National Retail Marketing Strategist

cbrands; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

cbrands is seeking a National Retail Marketing Manager to lead the development and execution of Retail Connections programs, translating brand strategy into in-market activations and measurable results.

You will own programs end-to-end, partner with cross-functional teams and agencies, and drive ROI through rigorous planning, briefing, creativity, production, and measurement.

This role requires strong strategic thinking, execution discipline, and the ability to influence stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in marketing, business or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in brand marketing, shopper/commerce marketing, retail activation, trade marketing or a related discipline, preferably within CPG.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional marketing or retail activation programs from strategy through execution and measurement.
• Experience managing agencies, vendors or external partners, including briefing, feedback, budgeting and execution.
• Demonstrated ability to translate brand, shopper and commercial objectives into actionable marketing programs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience collaborating across senior leadership, Brand Marketing, Insights, Legal, Sales, wholesalers, agenci

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end development and execution of assigned Retail Connections brands/programs, from strategy through creative development, production, field sell-in, execution and measurement.
• Serve as the day-to-day business owner for assigned programs, proactively identifying opportunities, risks, decisions and next steps.
• Develop Retail Connections programming that connects brand strategy with shopper, customer and commercial objectives, ensuring programs are strategically sound, compelling to consumers and executable in-market.
• Partner cross-functionally to identify business opportunities and translate commercial needs into scalable retail solutions.
• Lead agency partners from briefing through execution, establishing clear expectations, providing actionable feedback, challenging the work when appropriate and ensuring deliverables meet strategic, creative, financial and timing objectives.
• Manage print, fulfillment and merchandise vendors through sourcing, procurement, production and release of promotional materials and point-of-sale, ensuring quality, cost efficiency and on-time delivery.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and serve as a Retail Connections subject-matter partner, effectively influencing stakeholders and driving alignment around program strategy, priorities and execution.
• Demonstrate strong judgment and prioritization across multiple simultaneous workstreams, balancing strategic initiatives, planned programming and quick-turn business needs while proactively communicating trade-offs, risks and timelines.
• Establish program KPIs and partner with appropriate cross-functional teams to evaluate program effectiveness, including execution, engagement, sales impact and return on investment. Translate results and learnings into recommendations that strengthen future programming.
• Play a key role in the annual strategic planning process, translating brand priorities, commercial objectives, shopper insights and marketplace opportunities into actionable programming strategies.
• Develop clear recommendations around program priorities, investment, timing, activation mechanics and executional approach.
• Partner with Legal and appropriate cross-functional stakeholders to ensure all programming, promotional materials and activation mechanics meet applicable company, regulatory and brand requirements.
• Own the financial management of assigned programs, including annual budget planning, monthly forecasting, reconciliation, invoice tracking and reporting. Proactively identify risks, opportunities and variances and recommend appropriate actions.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Agency management

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Retail/CPG marketing

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing, business or related field

Job description

cbrands is seeking a National Retail Marketing Manager to lead the development and execution of Retail Connections programs, translating brand strategy into in-market activations and measurable results.

You will own programs end-to-end, partner with cross-functional teams and agencies, and drive ROI through rigorous planning, briefing, creativity, production, and measurement.

This role requires strong strategic thinking, execution discipline, and the ability to influence stakeholders.