BRAND ACTIVATION & MERCHANDISING MANAGER

Bon Appétit Management Company; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Bon Appétit Management Company is seeking a Brand Activation & Merchandising Manager for Boston, MA. You’ll work with the Image + Style team to bring the Bon Appétit brand to life, partnering with regional teams to create memorable guest experiences and drive participation and revenue.

Field presence 3–4 days a week, guiding teams, managing design projects, and ensuring brand standards across cafes and client locations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of experience in marketing, communications or PR in a restaurant or foodservice setting.
• BA or BS in Marketing, Communications, PR or Journalism preferred.
• Very strong writing skills with attention to grammar and spelling.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Jira, Canva, Adobe Acrobat and WordPress.
• Experience managing design processes and reading web analytics is a plus.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel by plane.

Responsibilities

• Activate our brand internally and externally through programs and customer experience initiatives.
• Manage small-scale design projects with our design team for account needs.
• Collaborate on creative customer experience initiatives to build satisfaction, participation and revenue.
• Visit accounts and support on-site teams with brand activation and client needs, including travel.
• Provide front-of-house and culinary support: café layouts and training.
• Partner with Merchandising to establish the brand look on-site with culinary teams.
• Develop strategies to promote existing and new locations.
• Influence units to implement GE4 brand standards.
• Guide accounts in business planning and report results.
• Review on-site content for design, grammar and brand voice.

Skills

Strong writing

Interpersonal skills

Public speaking

Organized & detail-oriented

Creative & proactive

Problem-solving

Education

BA/BS in Marketing/Communications/PR/Journalism

Tools

Microsoft Office

Jira

Canva

Adobe Acrobat

WordPress

Job description

Position Title

BRAND ACTIVATION & MERCHANDISING MANAGER - BOSTON, MA

Salary

$95000 - $105000 / yr

Other Forms of Compensation

Our Passion is Food!

About Bon Appetit

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Employee Referral Bonus

This position is eligible for an Employee Referral Bonus! If you know someone that is qualified for this role, please use the 'job search' in PeopleHub to refer your referral and email them a link to apply. Your referral will be able to apply by clicking the link in the email. You can check the status through your profile, accessible via Careers in PeopleHub, by clicking on 'referral tracking.' For Employee Referral guidelines, FAQs and the Compass Employee Referral Policy, email [e-mail].

Job Summary

About the Role

Bon Appétit is known for food made with care, and we're looking for a Brand Activation & Merchandising Manager who lives and breathes great food experiences. As a key member of the Image + Style team, you'll work closely with our regional team to bring the Bon Appétit brand to life, creating experiences that delight guests and clients, grow participation and revenue, and drive exceptional client partnerships.

You’ll be out in the field 3-4 days a week, partnering with on‑site culinary and front‑of‑house teams to turn brand vision into something guests can see, taste, and feel. You'll guide others, and get hands‑on yourself when a project calls for it. We live by "automate the predictable, so we can humanize the exceptional," and we'd love for you to help us do exactly that.

What You’ll Do

• Activate our brand internally through people programs and externally through customer experience initiatives (WOWS)
• Use our activation toolkit and manage small-scale design projects with our professional design team for account-specific needs
• Collaborate with the Image + Style team on creative customer experience initiatives that build satisfaction, participation, and revenue
• Visit accounts regularly and support on‑site teams with brand activation initiatives and client needs, including account openings (some travel by plane outside your region and state)
• Provide front‑of‑house and culinary support: unpack smallwares, create café diagrams, and train teams on correct café layouts
• Partner with Merchandising to share trends and new ideas with the field and establish the "look" of the front of house in step with on‑site culinary teams
• Recommend fresh ideas to refresh on‑site experiences and support account retention
• Develop strategies and tactics to promote existing and new locations
• Inspire units to bring Great Expectations 4 (GE4) brand standards to life
• Guide accounts in building business plans, and help teams plan, execute, and report on results
• Review on‑site content for design, grammar, and Bon Appétit brand voice
• Help prepare and present activation projects for client quarterly reviews
• Surface opportunities for mass‑level projects and help build smarter, more efficient systems

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Passion for great food and food experiences, basic culinary and hospitality knowledge, and an interest in sustainability
• Minimum 4 years of experience in marketing, communications, or public relations, at an agency or in‑house for a restaurant or foodservice operation
• BA or BS in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or Journalism preferred
• Very strong writing skills, with a sharp eye for grammar and spelling
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Jira, Canva, Adobe Acrobat, and WordPress
• Creative, strategic, and proactive in spotting and capturing growth opportunities
• Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills, and comfort working with clients
• Organized, detail‑oriented, and self‑motivated, able to work independently and problem‑solve
• Experience managing the design process and reading web analytics tools is a plus
• Valid driver's license (minimum Class C), and ability to travel by plane, rideshare, and rental car

Why Join Us

Bon Appétit is a growth‑oriented organization committed to sustainability and equal growth opportunities for all associates. You'll be part of a creative team, with real influence over how guests experience our brand. As part of Compass Group, you'll have the resources of a global foodservice leader behind your ideas.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Bon Appetit

Kendra Walcott‑Dasent