Job Description

General Pet Supply


Work Location: IL - Chicago
Job Code: 10286


Our Pet Segment is searching for an Assistant Brand Manager to join our high-growth, startup team on the “Health and Wellness” Business Unit (BU). This BU offers products that support the general health and wellbeing of dogs and cats, with a portfolio of brands in the calming, supplements, and flea & tick categories. The business is sold on ecommerce through retailers like Amazon and Chewy and has a significant presence in the Pet Specialty channel and at Walmart. There is ample opportunity to extend the distribution footprint behind powerful collaboration with our sales and category management teams and to build insights-based selling strategies, inclusive of product and packaging innovation. This position will be responsible for co-creating strategies to win with consumers and retailers, alike, based on solid insights, superior products, and total proposition design that delights. You will actively contribute to and influence the cross-functional team, leading with a collaborative, inspiring vision making and making data-based decisions along the journey. You will have broad exposure to a cross-functional business unit (e.g., finance, sales, operations, etc.) and leverage the marketing center of excellence for consumer insight and content development. The position reports to a Senior Brand Manager within the “Health & Wellness” Business Unit.

The reporting manager for this role is based in Chicago. While we are open to all candidates who live within 30 miles of a Central location, found on our website at www.central.com , we do prioritize candidates in Chicago and in Dallas, where our manufacturing is located.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Analyze brand performance and provide recommendations for optimizations and future strategic initiatives

• Execute compelling and profitable brand plans that meet or exceed sales, gross margin and EBIT targets

• Collaborate with sales to develop compelling customer programming, often participating in joint-business planning

• Analyze category and competitive trends to identify areas of opportunity for brand growth

• Partner with the innovation team to successfully navigate projects through the stage gate process

• Lead packaging artwork and printed materials projects, from brief to commercialization

• Own your piece of the marketing budget, maximizing working dollars and delivering ROI commitments

IDEAL CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES

• Analytical Mindset: We value a leader who can analyze data from a variety of sources and draw actionable, impactful conclusions that set the strategy for in-market activation and new product development. We’re growing a new business, quickly, and seek someone with a bias for optimism and a knack for problem solving.

• Consumer-centricity: Everything we do is grounded in insight and human truth. The ideal candidate is a student of the marketing function, the CPG industry, and the human condition. They are passionate about delivering compelling and inspiring work.

• Collaboration: Our matrixed organization values teamwork, active listening, and trust. This job requires someone who can build and maintain effective cross-functional relationships, often across multiple geographies & time zones. Effective written and verbal communication is a must.

• Organization & Time Management: High-growth businesses move quickly. This person will be balancing multiple priorities / projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. We need this person to maintain timelines and budgets, seeing the interdependencies of tasks and seeking help with roadblocks early.

• Detail Orientation: A commitment to accuracy and quality remains central to the job.

QUALIFICATIONS

• College Degree (BA/BS) required

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working within a marketing driven company

• Consumer Packaged Goods and/or Digital marketing preferred, Pet industry a plus

• Open to travel once per quarter

• Computer proficiency on all MS Office applications

The Health and Wellness BU is unique within Central because key members are geographically dispersed. Several leaders are in Chicago, but we have core team members in New York, Austin, and Walnut Creek, CA. Sales personnel are dispersed throughout the country. Manufacturing, purchasing, engineering and some R & D is in Dallas, Texas. It is expected that this position would develop a close and collaborative working relationship across the entire organization.

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) understands that home is central to life and has proudly nurtured happy and healthy homes for over 40 years. With fiscal 2022 net sales of $3.3 billion, Central is on a mission to lead the future of the Pet and Garden industries. The Company’s innovative and trusted products are dedicated to helping lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a leading portfolio of more than 65 high-quality brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Cadet®, Farnam®, Ferry~Morse®, Four Paws®, Kaytee®, K&H®, Nylabone® and Pennington®, strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities and a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. Central Garden & Pet is based in Walnut Creek, California and has over 7,000 employees across North America and Europe. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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