Director - Brand Partnerships & Influencers - (req73505)

Sterling Kohler; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 188,000 - 236,000; Full time

Job summary

Kohler Co. seeks a Director for Brand Partnerships & Influencers to lead North American strategy and influencer programs. Onsite at Kohler, WI, you will develop partnerships, oversee cross-category campaigns, and drive omni-channel activations to grow brand metrics.

You will manage a 5+ person marketing team, guide product strategy, and own budget activation while collaborating with PR, product marketing, design, and sales to deliver compelling consumer experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA in Marketing preferred.
• 10+ years of diverse marketing experience, preferably with lifestyle or consumer goods brands.
• Experience guiding/advising on product strategy in service of brand objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing marketing team (5+ members) and onboard strategic partners.
• Develop and execute omni-channel marketing campaigns across partnerships and cross-category launches.
• Lead contract negotiations and partner onboarding to maximize ROI for Kohler.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive consumer storytelling and activation.

Skills

Bachelor's Degree

MBA in Marketing

Marketing experience

Leadership

Omni-channel marketing

Budget management

Strategic partnerships

Negotiation

Team leadership

Brand strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA in Marketing

Job description

Director - Brand Partnerships & Influencers

Work Mode: Onsite

Location: Onsite - Kohler, WI

Opportunity

T this role leads the development of the North American Strategic Partnership and Influencer strategy and roadmap, as well as delivers on the full omni-channel integrated GTM activation plans in priority kitchen and bath categories as assigned to deliver key brand metrics and business growth plans.

Primary Objectives

• Develops the 3–5-year rolling roadmap for Strategic Partnerships across product collaborations, celebrity/VIP endorsements, sponsorship, and influencer-based amplification in accordance with business goals, brand strategy, our brand values, and the values/insights of the target audience(s).
• Maintains a tight pulse on cultural, industry, and consumer trends in order to identify, onboard, and manage a winning roster of Strategic Partners.
• Leads strategic cross-category marketing strategy and execution (CMFP, Suites/Collections, Cast Iron) including trend expertise, advising on product strategy, launch/campaign GTM, paid/earned/owned media direction, and omni-channel asset development + activation planning and execution.
• Acts as SME for Earned Media across marketing touchpoints.
• Delivers KBNA Business Briefs + Omni-Budget prioritization in areas of responsibility.
• Leads a team of junior to senior marketers, collectively owning the onboarding of all Strategic Partners as well as full GTM and campaign execution for all Partnership and Cross-Category launches.

Specific Responsibilities

• Leads & develops a high-performing team of 5+ Marketers (across Manager & Sr. Manager levels), building best-in-class brand, partner and influencer skills and capabilities within the team while fostering career development and continually curating a diverse team of independent thinkers & doers who drive the brand vision forward and are accountable for brand/business results.
• Inspire, lead, and motivate team through regular feedback, 1:1s, Personal Development Plans, goal/objective setting, & Succession Planning.
• Implement management processes and priorities to ensure the team is as effective as possible to meet business goals.
• Identify gaps in knowledge and skills in the team and build appropriate development solutions.
• Intimately understands brand and product priorities across the full business in order to identify the most compelling opportunities for collaborative partnership, spanning in-line and limited-edition releases, brand or product endorsement, and brand or product influencer amplification.
• Develops a customer-centric, culturally relevant strategic roadmap for assigned categories that inspires and differentiates the Kohler brand while supporting and aligning to overall business objectives and priorities.
• Leads the identification and successful onboarding of a best-in-class roster of Strategic Partners, including leadership of all contract negotiations in order to maximize ROI for Kohler.
• Leads the development and activation of diverse, best-in-class omni-channel marketing campaigns that leverage cultural and interior trends, customer segmentation insights and personalized, strategic communication tools to strengthen storytelling and maximize impact/effectiveness.
• Leads cross-functional teams (i.e. In-House Agency, PR, Product Marketing, Industrial Design, BEVM, Channel Marketing, Sales) to maximize the impact that Strategic Partnerships and Cross-Category launches have on Consumers, Architects, Designers and Retailers.
• Links multiple sources of data and consumer insights to create a cohesive consumer story.
• Collaborates with peers and colleagues across the business (retailer sales, direct sales, finance, and marketing).
• Measures and meaningfully reports on campaign performance to identify trends, insights and optimalization opportunities both within and across team’s campaigns.
• Develops, monitors, and demonstrates an ROI of the marketing budget as assigned, including accountability of performance-driven marketing.

Skills/Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree. MBA in Marketing preferred. 10+ years of diverse marketing experience, preferably with lifestyle or consumer goods brands.
• Ideal candidates have experience guiding/advising on product strategy and development, in service of brand objectives and goals.
• Experience evaluating, critiquing, and collaborating on creative, in partnership with subject matter experts.
• Strong leadership experience managing a broad range of team.
• Experience with a range of marketing channels across paid, earned and owned.
• Quantitative skills with a track record of driving and measuring results across channels.
• Proven ability to assess talent, build talent capabilities, coach/mentor and motivate/inspire a high-performing team.
• Proven ability to manage annual marketing plans, risks, and opportunities.
  Trained in brand strategy development, strategic business planning, and long-term vision + goal setting.
• Proven track record of crafting clear, inspiring, and focused innovation and communications briefs that leads to winning consumer new products and activations.
  Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams to executional excellence in category and customer-facing selling.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with experience in influencing and getting results in a highly matrixed environment, exposure to a global brand-building matrixed organizations, and ability to effectively communicate at all levels of organization.

Travel

• Travel to partner meetings, events, trade shows, customer visits and training as needed, approximately 20%.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period. The salary range for this position is $163,950 - $260,350. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.

Why Choose Kohler?

We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us

It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail]. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

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