Brand Strategy Manager

Heartland Food Products Group; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Heartland Food Products Group in Carmel, Indiana, is seeking an experienced Senior Brand Manager to lead brand and category strategies across Sweeteners and Nutrition, Coffee & Ready-to-Drink. The role focuses on turning consumer insights into growth plans and partnering closely with Sales and external partners to drive commercial success.

You will collaborate with Sales, Insights, Innovation, Finance, and Operations to translate customer needs into actionable plans, delivering sustainable

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree and 5 years of brand strategy experience within consumer food products.
• Experience in sweeteners, nutrition, coffee, beverages, or ready-to-drink consumer categories.
• Prior Sales experience or a proven track record of partnering with Sales and presenting directly to customers.
• Strong understanding of consumer-packaged goods, category management, and brand-building principles.
• Ability to synthesize data and insights into clear, actionable growth strategies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead brand strategy, annual planning, and execution for assigned brands and categories.
• Develop and implement consumer-led marketing, positioning, innovation, packaging, and activation strategies.
• Use consumer, customer, category, and competitive insights to identify growth opportunities and inform decisions.
• Partner with Sales to develop customer strategies, selling stories, presentations, and commercial plans.
• Present to customers as a strategic partner alongside the Sales team, when needed.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to bring programs, innovation, and go-to-market initiatives to market successfully.
• Monitor business performance and adjust strategy to achieve financial and brand objectives.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external agency partners.

Skills

Brand strategy

Sales collaboration

Presentation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Heartland Food Products Group is a Carmel, Indiana–based consumer packaged goods company focused on sugar reduction, better-for-you beverages, and wellness-oriented food products. The company develops, manufactures, and markets low- and no-calorie sweeteners, liquid water enhancers, coffee products, creamers, beverage concentrates, nutritional beverages, and related private-label offerings.

Our best-known brand is Splenda®, and our portfolio also includes Java House® cold brew coffee and SlimFast®. Heartland serves retail, foodservice, e-commerce, business-to-business, contract-manufacturing, and private-label channels, with products distributed internationally across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

In May 2026, Heartland announced a definitive agreement to acquire Whole Earth Brands’ Americas business, which includes the Equal®, Whole Earth®, Swerve®, and Chuker® brands. The acquisition expands Heartland’s sweetener and wellness portfolio across North America and Latin America.

Brand Strategy Manager

Heartland Food Products Group is seeking experienced, strategic, Senior Brand Managers to lead key consumer food and beverage categories. This role offers the opportunity to shape brand strategy, innovation, commercial execution, and long-term category growth.

Senior Brand Managers support category groups:

• Sweeteners: Splenda, Equal, Whole Earth, and Swerve
• Nutrition, Coffee & Ready-to-Drink: SlimFast, Java House, and Ready-to-Drink categories

Position Summary

The Brand Manager will own the development and execution of brand and category strategies that drive sustainable growth. This role will partner closely with Sales, Insights, Innovation, Finance, Operations, and external partners to translate consumer and customer needs into actionable plans. Reports directly to Senior Brand Strategy Manager for the category.

The ideal candidate combines strong consumer brand strategy experience with commercial acumen, and the ability to partner effectively with Sales in customer-facing settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead brand strategy, annual planning, and execution for assigned brands and categories.
• Develop and implement consumer-led marketing, positioning, innovation, packaging, and activation strategies.
• Use consumer, customer, category, and competitive insights to identify growth opportunities and inform decisions.
• Partner with Sales to develop customer strategies, selling stories, presentations, and commercial plans.
• Present to customers as a strategic partner alongside the Sales team, when needed.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to bring programs, innovation, and go-to-market initiatives to market successfully.
• Monitor business performance and adjust strategy to achieve financial and brand objectives.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external agency partners.

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree and 5 years of brand strategy experience within consumer food products.
• Experience in sweeteners, nutrition, coffee, beverages, or ready-to-drink consumer categories.
• Prior Sales experience or a proven track record of partnering with Sales and presenting directly to customers.
• Strong understanding of consumer-packaged goods, category management, and brand-building principles.
• Ability to synthesize data and insights into clear, actionable growth strategies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, collaboration, and leadership skills.

This role is 100% in office at our Carmel, Indiana Corporate headquarters.