Marketing Manager

Gilder Search Group; Salem (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a Marketing Manager for a growing food manufacturer in the Greater Boston area. You will build and lead the marketing function, reporting directly to the CEO, and shape strategy for product innovation, market insights, and private label growth.

You will drive market research, support product development and commercialization, and expand into new geographies and channels in a hands-on leadership role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive marketing experience within the food industry.
• Experience in food manufacturing, CPG, private label, or co-manufacturing environments.
• Private label experience required.
• Strong market research, analytics, and category insights capabilities.
• Experience with syndicated market data such as Nielsen, IRI, SPINS, or similar.
• Experience supporting product development, commercialization, launches, and sales enablement.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, R&D, Operations, Procurement, and senior leadership.
• Team leadership experience with the ability to build and develop a growing function.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced marketing degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build the company’s marketing function, establishing priorities, processes, capabilities, and a high-performing team.
• Lead market research and competitive analysis using Nielsen/IRI/SPINS or similar platforms.
• Translate insights into product, pricing, and commercial opportunities.
• Partner with R&D to develop an proactive innovation pipeline around trends, flavors, formulations, and customer needs.
• Support product development and commercialization, including packaging, labeling, specs, and launch materials.
• Identify opportunities for expansion across new customers, channels, segments, and geographies.
• Partner with Sales on customer presentations, sell sheets, pricing materials, product information, and JBPs.
• Support private label and co-branded programs, including packaging, positioning, and customer-specific initiatives.
• Shape corporate messaging and market positioning across branded and private label channels.
• Lead and develop marketing and R&D team members while leveraging external agencies and partners as needed.

Skills

Marketing strategy

Market research

Team leadership

CPG experience

Private label

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or advanced marketing degree

Job description

• Build and lead the marketing function for a growing food manufacturer
• High-impact leadership role reporting directly to the CEO; own product innovation, market insights, private label strategy, and new market development
• On-site role in Greater Boston; $150K-170K base salary + bonus + benefits

Position Description

A growth-oriented food manufacturer is seeking a Marketing Manager to build and lead its marketing function. Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a hands-on builder role for a commercially minded marketer who can develop the strategy and capabilities needed to support the company’s next phase of growth.

The business operates across B2B, private label, and co-manufacturing channels. The Marketing Manager will play a key role in strengthening market intelligence, accelerating product innovation, supporting customer growth, and expanding into new markets and channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Build the company’s marketing function, establishing priorities, processes, capabilities, and a high-performing team
• Lead market research and competitive analysis, leveraging syndicated data such as Nielsen, IRI, SPINS, or similar platforms
• Translate consumer, customer, and category insights into product, pricing, and commercial opportunities
• Partner with R&D to develop a more proactive innovation pipeline around emerging trends, flavors, formulations, and customer needs
• Support product development and commercialization, including packaging, labeling, specifications, and launch materials
• Identify opportunities for expansion across new customers, channels, segments, and geographies
• Partner closely with Sales on customer presentations, sell sheets, pricing materials, product information, and joint business planning
• Support private label and co-branded programs, including packaging, positioning, and customer-specific initiatives
• Shape corporate messaging and market positioning across branded and private label channels
• Lead and develop marketing and R&D team members while leveraging external agencies and partners as needed

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive marketing experience within the food industry
• Experience in food manufacturing, CPG, private label, or co-manufacturing environments
• Private label experience required
• Strong market research, analytics, and category insights capabilities
• Experience with syndicated market data such as Nielsen, IRI, SPINS, or similar
• Experience supporting product development, commercialization, launches, and sales enablement
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, R&D, Operations, Procurement, and senior leadership
• Team leadership experience with the ability to build and develop a growing function
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced marketing degree preferred

This is an opportunity for a hands-on marketing leader to build a function from the ground up and have a direct impact on innovation, customer growth, and the future direction of the business.