By Jay Hofmeister

Trust me: it’s different now. In this economy, where unemployment is high and you have many more job seekers than jobs, you can’t afford to improvise on the interview. So yes, if you got called in to talk about a position, be psyched. But then knuckle down and do some prep work.

Find out as much as you can about the position you’re interviewing for, how the process will go, and who will be interviewing you. Research the people you’ll be talking to (use Google, LinkedIn, Facebook and real-life contacts) so you have common ground to discuss, and check out the company and the competition.

Wait, you’re not done yet. You still have to ace the interview. These five questions will pull you ahead of the pack:

To read more visit www.RecessionWire.com.

In this role, your primary responsibility is to define and drive the global strategy for your brand. Utilizing key global consumer insights, you will manage brand positioning, strategic marketing programs and brand roadmaps to best deliver the brand promise to the consumer, while maximizing financial results. In addition, you will manage the continued development of strategy for your brand(s) and assure the brand expressions/essence are consistent across the globe, which includes developing and maintaining successful partnerships with the Entertainment & Licensing team. Finally, you will develop and drive the global marketing plan strategy, thus enhancing the brand’s position, across our four regions (North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) and be the Global Champion of key brand initiatives.

Primary Duties:

Under the general direction of the Global Brand Leader and senior team, you will:

1. Create and drive overall brand strategy and positioning across product design, marketing and marketing communication.
2. Develop high-impact global marketing strategy, positioning and plans for major regions, in support of defined business & overall brand objectives.
3. Define and communicate all elements of the marketing program for the brand, including advertising, promotions, PR, retail programs, packaging, merchandising, and media initiatives.
4. Ensure consistency of brand expression and essence throughout various marketing programs.
5. Provide internal US Marketing team strategic direction for the brand.
6. Evaluate current market trends and competitive activity; report on key findings.
7. Manage successful relations, both with internal departments and external partners (media, agency, etc.).
8. Develop and mentor a staff of junior level marketers.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in consumer packaged goods marketing, preferably supporting a global brand.
• Must have toy marketing experience
• Bachelors Degree in Marketing, Advertising or related field. MBA strongly preferred.
• Functional experience and/or knowledge will include:
• Specific marketing and brand-building insight and expertise.
• Expertise at development of a fully integrated marketing program.
• International experience and global perspective.

Critical Skills:

• Excellent leadership and team building/management skills; ability to provide clear and concise direction/feedback to external and internal stakeholders and the ability to influence others to adopt his/her recommendations.
• Strong project management abilities; capable of prioritizing and handling multiple projects simultaneously, under tight time constraints and within budget parameters.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Well developed, verbal, written and presentation skills.

Primary Duties:
• Set strategic objectives for the brand to ensure customer needs are met. Reconcile brand objectives with corporate goals.
• Write comprehensive strategic marketing, business, and sales plans
• Develop and manage brand positioning through marketing activities and product development.
• Directly manage brand marketing employees to tactically execute marketing plans.
• Manage brand P&L and makes key decisions on quality, cost, and timing for marketing programs and product under parameters set by the group Vice President.
• Manage overall brand A&P budgets and operating cost.
• Research and analyze current market trends and conditions and competitive activity to identify new marketing or product opportunities.
• Prepare and present sales/marketing presentations and product line reviews.
• Lead cross functional team members to excel in planning and execution of marketing and product plans.
• Act as keyv brand contact for business partners, international groups, Hasbro corporate, and press.
• Manage licensor/licensee relationships.
• Occasional travel required.

Additional responsibilities may include:
• Manage the product and packaging development process, ensuring that products are completed on schedule, meet licensor requirements, and meet performance, quality and cost criteria. Provides complete product specs, recommendations on managing inventory, and product print runs.
• Track and forecast inventory and sales trends.

Skills Needed:
• BA/BS or equivalent work experience required, preferably with a concentration in Marketing or related coursework. MBA preferred.
• 4+ years of consumer marketing experience required.
• Experience managing marketing budgets required.
• Experience in product development and managing product P&L preferred.
• Experience managing a global brand preferred.
• Experience in the gaming, entertainment, or other lifestyle industry preferred.

