Associate Manager, Product Marketing

We have an exciting opportunity available for an Associate Manager, Product Marketing located at our corporate headquarters in Bloomington, MN.  This individual contributor role works under supervision of senior marking staff, brings product growth strategy to life through menu development and execution including the product offering, pricing and promotional recommendations leading to continued sales growth and customer satisfaction. Under the guidance of their director, manages multiple products, product lines or strategic pillars. Assists in leading and effectively communicating to cross-functional product teams. Keeps projects moving forward. Schedules creative reviews before and after photo shoots. Executes marketing plans, tests and launch activities. Manages and oversees relevant product launches and coordinates launch activities.  Contributes to the development of short and long-term strategic planning for designated aspects of a product category(ies) including product positioning, product roadmaps, etc. With input and coaching from their director, synthesizes information from various sources to create persuasive presentations that move projects forward and drive results.

Key accountabilities include:

Product Test Implementation and Rollout/Launch:

• Under the guidance and oversight of their director, manages multiple products, product lines or strategic pillars (for example, food value or Better Chicken Leadership).
• With guidance from their director, assists in leading and effectively communicating to cross-functional product teams, gaining alignment and using project management skills, including timeline development and timeline management tracking for all product related projects. Keeps projects moving forward, knowing when to elevate decisions to higher management. Utilizes pipeline meetings to keep the broader cross-functional team informed of project status and changes in a timely and accurate manner.  Ensures that affected cross-functional teams (e.g. Operations) are involved and informed at the right time.
• Schedules creative reviews before and after photo shoots with Brand and Creative Services teams
• Executes marketing plans, tests and launch activities. Manages and oversees relevant product launches and coordinates launch activities in conjunction with cross-functional teammates, including oversight of the assigned items featured in the monthly Product Launch Kit.
• Manages in-market tests from store recruiting through to evaluation. If successful, creates, leads and executes plan for system-wide rollout.
• Ensures the timely completion of required internal briefing documents, including project initiation forms for Research & Development department, weekly status reports, and creative assignment forms (POP and advertising).
• Provides timely and accurate communication to Field Marketing team as related to product tests and launches, utilizing pipeline meetings, conference call and various meetings (Ops Leadership, FAC, etc.)
• Creates and maintains a weekly tracking list of product pipelines issues, decisions and next steps.

Brand Strategy and Plan Development

• Assists in the development of short and long-term strategic planning for designated aspects of a product category. Provides meaningful input into the determination of how we would bring a product to market through the internal stage gate process. Typical product planning and research timelines range from 6 months to 2 years.
• Product Positioning: Provides input on how to position a product to market, taking into account how the product will “fit” into consumers’ lives, what makes it consumer-worthy, why the product is better and different. This product positioning is critical to inform the creative marketing team for their later development of strong Creative pieces, such as advertising and POP.
• Articulates the “voice of the consumer” into product and marketing opportunities by reviewing market trends, available secondary research, sales and competitive analysis and validate ideas through online screeners, focus groups and other primary research.
• With guidance and coaching from senior marketing staff, assists in management of consumer research, and utilizes learnings gained through research to develop menu strategies and execute menu plans.

Communications

• With guidance and oversight from their director on how to outline/frame up/sequence messaging, creates presentations for both internal DQ management and franchisee audiences, synthesizing information from various sources and creating persuasive presentations that move projects forward.
• Participates and presents in Franchisee meeting and conference calls. As appropriate and with oversight from their director, presents information to Franchisee Councils.
• Assists team in various ways during Franchisee Advisory Council Meetings, Leadership and franchisee Connect meetings.

Education/Experience:  

• B.A. or B.S. Degree in Marketing or related field, or equivalent combination of work experience and education.
• Minimum of 2-4 years prior Food/Treat/Retail Marketing experience, required.
• Experience working within a franchisor organization, preferably a QSR brand, preferred.

Skills:

• Aptitude to lead cross-functional projects.
• Creative thinker with a track record of developing marketing-related innovative ideas.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to create and successfully drive project plans, to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects and requests simultaneously, within an intense, deadline-driven environment.
• Well organized with a high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Provide excellent customer service to both internal and external clients.
• Ability to work quickly in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment. Ability to coordinate with other departments Concept Support Services, Operations, Legal to complete projects on time.
• Intermediate math skills.

The US national base salary range for this position is $78,135 - $93,761.  The base salary range displayed reflects the targeted hiring range for positions across all US locations. Individual pay is determined by job-related skills, work location and relevant education or experience.