Lead Category Brand Manager

United Confectioners LLC is 16 factories, 11 direct sales branches, and 120 "Alenka" branded stores across the country. We produce brands loved by millions: "Babaevsky", "Rot Front", "Krasny Oktyabr", "Alenka", "Vdohnovenie", and over 3500 types of sweets.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the "boxed chocolates" category brands. Factories and namesake brands within the "United Confectioners" holding – "Krasny Oktyabr", "Rot Front", "Babaevsky", etc. Your main goal is to increase market share in the premium and mid-price segments of the "boxed chocolates" category.
• Manage the portfolio of entrusted brands and SKUs. • SKU-level sales analysis. Initiation of portfolio adjustments. • Pricing and margin accounting. • Initiation and control of improvements to the current product portfolio.
• New Product Development (NPD) – full cycle. • Idea generation: from "bourbon truffle" to a book-shaped box or a blogger collaboration. • Development of launch schedules, NPD development. Direct involvement and control at all stages of the launch from idea to shelf. • Presentation of new products to the sales department and other departments.
• Analytics. • Weekly monitoring of internal Sell-in and Sell-out sales. • Analysis of databases, including Nielsen: market share, changes, trends, competitor price monitoring. • General analysis of the confectionery market and category, trends, tastes, formats. • Participation in the formation of the category marketing strategy. • Conducting research.
• Marketing Communications (ATL / BTL) • Regular development of concepts for key seasons: New Year, February 23rd, March 8th, May 9th, etc.). Assigning tasks to designers in the form of briefs. • Assigning tasks to the merchandising department: product placement at checkouts, in additional sales locations.

Candidate Requirements:

• Education: Higher education. Fields: Marketing, Management, Economics.
• Experience: 3+ years in FMCG as a Brand Manager. Experience in confectionery categories is an advantage.
• Analytics: Excel – advanced user level (pivot tables, formulas). Experience with Nielsen. PPT – confident user.
• Project Management: Experience in managing a full product launch cycle in a multitasking environment. Strong time management skills.
• Budgeting and Strategic Planning: Experience in managing and controlling marketing budgets. Experience in developing brand and/or category strategies.
• Qualities needed daily: strategic thinking, creativity, flexibility in finding solutions, taste and style, assortment portfolio management skills, leadership. • Qualities that will facilitate work processes: communication skills, teamwork, attention to detail.

Conditions:

• Working hours: 5/2, Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00, Sunday is a day off;
• Office within walking distance of Paveletskaya metro station;
• Free parking spaces;
• Corporate discounts on products from the "Alenka" branded chain;
• New Year's gifts for employees' children;
• Corporate gifts for February 23rd and March 8th.