Primary Responsibilities:
• Permanent merchandizing strategy
• Temporary signage/promotional display strategy
• Tactical customer planning and implementation

Essential Job Functions:
• Responsible for company’s brand presence in-store
• Builds the business case for merchandising investments for company and for our customers
• Advise key customers on category growth promoting creative signage for natural personal care sets
• Responsible for compiling overall forecast of Permanent Merchandising needs
• Leads the creative briefing process
• Works with Global Knowledge & Insights and Customers to develop and leverage shopper insights
• Works with Category Management to link merchandizing with SKU road maps and priorities
• Works with US Brand and Sales Operations to support key marketing initiatives
• Works with Purchasing to identify and leverage third party vendors to create and manufacture designs
• Works with Field Sales, Customers, and related third parties to ensure smooth implementation
• Provides general support for retailer consumer marketing programs leveraging temporary signage and promotional displays.

Minimum Recruitment Standards:
• Minimum of five (5) years of related work experience with direct experience in executing best in class at shelf/on shelf merchandizing
• Beauty care experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated creative judgment skills
• Experience with sustainable packaging preferred
• Superior oral and written presentation skills
• Resourcefulness required to work in a growing entrepreneurial company
• BA or BS degree required.

Job Dimensions

Reports to: Global Brand Leader
Budget Responsibility (direct or indirect): $12MM ($8.5MM research; $3.5MM OH)
Direct Reports: 4
Indirect Reports: 8
Country responsibility: Global

Key Responsibilities

• Support corporate requests on broad issues affecting our business, growth strategies and strategic imperatives
• Independently explore insights, trends, observations, influences that have an impact on the industry, our consumer and our brands and create actionable recommendations to grow company
• Lead communication and organizational understanding of the trends and influences facing company’s business, and communicate these insights and action steps through the company newsletters, white papers and other broad communication platforms
• Participate in industry, research function and innovation councils as appropriate to ensure company’s representation and keeping abreast of state of the art approaches to consumer insight gathering and reporting.
• Create agenda for and lead quarterly management meetings to bring consumer and other actionable insights to the attention of the senior management team
• Proactively seek out, and support efforts by GCI team to lead immersion and innovation projects using the company Innovation Toolkit
• Organize and manage the company program’s as a continuing approach to providing global marketplace and consumer insight
• Contribute to the inculcation of company program into company culture by participating in specific brand efforts going through the process
• Create and help institute a relentlessly repeatable program which allows the consumer, to have a “seat at the table” during product and marketing reviews and decisions

Key Relationships

• Corporate/Senior Management
• Global Brand Teams
• Global Development Teams
• Local Market sales and marketing
• Company Studio and JV Channel
• Ad Agency

Education, knowledge and experience required

• BA required, MBA preferred
• 15 years marketing and business management; market research skill set important
• Understanding of marketing and consumer product sales and business needs and processes; ability to interpret data and research to guide actionable insights

Skills required 

• People management; ability to set and negotiate priorities; important to see and navigate the big picture; budget management; ability to manage multiple relationships in collaborative fashion

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for driving profitable International sales by developing marketing plans and assisting in joint business planning with key sales and distributor partners. Marketing plan development includes implementing brand strategy, sales execution, pricing and merchandising targets and packaging development. This position is the project manager working internally to support International’s new products and projects with key cross functional resources including sales, manufacturing, research and development, brand design and outside agencies. The Manager will lead the development of marketing and sales materials to support field teams and customers with both an online collaboration space and printed materials. Supports design of global promotional activities across regions and brands. Drives cross sharing of best practices on in the areas of promotions, merchandising and point of sale materials.

