Brand Manager

Johnston Group Inc.; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnston Group is seeking an experienced Brand Manager to lead the evolution and long‑term stewardship of the Chambers Plan brand. Reporting to the VP, Marketing, you will drive positioning, messaging, audience strategy, governance, activation, and performance across internal teams, advisors, Chambers, agencies and partners.

Hybrid work model in Winnipeg, MB with three days in‑office per week. The successful candidate will manage cross‑functional projects, deliver tools and guidance for brand

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Marketing, Business, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of integrated marketing, communications, audience engagement, market research, insights, and performance measurement.
• Experience leading brand initiatives including refreshes, repositioning, launches, or large adoption programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, implementation, and adoption of the Chambers Plan brand refresh in partnership with the agency partner and internal stakeholders.
• Develop rollout plans, priorities, timelines, dependencies, success measures, and risk mitigation approaches.
• Engage regional teams, Chambers, advisors, and other key stakeholders as critical partners in adoption, governance, and long-term stewardship of the Chambers Plan brand.
• Develop tools, guidance, communications, and feedback loops that help stakeholders apply the brand consistently and identify barriers to adoption.
• Translate business objectives into brand priorities, marketing strategies, governance practices, market initiatives, and measurable outcomes.
• Use market research, audience insights, stakeholder feedback, and performance data to identify opportunities that strengthen market position, differentiation, engagement, and growth.
• Serve as a steward of the Chambers Plan brand by maintaining and evolving positioning, messaging frameworks, value propositions, guidelines, standards, governance practices, and decision‑making guardrails.
• Lead cross‑functional alignment by bringing together stakeholders, subject matter experts, creative contributors, and external partners to ensure brand initiatives are clear, coordinated, and connected to business priorities.
• Translate brand strategy into market‑ready programs and projects, from marketing to communications, campaigns, and experiences that support awareness, engagement, acquisition, retention, and partner activation objectives.
• Manage agency and vendor relationships, including briefs, feedback, timelines, deliverables, budgets, and alignment to Chambers Plan brand and business objectives.

Skills

Brand management

Brand strategy

Product marketing

Stakeholder management

Project management

Market research

Audience engagement

Data-driven decisions

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Post-secondary education in Marketing, Business, Communications, Public Relations, or related field

Job description

Johnston Group provides employee benefit solutions to over 30,000 companies, ranging from one employee to thousands across various product lines, including Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, Canada’s #1 employee benefits plan for small businesses. JG is a platinum member of Canada's Best Managed Companies and was named one of Manitoba’s Top Employers. We support a positive work atmosphere where we value the diversity in the people we serve and are looking for talent who will contribute to our diverse and inclusive workplace; where individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. JG believes in giving back and contributes significantly to local health, arts, sports, and other community organizations.

We are looking for an experienced Brand Manager to lead the evolution of one of Canada’s most recognized group benefits programs for small business. Working under the direction of the Vice President, Marketing, this role is responsible for the strategy, management, performance, and ongoing evolution of the Chambers Plan brand.

The immediate focus of this role is leading the rollout and long-term stewardship of the refreshed Chambers Plan brand. As the strategic brand lead, the Brand Manager will drive brand positioning, messaging, audience strategy, governance, activation, and performance to support business growth and engagement. The successful candidate will provide cross-functional leadership, managing projects and working with internal teams, advisors, Chambers, agency partners, and other stakeholders to advance Chambers Plan initiatives.

*Hybrid working model based out of our Winnipeg, MB office, with three days in-office per week

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, implementation, and adoption of the Chambers Plan brand refresh in partnership with the agency partner and internal stakeholders.
• Develop rollout plans, priorities, timelines, dependencies, success measures, and risk mitigation approaches.
• Engage regional teams, Chambers, advisors, and other key stakeholders as critical partners in adoption, governance, and long-term stewardship of the Chambers Plan brand.
• Develop tools, guidance, communications, and feedback loops that help stakeholders apply the brand consistently and identify barriers to adoption.
• Translate business objectives into brand priorities, marketing strategies, governance practices, market initiatives, and measurable outcomes.
• Use market research, audience insights, stakeholder feedback, and performance data to identify opportunities that strengthen market position, differentiation, engagement, and growth.
• Serve as a steward of the Chambers Plan brand by maintaining and evolving positioning, messaging frameworks, value propositions, guidelines, standards, governance practices, and decision‑making guardrails.
• Lead cross‑functional alignment by bringing together stakeholders, subject matter experts, creative contributors, and external partners to ensure brand initiatives are clear, coordinated, and connected to business priorities.
• Translate brand strategy into market‑ready programs and projects, from marketing to communications, campaigns, and experiences that support awareness, engagement, acquisition, retention, and partner activation objectives.
• Manage agency and vendor relationships, including briefs, feedback, timelines, deliverables, budgets, and alignment to Chambers Plan brand and business objectives.

What You Bring:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in brand management, brand strategy, product marketing, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated success in brand management or brand leadership roles with accountability for brand performance and measurable outcomes.
• Experience serving as a primary steward of a brand, including responsibility for brand governance, positioning, messaging, standards, marketing performance, and market impact.
• Experience leading significant brand initiatives such as brand refreshes, rebrands, repositioning efforts, launches, or large‑scale adoption programs. Excellent project management skills and attention to detail are a must.
• Strong understanding of integrated marketing, communications, audience engagement, market research, insights, and performance measurement.
• Ability to influence decisions, build alignment, and lead complex projects through others without direct reporting authority.
• Strong business acumen, communication, presentation, stakeholder management, briefing, planning, and decision‑making capabilities.
• Experience managing agency and partner relationships to achieve business, marketing, and brand objectives.
• Post‑secondary education in Marketing, Business, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience Level

This role is suited to a strategic, commercially minded and outcome‑oriented marketing professional who can balance long‑term brand development with near‑term business priorities. The ideal candidate is collaborative, influential, highly organized, comfortable operating in a changing environment, and able to use data, insights, and market intelligence to guide decisions.

Why Join Johnston Group?

• Work in a collaborative, values‑driven organization with a strong service reputation.
• Contribute to a growing marketing function with increasing focus on brand stewardship, marketing performance, measurable impact, and business‑line support.
• Help shape a major brand refresh from rollout through long‑term adoption, governance, activation, and performance.
• Join a Canadian company with deep roots, national reach, and a long‑standing commitment to employees, partners, and customers.

The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

JG welcomes the opportunity to provide accommodation throughout the selection process. Please contact us to discuss your requirements by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 204-786-0421.