Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy

SCONZA CANDY CO; Oakdale (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) with company match

Vacation

11 paid holidays per year

Job summary

SCONZA CANDY CO seeks a commercially minded marketing leader to own strategy and brand direction. Reporting to the President & CEO, you will build a growth-focused plan across consumer, retail, e-commerce, and contract manufacturing, shaping packaging, positioning, and guest experiences.

You will drive innovation with product teams and partner with Sales on key growth initiatives. You bring 10–15 years in progressive marketing roles, including leadership, with expertise in CPG or confectionery,

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of progressive marketing experience with leadership responsibility.
• Experience in consumer-focused sectors such as CPG, food, or confectionery.
• Proven ability to build brands and execute multi-channel marketing strategies.
• Strong consumer insights and ability to translate them into action.
• Experience with product launches, packaging, go-to-market strategies, digital marketing, and e-commerce.
• Detail-oriented budget, agency, analytics, and martech management.
• Analytical yet creative with excellent written communication.
• Ability to operate from strategy to hands-on execution and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an integrated marketing strategy across consumer, retail, e-commerce, wholesale, private-label, and contract manufacturing.
• Strengthen brand positioning, identity, voice, packaging, and consumer experience.
• Partner with Product Development, Sales, Operations and leadership on innovation and go-to-market plans.
• Collaborate with Sales to generate demand and identify new commercial opportunities.
• Own websites, e-commerce, social media, email and content; define KPIs and improve performance.
• Establish marketing analytics and ROI framework to guide resource allocation.

Skills

Marketing leadership

Brand building

Go-to-market strategies

Digital marketing

E-commerce

Analytics

Budget management

Communication skills

Job description

Join a Legacy of Sweet Innovation

Since 1939, Sconza Chocolates has been creating confections that bring people together. As a fourth-generation, family‑owned company, we combine 87 years of craftsmanship and industry experience with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for innovation.

Sconza is one of the country's leading private‑label confectionery manufacturers, trusted by major retailers and customers nationwide. We are also investing in our own brands, new products, digital capabilities, and people as we enter an exciting new chapter of growth.

We are looking for a Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy to help lead that next chapter.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy will own Sconza's marketing and brand strategy and play a significant role in shaping the company's future.

This is a senior, highly visible, hands‑on leadership position for a marketer who understands that great marketing isn't simply about creating beautiful campaigns - it is about building brands, creating demand, supporting customers, and driving profitable growth.

The Director will have ownership of:

• Marketing strategy and annual marketing plans
• Brand strategy and positioning
• Packaging and brand presentation
• Marketing budget and ROI
• Agency and creative partner relationships
• Digital marketing, e‑commerce, social media, and content
• Marketing analytics and performance measurement

The role will also have significant influence on product development and innovation, including consumer insights, product positioning, naming, packaging, go‑to‑market strategy, and commercialization.

The Director will work closely with the Sales Leader to identify growth opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, develop compelling customer programs, and translate market insights into commercial opportunities.

This is an opportunity to make a visible impact on an established American company while helping shape what the next generation of Sconza looks like.

What You'll Do

Build the Marketing Strategy

Develop and lead an integrated marketing strategy that supports Sconza's growth objectives across consumer, retail, e‑commerce, wholesale, private‑label, and contract manufacturing businesses.

Build the Brand

Strengthen Sconza's brand positioning, identity, voice, storytelling, packaging, and consumer experience across every important touchpoint.

Drive Innovation

Partner closely with Product Development, Sales, Operations, and executive leadership to identify opportunities, bring consumer insights into innovation, and develop compelling go‑to‑market strategies for new products.

Partner With Sales

Work as a strategic partner to the Sales Leader to generate demand, support customer acquisition, and identify new commercial opportunities.

Lead Digital & Content

Own the strategy and performance of Sconza's websites, e‑commerce, social media, email, content, and other digital channels. Establish meaningful KPIs and continuously improve performance.

Measure What Matters

Develop a disciplined approach to marketing analytics and ROI. Use data, consumer insights, and market intelligence to make better decisions and focus resources on the opportunities with the greatest potential.

Lead the Function

Own the marketing budget, manage agency and creative relationships, lead the marketing team, establish priorities, and create a culture of creativity, accountability, collaboration, and measurable results.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a commercially minded marketing leader who combines strategic vision with exceptional execution.

You are likely someone who:

• Has 10 - 15 years of progressive marketing experience, including meaningful leadership responsibility.
• Has experience in CPG, food, beverage, confectionery, or another consumer‑focused industry.
• Has successfully built brands and executed multi‑channel marketing strategies.
• Understands consumer behavior and knows how to turn insights into action.
• Has experience with product launches, packaging, go‑to‑market strategy, digital marketing, and e‑commerce.
• Is a detailed manager of budgets, agencies, analytics, and marketing technology.
• Is highly analytical but equally creative.
• Writes and communicates exceptionally well.
• Can move comfortably between high‑level strategy and hands‑on execution.
• Builds strong relationships across Sales, Product Development, Operations, and executive leadership.
• Is entrepreneurial, curious, accountable, and energized by the opportunity to build something meaningful.

Most importantly, you understand that marketing is a business function - not simply a communications function.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12 months, you will have:

• Established a clear and measurable marketing and brand strategy.
• Strengthened Sconza's brand positioning and market presence.
• Created a disciplined framework for measuring marketing performance and ROI.
• Improved the effectiveness of digital, e‑commerce, social, and content marketing.
• Built a strong strategic partnership with Sales.
• Become a trusted voice in product development and innovation.
• Established a repeatable go‑to‑market process for new products.
• Identified and executed meaningful opportunities to generate incremental revenue and strengthen brand equity.
• Built a high‑performing marketing function capable of supporting Sconza's next stage of growth.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $170,000 - $195,000 annually

This position is eligible for an annual performance‑based incentive with a target opportunity of 15% of base salary.

Sconza offers a competitive benefits program including:

• Full medical and dental coverage
• 401(k) with company match and discretionary company contribution
• 100% immediate vesting
• Vacation
• 11 paid holidays per year

Why Sconza?

At Sconza, your work won't disappear into layers of corporate bureaucracy.

You'll work directly with the President & CEO and alongside leaders across Sales, Product Development, Operations, and Finance. You'll see your ideas become products, packaging, customer programs, digital experiences, and brands that reach consumers across the country.

You'll have the opportunity to join an established, successful family‑owned company - and help determine what its next 87 years look like.