Primary Duties:

• Drive profitable sales by supporting key JBP initiatives, creating a support network for the field team and working internal processes to support International’s products and projects.
• Create annual key brand plans to use in JBP process-work with BDD’s and BDM’s-work throughout year to achieve sales and profit goals
• Create sales support network of materials and forums for field team
• Spearhead development of global sales toolkit
• Key owner of international portal-develop structure, load material, train organization and evaluate continuously for improvement
• Create best practice point of sale material catalog and vendor network to support global sales teams
• Create best practice promotions idea bank-post online, refresh and advertise internally
• Organize and drive quarterly sales and marketing symposium program to share key brand changes with the team, cross pollinate best practice ideas and drive forum to share ideas between regions
• Support design and implementation of annual global promotions
• Lead connectivity communication plan and support materials development for International’s link to the US brand teams
• Lead internal gate review process and project management for International specific new products, changes to current sku line up and packaging changes
• Key marketing lead for S&OP process for International skus 

Skills Needed:

• 3–5 years combined experience in marketing and sales, MBA is preferred, but not required
• Prefer experience in a consumer packaged goods company
• Experience with consumer and trade marketing translating objectives into functional strategies and tactics
• Substantial experience working with customers and sales teams in joint business planning process
• Proven ability to lead execution of programs and promotions
• Experience in tracking effectiveness of programs and managing P&L metrics
• Experience in working as a project manager in cross functional teams
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to function effectively in a team environment.
• Commitment to results; ability to incorporate new learning into existing plans and act decisively.
• Ability to coordinate high work volume and pressing time requirements.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.

Brand Managers have historically been reliant on Consumer Research such as focus groups and surveys to be “in-touch” with consumers. But in this day of 24/7 access to consumer opinions from blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, Brand Managers need a new approach for understanding why people buy their brands. One of the most powerful ways to do so is through Consumer Collaboration. In its most simplistic form, Consumer Collaboration is about monitoring and participating in the conversations around our brands, listening to changing opinions in real-time. It is about tapping into what Google calls the “Database of Consumer Intentions” to gain a new sense of what our consumers are thinking each and every day. In fact, Google is a company making it easy for marketers to be in touch with the “database of intentions” every day through tools like Wonder Wheel, Insights for Search, Blog Search, and YouTube Insights for Video.

But true Consumer Collaboration is about going beyond that, giving marketers a chance to tap into the passion of consumers and collaborate with brand advocates. The world of digital gives CPG Marketers the chance to harness the energy of consumers to build remarkable brands.

In that regard, the need for moving towards a mindset of Consumer Collaboration is driven by three facts:

1. Consumers are sharing their opinions about the brand, with, or without, a Brand Manager’s blessing.
2. Consumers will be heard whether or not companies give them an outlet.
3. The amount of information about our brands (and access to that information) has never been greater.

To read more visit http://google-cpg.blogspot.com.

If this position does not interest you please let me know of anyone you know who may be qualified for the role.  Also, we receive Sales and Marketing positions at all levels in the CPG industry and would enjoy working with you as well.  To help better understand the full scope of your background please forward your most current resume and any other pertinent information regarding your employment status.  All correspondence is completely confidential. 

Job Summary:

The Brand Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and operation of the brand to ultimately drive sales and consumption.

Primary Duties:
 

1. Working with CCI to Meet Consumer Needs
   1. As the BM you should be the resident expert on your target consumer and the key insights that drive her purchase interest in your brand/category
   2. You should develop plans with the help of CCI to identify key insights, unmet needs that will enable you to grow the business by “delighting” consumers with new ideas (innovation, advertising, etc.)

1. Working with Product Development to Create & Market Innovative Products
   1. The BM should champion the development of superior products to ensure our brands remain #1 in the minds of consumers, and the long term vision for innovation for the brand.
   2. The BM should work in partnership with R&D to develop an innovation plan, ensure we are working on the right priorities, and that we are developing the right positioning/marketing strategies for these ideas.
   3. Critical to this role is ensuring we have the right insights & concepts; that the products developed deliver on these insights; and that the packaging & marketing strategies communicate these insights in a clear/concise manner.
   4. Ensure brand keystone is relevant
2. Working with Category Development to Better meet Customer Needs
   1. While this should be done in partnership with the CDM, the BM should develop strong relationships with key customer teams, buyers, and management.
   2. The BM should include in strategies plans to better meet the needs of these customers & therefore grow his/her business.
3. Managing Up / Establishing Effective Relationships with Sr. Management
   1. The BM is the conduit between the business team and Senior Management. 
   2. He/She must communicate effectively and frequently with Senior Management to ensure alignment within the company to the brand’s vision, strategy, and action plan.
   3. He/She must learn to use Sr. Management as a resource and help his/her people to do the same (know when it is critical to involve/inform Sr. Mgmt; and when not to; Likewise when to filter info/opinions down from Sr. Mgmt to ABMs and when not to).
4. Developing Effective Relationships with Agencies & Key Suppliers
   1. The BM is responsible for developing the relationship with key agency partners and ensuring they are building their knowledge of the brand, its consumers, and its business strategies.
   2. Also responsible for establishing scope of work and annual budget and plans
5. Manage a team of Associate Brand Managers
6. Other duties as assigned

