navigating organizational politics
• The role requires a strong ability to adapt to change and ambiguity in a growing and evolving organization

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be able to thrive in a dynamic and sometimes challenging work environment, and be comfortable managing multiple priorities and tight deadlines.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to a Senior Brand Manager or Associate Brand Manager position in a Consumer Goods (CPG) company, but with a focus on driving growth and innovation in a specific brand within a larger organization.
• The role offers more exposure to cross-functional team leadership and project management than a typical brand manager role, but may have less direct influence over the brand’s overall strategy.
• The role requires a strong analytical mindset and financial acumen, as well as the ability to navigate a complex organization and drive results through cross-functional collaboration.

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have experience in brand management, data analysis, and cross-functional team leadership, and be comfortable working in a matrixed organization.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and implementing a new business tracking process to improve data-driven decision making
• Launching a new product line or flavor extension, including market research, customer sell-in, and launch support
• Conducting a portfolio review and assortment optimization to improve profitability and market share

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will have experience managing similar projects and be able to demonstrate their ability to drive results and add value to the brand team.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the brand team’s structure and how this role fits within it?
• How does Ornua support the growth and development of its employees?
• What are the key priorities for the brand team in the first 90 days, and how does this role contribute to them?
• How does Ornua approach innovation and new product development?
• What are the key challenges facing the Kerrygold brand, and how does this role help address them?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate their understanding of the role, the brand team, and Ornua’s growth plans.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the Ornua Careers portal
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and ability to work in a matrixed organization
• Research Ornua and the brand team to demonstrate your understanding of the company and its growth plans
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.