Senior Associate Brand Manager

Senior Associate Brand Manager – Kerrygold

Report To: Senior Brand Manager

Location: Evanston, IL

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Role Overview

Ornua is undergoing explosive growth in North America. In response to this growth, we are building the brand team for the future with the addition of expanded general management brand capabilities on the team. This senior associate brand manager would play a key role in shaping the future of the Kerrygold business in the U.S. and in building out new capabilities on the team. It’s a great opportunity for a candidate who has learned fundamentals of P&L management, consumption reporting, brand management, and wants high visibility with the ability to influence and drive change.

Company Background

Ornua is a dairy co-operative which sells dairy products on behalf of its members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. It is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, exporting to 110 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has annualised sales of over €3.5 billion and a global team of 3,000 employees.

Ornua is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. We operate from 10 business units worldwide, including 16 production facilities, and have sales and marketing teams working in-market across the globe in Africa, Asia, Germany, Ireland, the Middle East, Spain, the UK, and the US.

You may know us by our brands Kerrygold, Dubliner, Pilgrim’s Choice, Avantage, Forto, and BEO.

Ornua’s Values

At Ornua, our Values lie at the core of everything that we do and how we behave both individually and as a business. Our five values, and their underlying behaviours, encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care and Achieve Great Things Together.

Ornua’s Growth

At Ornua, our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business. We care passionately about driving sustainable, profitable growth, underpinned by our ambitious ‘Path to Prosper’ strategy. We have delivered significant growth in our core business, and we have ambitious plans for continued growth over the next five years.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the senior brand manager, the senior associate brand manager will 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. Translate data into opportunities or actions, and implement action plan 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.

Desired Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred

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

• 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

Total Rewards at Ornua Foods Americas will include a competitive salary and annual bonus. The following are some of the benefits you can avail of: 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. The salary range for this role is $120,000 to 135,000, the successful candidate will be offered within a range, depending on experience.

Ornua is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants must be authorized to work for in the U.S.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS: 5/23/2025

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