Senior Brand Manager VMS

STADA Thornton & Ross; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Annual bonus scheme

Free winter flu jab

Wellbeing support

Electric Car Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Enhanced Family Leave

Job summary

STADA UK Thornton & Ross is seeking a Senior Brand Manager for VMS (Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements) in Reading. You will shape long-term brand strategy, own activation across channels, and lead cross-functional teams to drive growth and profitability.

You will partner with Marketing, Digital, Insights, Sales, Medical, Regulatory, Supply and Finance to deliver consumer-centric plans, oversee NPD/renovation, and accelerate portfolio performance in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field.
• 4+ years of FMCG or Consumer Health experience is preferred.
• Strong executional capability with a track record of delivering brand growth.
• High energy, hands-on approach with a growth mindset.
• Strong analytical capability with comfort in data, digital, insights and performance metrics.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen with understanding of P&L drivers.
• Creative, ownership-driven mindset with resilience in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead 360 brand management and portfolio leadership.
• Develop long-term brand strategies and annual brand plans with consumer-centric focus.
• Own activation roadmap across ATL, BTL, digital, PR, shopper and e-commerce.
• Drive portfolio prioritisation, resource allocation and scenario planning.
• Oversee day-to-day brand execution and empower Brand Managers.
• Monitor competitive dynamics and shape brand positioning and category strategy.
• Own brand P&L and A&P budget strategy with ROI focus.
• Lead monthly performance reviews and translate data into strategic recommendations.
• Build dashboards and reporting frameworks for visibility and agility.
• Partner with Sales to optimise promotional strategy and distribution opportunities.
• Influence strategy across global teams and secure resources.

Skills

Brand management

Portfolio leadership

Cross-functional leadership

P&L management

Analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Business/Communications

Tools

Digital analytics

Job description

STADA UK Thornton & Ross is on an exciting growth journey with more than 700 employees being fully committed to our purpose of Caring for People’s Health as a Trusted Partner. Together we are shaping the future of Thornton & Ross by living our values of Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Agility and One STADA. If you want to work in an open culture where your uniqueness is valued, join our CHC Marketing Team.

STADA UK Thornton & Ross – Senior Brand Manager VMS (Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements)

Reading | U.K. | Full-time | Permanent

Role Purpose

The Senior Brand Manager VMS plays a critical role within STADA UK’s CHC Marketing organization at a time of accelerated growth, portfolio expansion, and increasing strategic ambition. This role is responsible for shaping and delivering the long‑term brand and portfolio strategy, driving in‑market excellence, and unlocking sustainable growth through superior execution, insight‑led decision‑making, and cross‑functional leadership. Acting as a key business partner to Marketing, Digital, Insights, Sales, Medical, Regulatory, Supply and Finance, you will lead the development of brand strategies, oversee major initiatives, and elevate marketing culture and capabilities across the organization.

How You Will Make Impact

• 360 Brand management & Portfolio leadership
• Lead the development of long‑term brand strategies and annual brand plans, ensuring a clear, insight‑driven, consumer‑centric approach.
• Own the full activation roadmap across ATL, BTL, digital, PR, shopper, and e‑commerce, ensuring integration, consistency, and excellence.
• Drive portfolio prioritisation, resource allocation, and scenario planning to maximize growth and profitability.
• Oversee day‑to‑day brand execution while empowering Brand Managers to deliver with autonomy and accountability.
• Monitor competitive dynamics and proactively shape brand positioning and category strategy.
• Performance, Analytics and Commercial Ownership
• Own full brand P&L and A&P budget strategy and investment decisions, ensuring optimal ROI and alignment with business priorities.
• Lead monthly performance reviews with cross‑functional teams, translating data into clear strategic recommendations.
• Build and refine performance dashboards and reporting frameworks to improve visibility, agility, and decision‑making.
• Partner with Sales to strengthen customer‑facing narratives, optimise promotional strategy, and unlock distribution opportunities.
• Demonstrate strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of P&L drivers, pricing, and profitability levers.
• Innovation, Renovation & Pipeline Acceleration
• Contribute to innovation strategy for the portfolio, from opportunity identification to concept development and business case ownership.
• Oversee NPD/EPD projects, ensuring cross‑functional alignment, on‑time delivery, and launch excellence.
• Shape the medium‑term innovation roadmap in partnership with global teams, ensuring relevance for the UK market.
• Drive post‑launch evaluation and continuous optimisation of innovation performance.
• Identify lifecycle management opportunities to strengthen brand equity and accelerate growth.
• Cross‑Functional leadership and Stakeholders Management
• Act as senior project lead across Sales, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Medical, Finance, and external agencies.
• Ensure clarity of roles, timelines, and deliverables across all brand initiatives, driving accountability and pace.
• Build strong relationships with global teams to influence strategy, secure resources, and share best practices.
• Represent the brand and portfolio in key business forums, providing clear, data‑driven recommendations to leadership.
• Elevate ways of working by embedding One STADA processes, performance culture, and marketing excellence frameworks.
• Capability Building & Team Development
• Contribute to building a high‑performance marketing culture grounded in curiosity, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example with a positive, hands‑on, entrepreneurial mindset.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and capability‑building initiatives within the marketing team.
• Coach and mentor Brand Managers, supporting their development in strategy, analytics, and cross‑functional leadership.

What We Are Looking For

You will bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field (preferred).
• 4+ years of experience in FMCG or Consumer Health (strong advantage).
• Strong executional capability, with the ambition to deliver best‑in‑class brand building.
• High energy, hands‑on approach, and a positive, growth‑oriented mindset.
• Strong analytical capability and comfort working with digital, insights, and performance data.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen, with an understanding of P&L drivers.
• A creative, “think outside the box” mindset combined with a strong sense of ownership.
• Resilience and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to influence, lead cross‑functional teams, and manage multiple stakeholders.

How We Care For You

At Thornton & Ross our purpose “Caring for people’s health as a trusted partner” motivates us every day. And what would be a better place than starting with our own employees. Which is why we give much in return:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus scheme.
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme offering 8% employer contribution rates.
• Hybrid working – we spend three days of your choice in the office, with the remaining days working at home.
• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays with the potential to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Free winter flu jab.
• Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme and KYAN Wellbeing – offering free coaching and counselling services for you and your family.
• Electric Car Scheme through Octopus Energy, plus free on‑site EV charging.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Enhanced Family Leave.
• Plus, many more employee benefits & celebration events.

STADA Group values and promotes its diverse culture, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic origin, disabilities, religion, ideology, or sexual orientation. We use the strength of our uniqueness to develop creative ideas, expand our experience and increase innovative strength. Our focus is on equal opportunities, respectful cooperation, and the promotion of an inclusive working environment. We are looking forward to your application and welcome applications without a pharmaceutical background.