 
Skills Needed:
 

1. MBA preferred with 5–7 years CPG experience in Marketing running a business
2. Demonstrated leadership with cross-functional teams
3. Strategic thinking skills
4. Analytical and problem solving skills
5. Communication skills (written and oral)
6. Creativity
7. Marketing Curiosity
8. Results orientation
9. Multifunctional skill base (financial, operations as well as marketing)
10. Persuasiveness and tenacity to sell ideas
11. High level of initiative and assertiveness

If this position does not interest you please let me know of anyone you know who may be qualified for the role.  Also, we receive Sales and Marketing positions at all levels in the CPG industry and would enjoy working with you as well.  To help better understand the full scope of your background please forward your most current resume and any other pertinent information regarding your employment status.  All correspondence is completely confidential. 

Job Summary:

The overall role of brand management is to create consumer demand for company’s products. The ABM is responsible for formulating the brand’s long-term strategy and developing and executing marketing plans. They define the brand’s pricing, packaging, trade merchandising, advertising and promotion strategies and allocate the budget accordingly. They execute marketing initiatives in support of long term strategies through leadership of the business unit team. They are accountable for delivering the brand’s profit, volume and market share objectives. This position assists the business unit team on assigned brands or will manage smaller brands in all aspects of the P&L.

Primary Duties:

• Closely monitors and analyzes sales volumes, market share trends and competitive activity.
• Develops and executes promotional initiatives to profitably increase consumption within budgeted parameters.
• Continually reviews all elements of the marketing mix, including product formulation, price, packaging and promotion to optimize sales, share, profitability and build brand equity.
• Assists in developing and executing the annual marketing plan to achieve share, volume and profit objectives.
• Coordinates product management and/or cost reduction projects with internal and external resources to achieve results (product development, production planning, trade promotion, sales, market research, consultants and advertising agencies).
• Assures effectiveness of marketing programs by completing post promotion analysis of consumption and shipment data and comparing results to established objectives.
• Leads multifunctional teams in executing key brand initiatives.
• Develops the personal skills and gains functional experience to assume Brand Manager responsibilities.

Skills Needed:

• BS/BA degree in a business related function with 4 years Consumer Products (CPG) Industry experience or MBA with a concentration in Marketing and 1–3 years experience in CPG Industry.
• Demonstrated leadership with cross-functional teams
  Strategic thinking skills
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Communication skills (written and oral)
• Creativity
• Marketing Curiosity
• Results orientation
• Multifunctional skill base (financial, operations as well as marketing)
• Persuasiveness and tenacity to sell ideas
• High level of initiative and assertiveness

By Sara Clemence

Finally, the hours of prospecting, submitting resumes, attending networking events, developing new relationships and attending job fairs have paid off. A company has made you an offer.

Now what?

With hiring activity is picking up, many job-seekers face a new challenge: Nailing down a decent compensation package. Historically, hiring managers and executives have told me that everything is negotiable—but what about today? Many organizations have cut salaries, 401(k) matches, company perks and paid overtime. They are being very conservative about adding new staff. And with the official unemployment rate at 9.7 percent for August, it’s a hyper-competitive job market.

In this environment, you may feel like you’re lucky to get a job offer at all. But you also want to be paid fairly. So how do you cut a good deal? Follow these guidelines.

To read more visit www.RecessionWire.com