Associate Brand Manager

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, headquartered in Walnut Creek, is seeking an Associate Brand Manager to drive brand performance and consumer engagement. You will own key brand activities end-to-end, activate insights, and collaborate across product development, sales, shopper marketing, and operations to generate demand.

You’ll lead with consumer focus, manage brand plans, and support NPD projects, working within a dynamic Marketing Team to deliver impactful campaigns and innovations.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in Marketing or related field; MBA preferred but not necessary.
• 1–2 years Brand Marketing experience in Consumer Goods is preferred.
• Experience leading marketing communications projects including digital and media strategies.

Responsibilities

• Own brand activities end-to-end to drive brand performance in line with sales and share goals.
• Activate distinctive consumer insights to build engaging brand experiences.
• Collaborate with product development, sales, shopper marketing, operations and finance to generate demand.
• Serve as a quality champion and advocate for the brand.

Skills

Brand marketing

Cross-functional leadership

Digital + media strategies

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Marketing or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Are you looking to catapult your career by driving high-impact transformation with household brands? Do you crave an entrepreneurial, fast paced and engaging growth assignment working with incredible people from across the globe?

At Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, we are excited to start a new chapter of accelerated growth as part of Froneri – a global pure-play ice cream leader. With nearly 100 years of winning experience in the U.S, a robust portfolio of powerhouse brands that consumers know and love such as Häagen-Dazs, Drumstick, Dreyer’s/Edy’s, Skinny Cow, OREO®, Outshine and Frollies, and the backing and coaching of European-based ice cream experts, we know we have the winning recipe.

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, the Bay Area’s hub for up-and-coming food trends, our DGIC team across our offices and factories is raising the bar on all things ice cream. Our growth has been tremendous in the past few years – moving from being #2 manufacturer in market to being #1 in 2024.The brands have strong investments in marketing support, quality improvements and exciting line extensions and innovation. DGIC has also been recognized by retail partners as the top manufacturer partner, winning the #1 position in the prestigious Advantage Award in 2024.

At DGIC, we don’t just hire for roles, we grow future business leaders. Here, everyone is encouraged to think like a general manager. That means owning your piece of the business, making bold decisions, and seeing the big picture. What makes us unique? You won’t just stay in your lane, you’ll get hands‑on exposure to everything from Sales, Marketing and operations to Finance and Supply Chain. It’s like getting an MBA on the job (but with way more ice cream). If you’re curious, driven, and ready to learn a lot about a lot, this is the place to stretch your skills and fast‑track your career.

UnleashyourpotentialatDreyer’sGrandIceCreamanddiscoverwhatasweetcareerwehaveinstoreforyou!

WhattoexpectfromDreyer's

Attheheartofourculturearefourcorevaluesthatguideouractionsanddefinehowweworktogether.WeTakeOwnershipbystayingcommittedfromstarttofinish,makingthoughtfuldecisions,andfocusingoureffortsoninitiativesthatdrivegrowth,efficiency,andsustainability.WeDoWhatIsRightbyprioritizingtransparency,settingclearrolesandresponsibilities,andspeakingupwhensomethingdoesn’talignwithourvalues.WeSeektoImprovethroughcontinuousinnovation,embracingfeedback,andlearningfrombothoursuccessesandsetbacks.AndWeAreBetterTogetherbymakingdecisionsthatbenefitthewholeorganization,fosteringinclusionthroughdiverseperspectives,andtreatingeveryonewithfairnessandrespect.Thesevaluesarenotjustideals—theyarethebehaviorswelivebyeveryday.

Importantly – what does it mean for our marketing talent? As part of our talented Marketing Team, you will see why we drive such strong business growth – it’s how we do our work. What you can expect as part of our Marketing team:

• Ownershipofyourprojects
• Fastdecisionmaking
• Accesstotheleadershipteamonaregularbasis
• Deepunderstandingofwhatittakestomakeourincredibleicecreamwithfactoryvisits,flavorcamps(whenwedevelopnewflavors),factorytrialsandmore
• Participationandinvolvementacrossmarketingcampaigns,fromproductshootstosamplingeventstocommercialproductionandmore

Job Summary and Mission

The Associate Brand Manager position contributes to brand success by being responsible for execution of key brand activities that drive brand performance in line with Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream sales and share goals. This role takes ownership and leads brand activities end-to-end as an advocate for the consumer.

The Associate Brand Manager's role is to drive the performance, equity, and share of our brands by activating distinctive consumer insights. In this role, you enable the team to know its consumer deeply and build engaging brand experiences. This role supports the brand innovation activities by collaborating with product development, sales, shopper marketing, operations and financeto generate demand. This role also serves as a key quality champion and activist for the brand, providing insights and leading actions that maintain and/or improve the product experience with consumers.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

Brand Stewardship

• Be a champion for our consumer: Use marketplace data and trends to support developing a deeper understanding of the demographics, psychographics, and behavioral drivers of our consumers
• Support the build of annualbrand plans: Use brand, consumer and marketplace data and trends to support in developing annual plans to generate optimal demand for the brand and sustain long-term brand health including equity, awareness and engagement
• Flawless execution: Execute brand plans to achieve sales and market share goals, relentlessly examine performance and optimize real time
• Understand retail environment & how to best win at key customers/channels: Champion brand at key retailers to maximize results, with lens toward driving competitive advantage and effectiveness of trade and marketing spending, with a bias for action to drive stronger performance versus competition.
• Communications: Partner with brand manager in the development and execution of communication plans across all communications channels. Lead initiatives of the tactical communication plan (ie: print, paid social, programmatic, etc) around specific touchpoints or consumer targets including agency and cross-functional team management, strategy, planning, execution and results measurement.
• Packaging design: Support packaging design and implementation as needed for renovation, innovation, quality improvements
• Manage day-to-day brand budget: Ensure strong attention to detail, and active pursuit of savings and optimization
• Be an advocate for the brand internally and externally: Prepare, present and sell-in aspects of the brand plan to management, cross-functional partners and external stakeholders
• Innovation: Lead and support all new product development (NPD) projects from end to end, weighing and prioritizing quality, voice of consumer and business impact. Partner with key cross-functional teams to commercialize NPD projects

Basic Qualifications

• BS/BA in Marketing or related field; MBA preferred but not necessary
• 1-2 years Brand Marketing experience. Strong preference for Consumer Goods (CPG) exposure
• Experience leading marketing communication projects including digital and media strategies
• Strong drive for results including: strong leadership, decision-making and analytical skills, effective communication skills, ability to think strategically, self-motivation, and a passion for the consumer
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams and agency partners
• Experience developing brand/product plans, such as communication campaigns and commercialization strategies
• Ability to influence and lead others, including those outside of the Marketing function
• Passion for identifying consumer insights and transforming them into significant product and marketing innovation
• Ability to translate critical thinking into strong business results
• Deep understanding of key P&L drivers
• Quantitative strength in analyzing data and synthesizing learning into insights and action

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Apply knowledge of multidisciplinary business principles and practices to achieve successful outcomes in cross-functional projects and activities
• Attention to detail, be in the details
• Set priorities, meet deadlines and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Work independently and make decisions with minimal supervision
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with a high level of professionalism and composure
• Knowledge of general office administration, procedures and equipment including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong sense of urgency, even when managing initiatives with long lead times
• Adaptability and flexibility to meet changing priorities and adjust to different management styles

The pay scale for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The pay scale disclosed below has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The pay range for prospective employees in this role is between $100,000 and $115,000 per year.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.