Brand Manager

Sofina Foods Europe; Callan; On-site; EUR 58,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

Company Bonus Scheme

Enhanced Sick Pay

Job summary

Sofina Foods is seeking an experienced Brand Manager to shape the Cookstown brand strategy and drive growth across packaging, campaigns and shopper experiences.

Based at the Cookstown site in Northern Ireland, you will collaborate with commercial, category, innovation and agency partners to unlock new opportunities and elevate brand presence. You will lead NPD/EPD, manage campaigns, and analyse performance to inform decisions.

Qualifications

• Experience as Brand Manager or Assistant Brand Manager in FMCG, ideally food.
• Strong knowledge of Irish grocery retail landscape and shopper behaviour.
• Experience using consumer/market data sources such as Kantar, Bord Bia or EPOS.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver annual and long-term brand strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Use consumer, shopper and market insight to identify growth opportunities and shape brand direction.
• Lead branded NPD and EPD projects in partnership with Innovation and Category teams.
• Support integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social and shopper channels.
• Manage agency relationships to deliver high-quality campaigns, content and creative assets.
• Lead packaging development and artwork approval processes across the portfolio.
• Analyse brand, category and retailer performance to support commercial decision-making.
• Support retailer presentations, range reviews and promotional planning with commercial teams.
• Monitor competitor activity, pricing and market trends to identify opportunities and risks.
• Manage digital content calendars and review campaign and social media performance.
• Oversee marketing spend and support ROMI analysis and performance reviews.

Skills

Brand management

FMCG experience

Irish grocery landscape

Data sources (Kantar, Bord Bia, EPOS)

Brand positioning

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing/Business or related

Tools

Kantar

EPOS

Bord Bia data

Job description

Summary

Help Shape the Future of One of Northern Ireland’s Most Iconic Food Brands

Additional Benefits

Car Allowance, Company Bonus Scheme, Enhanced Sick Pay

The Role

Our new Brand Manager will play a key role in shaping the future growth of the Cookstown brand, one of Northern Ireland’s most recognised and loved food brands with over 80% brand awareness and a heritage spanning almost 90 years.

This is an exciting opportunity to help reinvigorate and modernise an iconic local brand, redefining how Cookstown shows up across every consumer touchpoint — from packaging and innovation to social media, campaigns and shopper experiences. Working closely with commercial, category, innovation and agency partners, you’ll help unlock the next phase of growth for a brand already trusted by generations of consumers.

Based at our Cookstown site, this role is ideal for an experienced FMCG Brand Manager or ambitious Assistant Brand Manager ready to step into a broader strategic role within a fast-moving food business.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver annual and long-term brand strategies aligned to business objectives
• Use consumer, shopper and market insight to identify growth opportunities and shape brand direction
• Lead branded NPD and EPD projects in partnership with Innovation and Category teams
• Support integrated marketing campaigns across digital, social and shopper channels
• Manage agency relationships to deliver high-quality campaigns, content and creative assets
• Lead packaging development and artwork approval processes across the portfolio
• Analyse brand, category and retailer performance to support commercial decision-making
• Support retailer presentations, range reviews and promotional planning with commercial teams
• Monitor competitor activity, pricing and market trends to identify opportunities and risks
• Manage digital content calendars and review campaign and social media performance
• Oversee marketing spend and support ROMI analysis and performance reviews

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience in a Brand Manager or Assistant Brand Manager role within FMCG, ideally food
• Strong understanding of the Irish grocery retail landscape and shopper behaviour
• Experience working with consumer and market data sources such as Kantar, Bord Bia or EPOS
• Strong brand-building capability with experience developing positioning, campaigns and brand identity
• Comfortable managing multiple projects and working to tight deadlines
• Confident analysing sales data and translating insights into clear recommendations
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Collaborative approach with experience working cross-functionally and with external agencies
• Curious, proactive and solutions-focused mindset with strong attention to detail
• Degree qualified in Marketing, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent experience

Why Sofina Foods?

Sofina Foods is one of the world’s leading food companies, producing over 500 million meals every year across 40 sites in Canada and Europe. Backed by more than 30 years of industry expertise, we combine the scale of a global business with the entrepreneurial spirit of a fast-moving organisation.

Joining Sofina means becoming part of a business with ambitious growth plans, iconic brands and a culture that encourages fresh thinking, innovation and collaboration. This role offers the chance to work on a household-name brand with genuine heritage, while helping shape what the next generation of Cookstown looks like.

If you are looking for a role where you can make a visible impact, influence brand strategy and help shape the future of food, we’d love to hear from you.

Company Information

Sofina Foods isn't just a food company - It’s a place to build your future.

With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we're passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world.

Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents.

Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career in the food industry, there’s a place for you at Sofina Foods.

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Location

Ireland

Hours of Work

Full-time

Company

Sofina Foods

Country Code

IE